Find out what's going on in the MPA program this fall!

Welcome to a brand new semester in the MPA Program!
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May 2019 MPA Graduates
Keep in touch with us!
Three $3,000 fellowships available to Stan State MPA students

Are you looking for ways to fund your MPA degree studies? Have you earned 10 credits or more in the MPA program with a 3.5 GPA or better? If so, you should apply for the Demergasso Fellowship Award. There are three fellowships available - each for $3,000 - to MPA students at Stanislaus State. Award criteria is based equally on your GPA, quality of resume, and a personal essay about your goals and motivations for your public service career. Download an application here . Applications are due on Monday, September 30, 2019 at 4 pm to mpa@csustan.edu .

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Wellman. Current employees of the university are not eligible to receive this award.
What you need to know about the MPA curriculum changes
In 2018, as part of our accreditation process, NASPAA recommended the department explore options to reduce the number of units required to complete the MPA degree. After careful consideration and a number of conversations about available options, the MPA faculty decided to reduce the degree to 36-39 units, down from 42 units.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the MPA degree requirements, effective for the Fall 2019 academic catalog:
  1. Core coursework remains unchanged (9 courses/27 units)
  2. Elective coursework has been reduced to 3 courses/9 units, down from 5 courses/15 units
  3. PADM 5554 (Comprehensive exams) will still qualify as elective units
  4. Internships will be required in addition to elective coursework (in other words, if a student is determined to be a “pre-service” student and requires a relevant internship, the degree program for that student will be 39 units; if not, the degree will be 36 units)

How does this affect you? 

If you were admitted in Fall 2018 or before,  you maintain catalog rights to the degree you signed up for . If you’d rather continue with the original 42-unit MPA degree you began, you may do so. However, if you’d rather change to the 36-39 unit degree, you may do so as well.  If you plan to graduate in May 2020 , you may  still  switch to the new degree option.

If you were admitted in Fall 2019, your degree is 36-39 units, depending on whether you need an internship.

As always, please contact your academic adviser if you have questions or concerns.
An online Q&A with faculty regarding the curriculum changes was held on August 22, 2019.

You can watch the video recording of the Q&A here.
MPA student receives grant for new non-profit services

Virginia Carney, third year MPA student, recently received a grant from the Stanislaus County Behavior Health and Recovery Services, Prevention and Early Intervention program. The grant funds Virginia's Parent Cafe proposal that was developed through Dr. Ghuman's Grant Administration & Management course in Summer 2019.

Virginia stated, "I am really excited to have not only been able to apply for this funding and see how the process works but to actually start a whole new project in a non-profit that will help strengthen the families that we serve. All the hard work that it took to get to this place was necessary and I learned so much along the way."

Congratulations to Virginia!
Students taking Comprehensive Exams in Spring 2020, mark your calendars!
Attend a Comp Info Session on September 27th at 6 pm in Bizzini 133. Learn about the process and ask questions!
Helpful Hints for First-Year MPA Students
Welcome to our brand-new students in the MPA program! A few second-year students, having successfully completed their first year in the program, offered some insights and tips on how to survive your first year in graduate school:

  1. Make friends with your classmates. If you are confused or feeling overwhelmed, it's nice to text a classmate for clarification or moral support
  2. Find a perfect study spot with few distractions
  3. Use a planner to keep track of due dates and assignments
  4. Stay up-to-date on current events. Over time you'll see the topics learned in class have a variety of real-world applications
  5. Don't fall behind. It's harder to catch up than you think
  6. Get clarification when needed and re-read when you don't understand a concept
  7. Think of your peers and professors as friends who are cheering you on
  8. Set aside 5-8 hours of study and homework time per week, per course
  9. Don't hesitate to ask for help
Advising Starts October 14th
Don't forget you must meet with an advisor prior to registering for the Spring 2020 semester. Any MPA faculty member can provide advising. Contact them directly to set up an appointment today!
Call for Articles
Have an idea for an article? Want to develop your resume or vita? Consider writing a brief piece for The Exchange. Submissions should be 300 words or less and cover an area of interest to students of public administration.
Contact Dr. Wellman if you're interested!                       
CSU Stanislaus | Master of Public Administration Program | (209) 667-3388