麻豆社

Total Credit Hours: 54          Degree Format: Online

The Doctor of Public Administration is a practitioner-oriented degree that helps students develop the essential leadership, management, communication, and problem solving abilities necessary to succeed in today's professional environment. The courses in the program are designed to suit the information and skill needs of professionals currently in the field.

The DPA program consists of 54 semester-hours of coursework, divided among the foundation and core courses, theory and methods courses, elective courses, and capstone/project credits. The majority of the DPA program is designed around the use of web technology. Students will participate in selected residency seminars and meetings during the first weekend of each fall and spring semesters on the 麻豆社 campus; the remainder of the coursework will be completed online.

Program Coordinator: Dr. Fred Knowles, email: feknowles@valdosta.edu,  phone: 229-253-2873

ADMISSION DEADLINES

• Fall Semester: April 15
• Spring Semester: No Admission
• Summer Semester: No Admission

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

*NOTE: The DPA program is no longer requiring GRE test scores effective Fall 2022*

Online Graduate Application

• Application Fee (credit or debit card and e-checks accepted)
• Apply Online

Official transcript from your master's degree-granting school and from any graduate coursework

• Please note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program.
• Transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at 麻豆社 will be obtained by the Graduate School
• Must hold a minimum of a master’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution with a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5.  
• Evaluation of International Transcripts - Applicants who have completed coursework at an institution outside of the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation of the coursework.  This transcript evaluation must be completed by an international education credentials evaluation service.  We consider evaluations from any services on the  list. 

COVER LETTER

• A two-page written statement by the applicant stating why they are interested in enrolling in the Doctor of Public Administration program, what goals they have for advancing their intellectual abilities in the program, and how study in the program will advance their professional goals. Further, the cover letter should also (a) identify at least one faculty member they wish to work with as a committee chair/advisor and (b) provide a detailed overview of their specific research interests.  You can find a list of PADM faculty, affiliated faculty, and their subject areas on the PA student information page

WRITING SAMPLE

• Students must submit a 10-to-20 page writing sample.  The writing sample should be from graduate education (e.g., seminar paper or thesis chapter) for students with graduate education in the last five years.  All other applicants can submit graduate work or a writing sample from their professional experience (including but not limited to a policy brief, white paper, or strategic plan).

     Three Recommendations

• Recommendation Form

• Please enter the name and email of your recommenders as you complete the application. They should receive an email inviting them to complete the recommendation after that. If they do not receive the email (or find it in their spam folder), they may submit their recommendation as an email attachment to gradschool@valdosta.edu. The General Recommendation Form can be used if the email from the online recommendation system does not arrive.
• For applicants who completed coursework in the last three years, two recommendations from former professors are encouraged. The third recommendation source should be from a supervisor with whom the applicant is/was employed for more than 6 months.
• Applicants who have not enrolled in coursework in the last three years should seek professional recommendations.
• Personal recommendation sources (friends, family) are discouraged.
• Letters must be accompanied by the required form or submitted through the online recommendation system.
• At least one letter must address the applicant's writing sample.

Resume

• A comprehensive resume or curriculum vitae.
• Please be advised: the academic department prefers applicants to have 5 to 7 years of public sector experience or experience in a related field.

麻豆社 Medical Form

• The form must be completed and signed by the student/applicant.
• This form must be received prior to enrollment, NOT prior to admission.
• Applicants who are currently enrolled, and those who attended 麻豆社 in the past, are not required to resubmit the Medical Form

Verification of Lawful Presence

• This is not required for individuals who do not qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.
• This must be received prior to enrollment (if applicable), NOT prior to admission.
• Citizenship documentation is needed for any applicant who wishes to be considered for in-state tuition.
• Complete list of accepted documents and information on residency.

Unless otherwise indicated above, all required documents must be received on or before the admission deadline for your file to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to allow adequate time for document delivery and to en-sure receipt of documents. Please allow at least 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

The DPA program is a predominantly online program; however, DPA students are required to attend courses on-campus two weekends per year.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS 

• Due to the online hybrid nature of the DPA program, Homeland Security Visa Requirements, I-20 Student Visas cannot be issued for the DPA program.  Individuals who will require an I-2o student visa to participate in the on-campus requirements are not eligible for admission to this program.
• Official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are required for individuals whose first language is not English.– A minimum TOEFL score of 523 (paper-based test), 193 (computer-based test), or 70 (Internet-based test).  Applicants whose first language is not English but who have completed a graduate degree in the U.S., are exempt from completing the TOEFL requirement.
• Applicants who have completed coursework at an institution outside of the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation of the coursework.  This transcript evaluation, as it is more commonly called, must be completed by an international education credentials evaluation service.  

ADMISSION CLASSIFICATIONS

• Regular Status
• Admission by Exception/Probationary Status (see below)
  • Applicants who are exceptionally motivated with a GPA greater than 3.25 may be considered for admission as a Probationary Student. Applicants should submit a letter requesting probationary admission. The letter should be included with other application materials submitted to the Graduate School. Applicants may put the letter to the attention of the DPA Admissions Committee.
• Irregular Admission is not available for this program.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

• Call Us: 229-333-5694 
• Email Us: gradschool@valdosta.edu 
• Visit Us: Converse Hall (Main Campus), Third Floor, Suite 3100

For additional program details contact the Program Coordinator: Dr. Fred Knowles, email: feknowles@valdosta.edu,  phone: 229-253-2873.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Students must complete an application for graduation one semester prior to their expected graduation date.
2.  A 3.0 cumulative institutional grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. 
3. No grade below a “C” will be credited toward the degree. 
4. Students must successfully complete the PADM 9990 Capstone Seminar and the PADM 9999 Final Project/Organizational Analysis.

RETENTION, DISMISSAL, & READMISSION POLICIES

1. A 3.00 cumulative institutional grade point average is required for graduation. No grade below “C” will be credited toward the Doctor of Public Administration degree.

2. Students will be dismissed from the program if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points. A grade of “C” (while it will be credited toward the DPA degree) equals one deficiency point. A grade of “D,” “WF” or “F,” or “U” (none of which will be credited toward the DPA degree) equals two deficiency points.

3. If dismissed from the program, the student must wait a minimum of two semesters and obtain approval from the academic department, before applying for readmission. The academic program reserves the right to place specific conditions and contingencies on any offer of readmission. Readmission is not guaranteed and prior academic performance and conduct in the program will be considered.

4. The academic advisor reviews official transcripts to determine course equivalence/similarity. Courses considered for transfer credit must: (1) be no more than 7 years of age, or more specifically, may not be over 7 years of age when the student completes the degree at 麻豆社; (2) be earned at an institution that is regionally accredited; (3) be graduate-level courses; and (4) not exceed specific program limitations on total number of hours. All transfer requests are subject to approval by the Dean of the Graduate School, and grades transferred fall under the current deficiency point system.

5. After admission, courses taken more than seven years prior to the semester of degree completion cannot be used to meet graduate degree requirements or admission to doctoral candidacy requirements unless otherwise indicated by individual program requirements. 

Retention, Dismissal, and Readmission Policies Page