Executive Master of Public Administration
Overview
Note: Dual degree EMPA programs have slightly different requirements. For more information, see the Executive MPA/MA Nursing and Executive MPA/Master of Social Work pages.
Admission and Degree Requirements
Admission to the Executive MPA Program is limited to individuals with extensive supervisory experience in their program area who may already possess advanced professional credentials (as stated above) in the public or nonprofit sector. In reviewing applications, the Admissions Committee will consider prior academic achievement, letters of recommendation, and career attainments and goals as discussed by the applicant in the Statement of Purpose section of the application form.
The Executive MPA degree requirements consist of 36 credits that must be completed with an average of a "B" (3.0) or better. All EMPA students will be required to complete three required core courses including an integrating seminar, Leadership Confronted (P11.2190), in addition to an introductory cohort seminar, The Core of Leadership in Public Service (P11.2193).
Advisement
One of the strengths of the Executive MPA Program is that it permits professionals and mid-career executives to design a program of study that will meet their own requirements. Because of this individualization, however, the advisement process is a critical part of the program. EMPA students are expected to develop an initial plan of study with a faculty advisor that incorporates their educational and professional goals. Prior to developing a plan of study, students should discuss their background and career objectives with their faculty advisor.
Coursework
All EMPA students must demonstrate basic competency in management and financial management. In order to demonstrate competency in these areas, students must complete: The Core of Leadership in Public Service (P11.2193), Strategic Leadership (P11.2194), Leadership Confronted (P11.2190), and Financial Management for Public, Nonprofit, and Health Organizations (P11.1021). Students who already have proficiency in Financial Management may apply to waive out of this course in accordance with Wagner's course waiver policies.
The balance of the student's program will be filled in by selecting five elective courses, in consultation with a faculty advisor, from among the current course offerings at Wagner.
Students should consult with their faculty advisor prior to first semester registration to determine if they meet the financial management requirement. Students should not take more than two of the schoolwide core courses listed below.
** Only the credits from two schoolwide core courses may be applied to the 36-credit degree requirement. The schoolwide core course that EMPA students typically take is the starred course (P11.1021) as proficiency in this course is required for EMPA students. In addition to P11.1021, students may take another schoolwide core course that will count towards the 36 credits. EMPA students should not take P11.1020 as MS cohort core courses cover many of the topics that are covered in this course.
Prerequisites
Please note that although only the credits from two schoolwide core courses will be applied to the degree, it is assumed that students will satisfy all prerequisites for upper-level coursework, including competency in statistics, microeconomics and computers. These courses serve as foundations for upper-level courses and are often prerequisites. If students are not proficient in the areas noted above, they must audit or complete the appropriate coursework.
Computer Proficiency
Students who wish to take courses for which P11.1011 Statistics is a pre-requisite and who waive out of statistics must pass the SPSS Proficiency Exam (P11.1038) . Students with little or partial knowledge of SPSS may register for the non-credit computer module offered every semester (listed below), or may obtain copies of the computer module class materials and study on their own. The non-credit computer module is: SPSS (Statistical Software) Module, P11.1031.
Transfer Credit
There is an eight-point limit on the number of transfer credits that may be used to meet degree requirements, provided they are not part of a previous master's degree. As a result, no more than two of the nine required courses may be courses offered by other graduate schools at New York University. If the maximum number of transfer credits is awarded, all of the remaining courses must be taken at the Wagner School.
