Students
Students from a wide range of backgrounds and interests are drawn to the USC Master of Public Administration program. Many enter immediately upon completing their undergraduate work, while others have achieved significant positions in public management prior to applying. Although most MPA students hold bachelor's degrees in the social sciences, students with an undergraduate degree in any academic field are eligible for admission and encouraged to apply. Faculty, employers and program advisors often remark on the characteristics of the typical USC MPA candidate:
- strong leadership abilities
- good analytical and writing skills
- an active curiosity and probing mind
- an ability to aggregate numerous datapoints and complex interrelationships into concrete plans for significant action
Student Statistics
Approximately 200 students are enrolled in USC's MPA program. Typically, 80 percent are full-time students and 20 percent are working professionals. The student body is very diverse: 42% are from under-represented groups.
Student Involvement
MPA students come together as a united body through involvement in the Graduate Policy and Administration Community, the student association for Public Administration and Public Policy graduate students. Students build collegial relationships as well as expand their leadership skills and broaden their professional network.