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Public Service, M.P.S.

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Requirements

The Master of Public Service at Utah Valley University is an applied inter-disciplinary professional master’s degree aimed at preparing public service administrators in emergency services and criminal justice. This graduate degree provides an in-depth education of the science and praxis of administering vital public services, public safety functions, ethical considerations, leadership, and strategic communications, along with issues in emergency management, civil security/resiliency, public works, transportation, critical infrastructure protection, post-disaster humanitarian response, pandemics, strategic planning, public health, and public policy issues.

Total Program Credits: 36

Matriculation Requirements:    

1. A 3.0 cumulative GPA from the institution where the undergraduate degree was awarded or a 3.0 GPA calculated on the last 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) from the institution where the undergraduate degree was awarded.                

2. A bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited college/university, a nationally accredited program, or an international college or university recognized by a Ministry of Education in one of the following or related fields: * 

  • Emergency Services           
  • Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement, Forensic Science           
  • Political Science             
  • Public and Community Health 
  • Aviation Science   
  • Emergency Management/Homeland Security     
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Business Administration, Organizational Management        
  • Environmental Science     
  • Public Admin/Public Management
  • Social Science         
  • Technology Management

3. Graduate School Application.

4. Official transcripts from all attended institutions of higher education.

5. Two letters of recommendation.  

6. Admissions Essay

Discipline Core Requirements:   24 Credits
  MPS 6000 Public Services Administration 3
  MPS 6010 Public Services Finance and Budgeting  3
  MPS 6020 Public Services Policy and Evaluation 3
  MPS 6030 Legal Issues for the Public Services  3
  MPS 6040 Organizational Behavior in the Public Services 3
  MPS 6050 Public Services Leadership and Ethics 3
  MPS 6060 Research Methods for the Public Services 3
  MPS 690R Public Services Project  3
Elective Requirements:   12 Credits
Complete 12 credits 12
  ESMG 6100 Psychology and the Emergency Services Responder (3.0)  
  ESMG 6110 Disasters/Vulnerability/and Impacts (3.0)  
  ESMG 6120 Emergency Planning and Response (3.0)  
  ESMG 6130 Social Vulnerability in Emergencies (3.0)  
  ESMG 6140 Homeland Security Fundamentals (3.0)  
  CJ 6200 Advanced Topics in Criminal Justice (3.0)  
  CJ 6210 Information-based Decision Making for Criminal Justice Administrators (3.0)  
  CJ 6220 Contemporary Issues In Criminal Justice (3.0)  
  CJ 6230 Criminal Justice Policy (3.0)  
  HLTH 6200 Issues in Public Health (3.0)  
  MPS 679R Special Topics in Public Services (1.0)  
  MPS 6400 Public Services Program Development and Evaluation (3.0)  
  NSS 6500 US National Security Policy and Strategy (3.0)  
  NSS 6700 Intelligence Analysis and Tradecraft (3.0)  
  Graduate-level electives as approved by the MPS Director  

Graduation Requirements:

  1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher must be maintained within program.
  2. All course work must be completed with a "B" or higher.
Footnotes
* Applicants with a bachelor's degrees in other fields may be admitted if they have at least two years of public services experience and completed undergraduate courses with a B grade or better. These applications are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Graduation Plan

This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track

Milestone courses (pre-requisites for a course in one of the subsequent semesters) are marked in red and italicized.

Semester 1 Course Title Credit Hours
MPS 6000 Public Services Administration 3
MPS 6020 Public Services Policy and Evaluation 3
  Semester total: 6
Semester 2 Course Title Credit Hours
MPS 6030 Legal Issues for the Public Services 3
  MPS Elective course 3
  Semester total: 6
Semester 3 Course Title Credit Hours
MPS 6010 Finance and Budgeting for the Public Services 3
  MPS Elective course 3
  Semester total: 6
Semester 4 Course Title Credit Hours
MPS 6040 Organizational Behavior in the Public Services 3
  MPS Elective Course 3
  Semester total: 6
Semester 5 Course Title Credit Hours
MPS 6050 Public Service Leadership and Ethics 3
  MPS Elective Course 3
  Semester total: 6
Semester 6 Course Title Credit Hours
MPS 6060 Research Methods for Public Services 3
MPS 690R Public Services Project 3
  Semester total: 6
  Degree total: 36

Department

Public Service Graduate Program

The Master of Public Service Graduate Program is in the College of Health and Public Service. To find the most up-to-date information, including Program Learning Outcomes for the Master of Public Service Graduate Program, visit their website.

Master of Public Service Graduate Program