The mission of MPA academic advising is to partner with students on meaningful educational plans that are compatible with their interests, abilities, career, and life goals.
The Director of Academic Advising & Student Life serves as the academic advisor for all MPA students by providing information regarding core and elective course options, information on MPA Policies and procedures, transfer credits, and other academic needs.
Goals and Responsibilities of Advisors:
- Understand and communicate the mission, curriculum, and academic policies of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Graduate School, and the MPA Program.
- Build partnerships with students as a means of support during their graduate career.
- Encourage and support the self-exploration and identity development of MPA students.
- Support the development of educational plans consistent with the interests, abilities, and career goals of MPA students.
- Protect student rights to educational privacy per FERPA.
Students are expected to:
- keep up with their progress in the MPA Program and to ask questions regarding that process when needed
- Communicate openly with your advisor regarding academic goals and plans.
- Discuss academic concerns and difficulty with the advisor in a timely manner. Be honest about anything that may hinder your success in the MPA Program.
- Read program and university communications regarding curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular opportunities as well as familiarize yourself with policies and deadlines. Ask plenty of questions!
Academic Advising Resources Academic Advising Resources: 1:1 Advising Appointment: Students can book an appointment with the Director of Academic Advising and Student Life for questions on the phone, on the platform, or in person. Students are expected to schedule such an appointment as part of their on-boarding into the MPA Program as well as any time they deem necessary for their academic success. For quick questions, email is also encouraged. MPA Course Planner: The MPA Course Planner is an interactive website where you can plan out your courses by term. The Planner will guide you through all course requirements, taking into account preferred timeframe and course sequencing needs. Please update it any time your plans change. Please see the Course Planner page for further resources. UNC MPA Online Digest Registration Special Editions: Each term there will be a “Registration Special Edition” of the UNC MPA Online Digest that will provide detailed information regarding the upcoming term registration. If at any point students have questions, they should Term Dates These dates are also available on the MPA Intranet calendar, the UNC MPA Student Calendar in Outlook, and on the UNC Friday Center 14-Week Session Calendar. Registration Registration Terms: NOTE: Federal financial aid requires 4.5 hours of enrollment in the Fall and Spring terms and 1.5 hours of enrollment in the Summer term in order for financial aid to disperse. Course Offerings Per Term: Registration Logistics: Current Term Section Schedule: Tuition and Financial Aid The UNC Office of Scholarships and Student Aid has staff dedicated to helping graduate students understand their options for student aid. They have provided resources specific to online MPA students: The University Cashier maintains all details on tuition and fees, as well as payment options. Students may be interested in their information on: Transfer Credits Transfer Credits: If students have previously taken graduate-level coursework from an accredited institution and have earned a B or higher, they may be eligible to transfer up to 12 credit-hours into the MPA program. Further details and instructions on how to apply for transfer credits are available on this page of the Intranet, under the “Transfer Credit Application” policy. Concentrations Concentrations: Concentrations give students the flexibility to tailor their UNC MPA experience to a specific public administration discipline. Each of the MPA concentrations offers up to five electives, providing the depth of material students need to gain specialized knowledge and skills in their discipline of interest. Students who would like to tailor the program to a particular concentration must complete nine credit hours from the recommended electives listed on each corresponding concentration page. Students are also encouraged to select a Professional Work Experience (PWE) that ties into a particular concentration. Concentrations: A few notes regarding concentrations:
contact Elizabeth Langefeld, Director of Academic Advising and Student Life.