Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

The Master of Public Administration is designed to provide both advanced theoretical perspectives and practical training for governmental, not-for-profit, and community development leaders, with special emphasis on theories and practices of public leadership. To accomplish this goal, the degree aims at two general audiences: traditional students with bachelor’s degrees looking for training to enter the public service and students already in a governmental or public organization seeking to further enhance their skills.

MPA Program Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university

GPA of 3.0 or better in the last 60 credit hours of coursework leading to the baccalaureate degree

GRE Scores of 295 (verbal and quantitative combined) or above *OR the equivalent of three or more years of full-time professional experience in public, nonprofit, or for-profit organizations

Three letters of recommendation

Where we’ve come from, where we’re going

Our Mission

As a regional, comprehensive institution, The University of Texas Permian Basin serves a diverse community of students from the region, the state, and beyond. Through excellence in student-centered teaching, learning, research, and public service, the University cultivates engaged citizens and impacts lives while advancing technology and the public interests of West Texas.

1970s view of Mesa Building

The History of UT Permian Basin

We began as an experiment. In 1969, the Texas Legislature decided to create an “upper-level” university in Odessa—i.e., a college that accepted only juniors, seniors, and graduate students.

But before construction on the new school could get fully underway, a lawsuit interrupted things. The plaintiff challenged the validity of the University’s property deeds. Work halted.

Eventually, the Texas Supreme Court intervened, ruling in the University’s favor. The bulldozers fired back up, and in April of 1972, UT Permian Basin’s new campus broke ground.

Little more than a year later—on September 4, 1973—the University opened for classes. Construction wasn’t complete, though, so the 1,112 students in that first class studied in temporary buildings and trailers. It would take almost another year before UT Permian Basin’s permanent facilities were complete.

Fast forward 18 years: The Texas Legislature decided once again to change UTPB’s trajectory by passing a bill that turned the school into a four-year institution. The first freshman class—known in campus lore as the Pioneer Freshmen—joined in the fall of 1991.

From our humble, experimental beginnings, UT Permian Basin has grown in nearly every direction.

No school is like UT Permian Basin. Maybe that’s why no school has a story quite like ours.

Together, we are Falcons.