Military Pathway Information

This military pathway outlines degree requirements that may be satisfied by military training and experience or exams, as well as requirements that must be satisfied through courses taken at Old Dominion University.

Download a PDF of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) pathway

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Requirements Potentially Met Outside the Classroom

Credits toward MPA courses may be earned from one of these Naval Postgraduate School certificates or from a combination of qualification, courses, and experience.

Requirements earned outside ODU may not exceed 12 credits.

Naval Postgraduate School CertificateODU Equivalent Course(s)Credits
Advanced Acquisition Studies or Basic Contract ManagementPADM 718 Public Sector Contract Administration
PADM 726 Introduction to Public Procurement
PADM 727 Public Procurement and Project Management
PADM 728 Public Sector Contract Planning & Formation
12
Advanced Contract ManagementPADM 718 Public Sector Contract Administration
PADM 726 Introduction to Public Procurement
PADM 728 Public Sector Contract Planning & Formation
PADM 731 Public Sector Procurement Law & Ethics
12
Defense Management FoundationsPADM electives as determined by the graduate program director12
Leadership for Public AdministratorsPADM 719 Leadership
PADM 720 Public Human Resource Management
PADM 734 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
PADM 745 Managing Development and Change in Orgs
12
Strategic LeadershipPADM 719 Leadership
PADM 720 Public Human Resource Management
PADM 734 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
PADM 750 Performance Measurement and Management
12
Military Qualification, Certification, or ExperienceODU Equivalent Course(s)Credits
Command leadership experience (performance appraisal review required)PADM 668 Internship/Field Experience, and
PADM 719 Leadership
6

Graduates of these courses (JST or AU transcript review required)

  • US Navy Senior Enlisted Academy
  • US Army Sergeants Major Academy
  • US Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy
  • US Marine Corps Senior Enlisted Academy
PADM 719 Leadership3
One or more years of experience as a contracting officer or contracting officer representative (performance appraisal review required)PADM 718 Public Sector Contract Administration3

Total requirements potentially met outside classroom: 0-12 credits

Requirements Met at ODU

CourseCredits
PADM 651 Administrative Theory I: The Context of Public Administration3
PADM 671 Public Budgeting and Financial Management3
PADM 701 Public Policy and Evaluation3
PADM 723 Ethics in Public Administration3
PADM 736 Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: A Public Administration and Public Policy Perspective3
PADM 753 Research Methods in Public Administration3
PADM 746 Capstone Seminar in Public Administration3
FOUN 722 Introduction to Applied Statistics and Data Analysis or
MPHO 605 Introduction to Biostatistics for Public Health or
PADM 752 Introduction to Data Analysis
3
Elective requirements not satisfied by military qualification, certification, or experience3-15

Minimum requirements met at ODU: 27 credits

Total credits for degree: 39

Next Steps

Review Program Information

Learn more about our Master of Public Administration online degree program.

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Military Student Services

From credit for your experience to flexible learning options, ODUGlobal can help fit education into your life. Learn more about how we support active-duty military and veteran students.