Public Administration, MPA
The Master's of Public Administration degree prepares students for leadership and management positions in public service, nonprofit organizations, and social enterprises. This program provides pre-service and career professionals with an appropriate mix of the requisite skills and knowledge needed for positions at various levels within the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. Students are given broad exposure to the field of public administration through a comprehensive, interdisciplinary core curriculum that integrates theory with practice and emphasizes application of acquired knowledge in a real-world setting. Students also have the option to develop a depth of knowledge within one or two areas of concentration.
Graduates of the MPA program are well-prepared for positions such as finance manager/director, budget analyst, financial analyst, policy analyst, human resources manager/director, executive director, public relations and fundraising manager, market research analyst, urban/regional planner, among others. The goal of the program is to graduate competent, ethical practitioners who will lead and manage while serving the public to effect positive change locally, nationally and abroad.
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Critically analyze issues, challenges, policies, and programs within the public service and nonprofit sectors in order to implement planning, budgeting, policy development, program formulation, and evaluation.
- Communicate information, analyses, and recommendations succinctly and effectively in written and oral presentation, supporting them as effective organizational managers in the public sector.
- Apply ethical, socially responsible principles and approaches to their analyses that demonstrate a commitment to serving the public interest with accountability and transparency.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| KG-604 | Graduate Research & Critical Analysis | 3 |
| MG-630 | Organizational Behavior and Leadership In the 21st Century | 3 |
| MP-610 | Perspectives on Public Administration And Service Management | 3 |
| MP-620 | Research Methods for Public and Nonprofit Management | 3 |
| MP-640 | Economics for Public Sector and Nonprofit Entities | 3 |
| MP-670 | Public Sector Budgeting and Finance | 3 |
| MP-800 | MPA Capstone Seminar: Strategic Development and Management of Programs and Policies | 3 |
| Concentration courses | 9 | |
| Breadth electives (select 2 courses from list below) | 6 | |
| Required Core Courses Subtotal | 36 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Breadth Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CJ-750 | Crisis Management & Disaster Preparedness | 3 |
| CJ-770 | Urban Poverty and the Family | 3 |
| MG-616 | Health Care Policy | 3 |
| MG-632 | Human Resource Competencies and The Organization | 3 |
| MG-634 | Human Resource Strategy and People | 3 |
| MG-636 | Human Resource - The Workplace Setting | 3 |
| MG-746 | Logistics Optimization | 3 |
| MG-750 | Project Management | 3 |
| MG-754 | Social Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MG-758 | Decision Modeling for Managers | 3 |
| PH-680 | Emergency Management in Public Health | 3 |
| PH-690 | Global Health | 3 |
Public Affairs, Relations, and Policy Concentration1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| International Relations and Global Governance in Public Administration | ||
| The Legal Environment of Public Administration | ||
| Public Policy Design and Development | ||
| Planning Analysis for Urban Development | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Nonprofit Management Concentration1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Program Budgeting, Planning, and Evaluation | ||
| Management, Governance, and Leadership In Nonprofit Organizations | ||
| Non-Profit Financial Statement Analysis And Reporting | ||
| Financial Resource Development: Capital Campaigns and Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Executive Leadership Concentration1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Organizational Change and Conflict Resolution | ||
| Contemporary Leadership Issues | ||
| Cultural Leadership | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
MPA Concentrations1
- 1
A one-credit Foundation course may be required:
KG-582 Management & Marketing Foundations
KG-583 Statistics Foundations
KG-584 Economics Foundations
KG-585 Finance Foundations
KG-586 Healthcare FoundationsMust receive a “P” (Pass) grade or better for Foundation Credit, or have received a grade of “C” or better to receive transfer credits for the equivalent undergraduate coursework.