Master of Public Administration

The Master of Public Administration program is designed to prepare graduate students for careers as public managers, planning specialists and policy analysts in governmental, as well as nonprofit and labor organizations. It also provides mid-career employees an opportunity to enhance, improve and acquire new concepts and perspectives for advancement to their careers.

In addition to the required core courses, students choose one of the following areas of emphasis: Public Management, Nonprofit Management, Procurement and Public Contracting, Computer Information Systems, or Labor Studies/Human Resources Management.

General Requirements for Admission:

A baccalaureate degree conferred by an accredited institution
A minimum of 2.5 grade point average on a scale of 4.0
Two letters of recommendation
500 word typed personal statement describing objectives and career aspirations
Scores from a recent Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

International students, particularly from non-English speaking countries, must demonstrate sufficient English skills by taking and submitting scores from the IELTS or TOEFL tests as part of their application. The minimum TOEFL score for admission into the program is 79 for the internet-based test.

Writing Proficiency Examination:

The Graduate Write Proficiency Examination is required of all graduate students. Students must take the writing proficiency examination in the first semester of enrollment. Students must register to take the examination, which is administered only once each semester.

Thesis Option:

The submission of an acceptable thesis, in lieu of six semester credits of course work, may be approved where the particular objectives make such action appropriate.

Transfer Credit:

A maximum of nine semester credits may be granted for courses completed satisfactorily within the prior five years with grades of "B" or better at an accredited college or university. Transfer credits cannot be a part of a previously earned degree.

Program Description:

The MPA is earned after the completion of a program consisting of 39 semester credits. Twenty one credits are devoted to the core, which must be taken by all students. Twelve credits are taken in the selected area of emphasis and six credits are required for one capstone project or thesis or 2 electives. The course of study can be completed by full-time students in four regular semesters.

Core Courses: Required of all MPA candidates

PMGT	503	Public and Nonprofit Management I	3
PMGT	514	Management of Government Organizations	3
PMGT	512	Political Economy of Public Administration	3
PMGT	519	Public Policy Development and Implementation	3
PMGT	509	Public Management Research	3
PMGT	529	Public Finance and the Budgetary Process	3
LBST	508	Quantitative Methods for Public Administration	3
PMGT	539	Capstone Project in Concentration of choice or two elective courses	6
		Total Core	27

Area of Emphasis: One area of emphasis should be selected from the following list The requirements for each area appear below.

Public Management:

PMGT	507	Intergovernmental Relations	3
PMGT	506	Government and Business Relations	3
PMGT	504	Advanced Public Personnel Management	3
PMGT	508	Organizational Development and Behavior	3
		Total (Including Core)	39

Nonprofit Management (Select 4 courses for a concentration)

NPMG	530	The Nonprofit Sector	3
NPMG	532	Governance and Executive Leadership	3
NPMG	534	Strategic Revenue Development	3
NPMG	539	Public Policy, Advocacy and Social Change	3
NPMG	535	Volunteer Management as a Human Resource	3
		Total (Including Core)	39

Procurement & Public Contracting (Select 4 courses for a concentration)

PAPC	540	Contract Administration	3
PAPC	542	Contract Source Selection, Pricing and Negotiation	3
PAPC	544	Government Contract Performance	3
PAPC	546	Green Contracting in the Government	3
PAPC	548	Legal and Ethical Aspects of Government Contracting	3
		Total (Including Core)	39

Labor Studies/Human Resources Management

PMGT	504	Advanced Public Personnel Management	3
LBST	523	Collective Bargaining	3
LBST	576	Quality of Work Life and Productivity	3
LBST	568	Arbitration and Dispute Settlement	3
		Total (Including Core)	39

Computer Information Systems (Select 4 courses for a concentration)

MGIS	501	Business Computer Systems	3
MGIS	505	Analysis and Design of Information Systems	3
MGIS	506	Computer Analysis for Management	3
MGIS	508	Managerial Modeling with Computers	3
MGIS	510	Teleprocessing and Networks	3
MGIS	515	E-Commerce	3
		Total (Including Core)	39

Department of Public Administration

Master of Public Administration