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Master of Public Administration (MPA)
The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree is a two-and-one-half year program of study offered by the nationally accredited Department of Public Administration of the College of Urban Affairs. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of professional administrators. Most students are employed by public agencies and pursue their M.P.A. degrees on an after-hours basis. This approach allows study and learning to benefit professional work while the practical experience of the work day enriches class room study. The Master of Public Administration degree is designed to provide an understanding of the governmental and economic environment in which administrators work, provide an awareness of administrative principles, address current issues facing public administrators, and to offer an indepth understanding of the the federal, state, and local government environment. Important topics include: governmental structure and organization, the essential principles of public management, the development of public policy, the regulatory processes of government, and the theories and methods of administrative research. Career military personnel, nonprofit organization administrators, and those in the private sector whose responsibilities involve extensive contact with governmental agencies and public sector workers will also find the M.P.A. curriculum germane.
Program of Study
The M.P.A. program consists both of theoretical and applied courses. The former provide an awareness and understanding of the background and contextual factors affecting policy decisions and program administration, while the latter provide specific skills and techniques useful in management. For example, courses in organization theory, policy analysis, and decision making are largely theory based courses. Administrative law, personnel, and financial administration are practical or skill driven courses. The array of courses gives the student an optimal mix of theory and technique.
Additionally, specialized optional areas of study have been developed in gaming regulation and administrative policy making. Students may pursue a general course of administrative study or direct their studies so as to obtain special knowledge in gaming regulation or in administrative policy making.
Degree Requirements
The M.P.A. degree requires 36 credit hours of approved courses work spread over three course areas. Twenty-four credit hours of core courses focusing on general administrative and management skills, nine credit hours of elective courses, and a three-credit professional paper must be completed. An internship course (PUA 709) is required for students lacking work experience. PUA 709 may be taken for one to six credits in addition to the basic required thirty-six credits. The student meets with an academic advisor and completes a formal degree plan to select courses covering the various areas of study. Students must obtain a "B" average in order to graduate, and no more than one "C" may be earned for degree credit. Finally, during the semester when the student is scheduled to graduate, a Capstone project is required.
Program Structure
1. Core Courses (24 hours)
PUA 701 - Principles of Public Administration
PUA 713 - Seminar in Organizational Theory
PUA 714 - Seminar in Fiscal Administration
PUA 718 - Seminar in Public Personnel Administration
Nine Hours of Analytical Studies: Students must take:
PUA 722 - Quantitative Methods for Public Administration
PUA 723 - Research Design for Public Administration
Students select a third course from a list of courses approved by the Graduate Director
(students should contact the Department to obtain the list).
PUA 795 - Formulating Administrative Strategies in the Public Sector "Capstone Course"
2. Electives (9 hours)
Student may choose to take an additional nine hours from a broad array of courses
offered by the department or they may decide to concentrate in a specific substantive area.
The program has established concentrations in Non-Profit Management, Human Resource
management, and Policy Evaluation. Students may design their own concentration with
assistance from the Graduate Director. Students may choose to take some of their
concentration course work from outside the Department. In deciding on their electives
students are expected to discuss their program of study with the Graduate Director.
3. PUA 791 Professional Paper (3 hours)
All students must enroll in PUA 791 Topics in Administration. The professional papere is
designed to demonstrate a student's ability to think analytically. It links administrative
theory to current policy or administrative issues. Students are required to do original research
in the issue area of their choosing, but the topic under investigation must be approved by the Department.
The research is done under the direction of a faculty member who works with the students. Students must
pass an oral exam over the content of the professional paper. 4. Internships (3 hours)
Students without appropriate professional administrative experience must enroll in the internship
course. Students should meet early in their academic program with the graduate director to determine if they will need an internship. Internship hours are beyond the 36 hour degree requirement.
Click HERE for course descriptions.