| Department: | |
| Hours Required: | 36 |
| Categories: | Graduate |
| Completion Time: | 2 years * |
| Delivery: | Online |
* Based on 2 classes per semester including summer
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is designed to prepare individuals for positions of leadership in public service organizations. This program will provide a strong foundation in public policy, the organizational environment, the management of public service organizations, and the application of quantitative and qualitative analysis to decision making. The development of critical thinking skills and self-motivation are key components of the MPA program.
*International students are required to meet on campus monthly. Contact the MPA Program Director for more details.
MPA with Social Entrepreneurship Emphasis
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Learning Goals
- Our graduates can communicate effectively.
- Our graduates are prepared to be personally and socially responsible citizens.
- Our graduates can think critically, solve problems, and make informed decisions.
- Our graduates can use technology and other methods to access and evaluate information, and use information responsibly, legally, ethically, and effectively.
- Our graduates have content knowledge in their chosen fields and the necessary skills to be successful.
Specific Degree Requirements
Each candidate for the master’s degree in Public Administration will be required to complete 24 credits of core courses, 9 credits of electives, and 3 credits of professional project.
Required Core Courses (24 credit hours):
PA 6003 Principles of Public Administration
PA 6023 Ethics
PA 6053 Public and Non-profit Budgeting
PA 6063 Public Policy
PA 6073 Research Methods
PA 6083 Organizational Leadership
PA 6153 Public Personnel Administration
PA 6263 Program Evaluation
Electives (9 credit hours) selected from the following:
PA 6013 Statistics for Public Administrators
PA 6033 Rural Politics
PA 6043 Legal Issues in Public Administration
PA 6133 The third sector: Theory and practice
PA 6183 Special Topics I
PA 6193 Special Topics II
PA 6253 Social Activism
Required Project Course (3 credit hours):
PA 6113 Professional Project*
*Professional Project
All students are required to complete a professional project. This project is expected to incorporate the skills learned in the MPA program in a written product that is of use to a particular agency or organization. The student must receive prior approval in writing from the director of the MPA program before proceeding on the project. The student must be registered for PA 6113 during the term in which the project is completed. If a project is not completed during the term for which the student is enrolled, a grade of NC will be assigned. In order to complete the project the student must be enrolled for the credits during the term in which it will be completed. If the student is successful in completing the project a grade of CR will be assigned for the term during which the project was completed. However, any previous NC grades will not be changed and only the credits the student earned while enrolled in the semester that the project was completed will be awarded.
Fall
- PA 6003 Principles of Public Administration
- PA 6033 Rural Politics
- PA 6053 Public and Non-profit Budgeting
- PA 6063 Public Policy
- PA 6083 Organizational Leadership
- PA 6113 Professional Project
Spring
- PA 6003 Principles of Public Administration (on as-needed basis)
- PA 6023 Ethics
- PA 6153 Public Personnel Administration
- PA 6263 Program Evaluation
- PA 6073 Research Methods (alternating Spring semesters)
- PA 6113 Professional Project
Summer I
- PA 6183 Special Topics: Public Technology (even years)
- PA 6193 Special Topics: Global and Comparative Public Administration (odd years)
Summer II
- PA 6133 The third sector: Theory and practice (even years)
- PA 6253 Social Activism (odd years)
Summer I & II
- PA 6073 Research Methods
- PA 6113 Professional Project
As needed:
- PA 6013 Statistics for Public Administrators
- PA 6033 Rural Politics
- PA 6043 Legal Issues in Public Administration
Other electives related to salient PA topics
