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 (21 credit hours):

PA 6003 Principles of Public Administration
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 (12 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 Nonprofit Organizations
PA 6183 Special Topics I
PA 6193 Special Topics II
PA 6253 Social Activism
PA 6273 Program Development, Grant Writing and Implementation

With advisor approval, courses outside of the PA program may be used as electives.

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.

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[su_testimonial name=”Sterling Penix” photo=”https://web.saumag.edu/academics/files/2015/03/MPA-John-Penix.jpg” company=”Associate Criminal Justice Professional”]After evaluating a number of MPA programs, I chose SAU. The SAU program and professors provide an excellent foundation for learning and student growth. The campus family works to ensure that each student is successful. Having graduated SAU Tech with an associate’s degree, it is a great honor to continue my story at SAU.[/su_testimonial]

Fall

• PA   6003 Principles of Public Administration
• PA   6133 Nonprofit Organizations
• 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  6033 Rural Politics (odd years)
• PA 6253 Social Activism (even years)

Summer I & II

• PA   6073 Research Methods
• PA   6113 Professional Project

As needed:

• PA  6013 Statistics for Public Administrators
• PA  6043 Legal Issues in Public Administration