Program Overview:
The 36-credit curriculum is divided into core subjects, areas of specialization, an internship and a capstone project. The core curriculum deals with ideas and concepts related to the field of public administration, human resources management, public financial management, management decision making, quantitative analysis, innovation and technology for public managers, organizational leadership, and public economics.
Specialization areas include Nonprofit Management, Public Management, Public Policy Analysis, Emergency Management, and Health Systems Management. Within these broad specializations, students focus in a topic area such as state/local management, educational policy, disaster management, planning and infrastructure, public policy analysis, financial management, and health policy. With the approval of their academic advisor and the MPA program director, students may design their own area of specialization.
The capstone project is students’ opportunity to synthesize and apply the skills they have developed in the MPA program, and to demonstrate their mastery of the knowledge and skills that are expected of an MPA graduate. Working in teams, students will act as consultants and complete a real-world project for a client in the public or nonprofit sector. Upon approval of the student’s advisor and the appropriate program director, students may pursue a thesis in lieu of an internship.
All MPA candidates must complete a professional-level internship (unless it is waived by the Internship Coordinator). Typically, internships are with governmental agencies, community organizations, advocacy groups, nonprofit institutions, or for-profit organization engaged in the public good.