Public Administration (MPA)

Program Educational Goals:

Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program Educational Goals

Articulate, apply, and advance a public service perspective by articulating and applying the values of democratic governance (e.g., effectiveness, efficiency, ethical behavior, equity, economy, responsiveness) to solving policy and organizational problems.
Lead and manage in the public interest by demonstrating the technical skills required to manage public-service organizations (e.g., human resource management, budgeting/ financial management, strategic and business planning); the personal competencies necessary for managing and leading in the public service (e.g., teamwork, collaborative competencies, self-awareness and reflection, resilience); and a leadership vision for working in government and nonprofit organizations.
Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large by demonstrating empathy to recognize and through understanding multiple perspectives and developing self-awareness to manage oneself and others. This includes building resilience to handle emotionally challenging work and policy situations, listening actively and effectively, and speaking and writing clearly and accurately in ways that all relevant audiences can comprehend.
Participate in, and contribute to, the public policy process by defining the stages of the policy process, engaging with, and understanding and describing the roles and responsibilities of the various actors involved in the process and their leverage points as well as the needs and values of target populations and other stakeholders affected by policy design and implementation, and reflecting on and articulating the balance of different public values in the process.
Analyze, synthesize, think creatively, solve problems, and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment by searching for and marshaling credible and appropriate evidence, analyzing that evidence through the lens of relevant theories and frameworks of public administration, and identifying and selecting options to make optimal decisions.

Program Policy Document:

Please see the Program Policy Document for more information.

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.

Requirements for the Degree:

All students are required to attain a C or better in all courses required for the MPA.

Core:

UAPP 684 - Performance Management and Program Evaluation Credit(s): 3
or
UAPP 702 - Research Methods in Urban and Public Policy Credit(s): 3
UAPP 689 - Innovation and Technology in Public and Nonprofit Organizations Credit(s): 3
UAPP 690 - Seminar: Public Administration Credit(s): 3
UAPP 691 - Quantitative Analysis in Public and Nonprofit Sectors Credit(s): 3
UAPP 693 - Economics in Public & Nonprofit Sectors Credit(s): 3
UAPP 694 - Financial Management in Public & Nonprofit Sectors Credit(s): 3
UAPP 696 - Human Resources in Public and Nonprofit Organizations Credit(s): 3
UAPP 697 - Leading Organizations in Public & NP Sectors Credit(s): 3
UAPP 860 - Internship Seminar Credit(s): 1

Specialization:

There are six areas of specializations in the MPA. Program. Each specialization has its own course requirements and electives. The areas of specialization are:

Nonprofit Management
Public Policy Analysis
Emergency Management
Public Management
Health Systems Management
Student-Designed Specialization (faculty approval required)

Nonprofit Management:

UAPP 673 - Governing Nonprofit Organizations Credit(s): 3
Select at least six additional credits from recommended courses or discuss other course options with your academic advisor.

Public Policy Analysis:

UAPP 701 - Public Policymaking Credit(s): 3
Select at least six additional credits from recommended courses or discuss other course options with your academic advisor.

Emergency Management:

DISA 650 - Overview of Disaster Science and Management Credit(s): 3
Select at least six additional credits from recommended courses or discuss other course options with your academic advisor.

Public Management:

UAPP 684 - Performance Management and Program Evaluation Credit(s): 3
Select at least six additional credits from recommended courses or discuss other course options with your academic advisor.

Health Systems Management:

UAPP 657 - Health Policy Credit(s): 3
Select at least six additional credits from recommended courses or discuss other course options with your academic advisor.

Student Designed:

Required BSPA Threshold Course: Determined in consulatation with Academic Advisor (three credits).
Select at least six additional credits from recommended courses or discuss other course options with your academic advisor.

Capstone Writing Requirement:

The capstone writing requirement is normally completed in the final semester of study. Students may choose either UAPP 699 - Capstone Project in Public Management and Policy (2 credits) or, for those considering graduate study at the PhD level, UAPP 869 - Master’s Thesis (6 credits). Check School/University policies for thesis guidelines. Your topic should be drawn from your specialization, or another area with your advisor’s permission.

UAPP 699 - Capstone Project in Public Management and Policy Credit(s): 2
or
UAPP 869 - Master’s Thesis Credit(s): 1-6