Public Administration, M.P.A.

The Master of Public Administration program is designed to provide students with the highest quality education in preparation for careers or advancement of careers and in public, nonprofit, and healthcare organizations. The program stresses the acquisition of academic theory and practical skill to foster an ethical and enduring commitment to public service values of serving the public interest with accountability and transparency; serving professionally with competence, efficiency and objectivity; acting ethically to uphold the public trust; and demonstrating respect, equity and fairness in dealings with the public and fellow workers.

• The program provides students with a public service perspective to do the following:
• Lead and manage organizations
• Understand and contribute to public policy
• Critically analyze policies, programs, problems, and issues and make pertinent recommendations
• Communicate effectively in oral and written discourse with a diverse and changing workforce and public.

Applicants to the M.P. A. program should complete the Graduate School application process and submit two letters of reference.

The M.P.A. degree is a non-thesis program that requires 36 hours of in-class coursework, a 3-hour internship, and a 3-hour capstone practicum. Of these hours, 27 are specified as core curriculum and must be completed by all students. The remaining hours are electives that are grouped as a combination of courses in a major field of concentration and, as determined by the admissions committee, an area of emphasis. The 3-hour internship can be substituted for in-service students with substantial public service work experience. In order to complete the required 42 hours, students who receive such approval will have a choice of submitting a report integrating their previous experience with the study of public administration or taking a 3-hour elective. There are no foreign language or thesis requirements. M.P. A. students must develop their courses of study in consultation with the department’s M.P. A. director. Comprehensive examinations are given just before the last semester of the candidate’s coursework.

Specialty tracks include public management, health administration, nonprofit administration, and environmental policy administration.
Courses are scheduled so that the M.P. A. degree may be obtained in evening study.