Master of Public Administration (MPA)
This degree provides graduate professional education to students who wish to prepare for careers in public management at the federal, state, or local government level, with nonprofit organizations, or with private sector corporations extensively involved with government. A fulltime student can complete the MPA program, including internship, in two academic years. The requirements of the program ensure that each student will have a theoretical understanding and practical awareness of public policy and of the principles of management and administration in the public sector and nonprofit sector.
The flexibility of the program allows students to tailor an interdisciplinary curriculum to their needs, objectives, and goals. Program options include disciplinary concentrations, which allow students to combine the study of public administration and policy with course work in substantive policy areas.
Alternatively, students may choose to build a customized course of study through elective courses. Each student’s background will be evaluated individually, and recommendations on program content will be made according to the student’s educational and job experiences and career
plans. Selection of such courses must be made in consultation with the major advisor. Students may complete part of their MPA elective courses in such departments as accounting,
criminal justice and criminology, information and communication science, economics, journalism, educational leadership, marketing, management, natural resources and environmental management, social work, and sociology.
Many opportunities exist for student participation in workshops and experiential learning settings where students can interact with public and nonprofit administrators. Students
without appropriate professional experience will be required to complete a full-time internship for credit.
Before graduation, all students must pass written examination, which consists of a portfolio of work that includes:
- Majors papers produced by the students in the courses in the core area of study.
- Majors papers produced to fulfill the student’s research requirements, and
- An evaluative, reflective essay of 10-15 pages that describes how the process of creating this body of work has enhanced the student’s knowledge and competency for public service.
The MPA examination committee, consisting of three faculty members from the MPA core faculty, will review the portfolio.
Degree requirements
36-41 credits
Core area of study for all concentrations (18 credits)
| POLS 625 | Research Methods in Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 648 | Policy Design and Advocacy | 3 |
| POLS 650 | Introduction to Public and Nonprofit Administration | 3 |
| POLS 651 | Managing Organizations for Public Services | 3 |
| POLS 652 | Managing Human Resources for Public Services | 3 |
| POLS 653 | Public and Nonprofit Financial Management | 3 |
Research requirement for all concentrations (3-6 credits)
If RES 697 is chosen, it must be taken for 3 credits; if THES 698, it must be taken for 6 credits.
MPA with Criminal Justice and Criminology Concentration 15 credits
MPA with Criminal Justice and Criminology Concentration (15 credits)
Electives in public administration or related area as approved by the department
CJC concentration requirements
| CJC 650 | Criminal Justice Administration | 3 |
| CJC 651 | Interpersonal Relations in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJC 652 | Philosophical Aspects of Criminal Justice Practice | 3 |
| CJC 690 | Independent Study in Criminal Justice | 1 TO 3 |
MPA with Information and Communication Technology Concentration (17 credits)
Elective in public administration or related area as approved by the department (3 credits)
ICS concentration requirements (14 credits)
| ICS 620 | Information and Communication Technologies, Standards and Lab I | 4 |
| ICS 621 | Information and Communication Technologies, Standards and Lab II | 4 |
6 credits from
| CS 639 | Seminar in Computer Science | 3 TO 6 |
| ICS 623 | Systems Engineering in Information & Communication Technology | 3 |
| ICS 624 | Knowledge Management | 3 |
| ICS 645 | Database Systems and Analytics | 3 |
| ICS 691 | Internet, TCP/IP, and Internetworking | 3 |
| ISOM 601 | Introduction to Computer and Network Security | 3 |
| MBA 623 | Electronic Commerce | 3 |
| | or | |
| | other courses as approved by the ICT certificate advisor | |
MPA with Social Issues and Policy (SIP) Concentration (15 credits)
SIP concentration requirements
3 credits from
| SOCW 602 | Diversity, Oppression, and Privilege | 3 |
| SOCW 612 | Social Work Practice 2 | 3 |
| SOCW 630 | Micro Perspectives of Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| SOCW 631 | Macro Perspectives of Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| SOCW 674 | Social Work in Health Care | 3 |
| SOCW 682 | Advanced Social Welfare Policyand Programs | 3 |
MPA with Urban Planning (UP) Concentration (15 credits)
UP concentration requirements
3 credits from
| PLAN 512 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems for Urban Planning | 3 |
| PLAN 530 | Housing and Community Development | 3 |
| PLAN 585 | Introduction to Community Development and Enterprise Planning | 3 |
| PLAN 605 | Design and Presentation Techniques | 1 TO 3 |
| PLAN 637 | Impact Analysis | 3 |
MPA with customized course of study concentration 15 credits
MPA with Customized Course of Study Concentration (15 credits)
Electives in public administration and related areas as approved by the department