Master of Public Administration (MPA)
This degree provides graduate education to students for professional careers at all levels of public sector management: federal or state agencies, municipal government, non-profit organizations, and nongovernmental agencies working with government. The MPA degree with internship can be completed in two academic years. Degree requirements ensure each student will possess a theoretical understanding and practical application of the process of transforming public policy into results.
The program is flexible to suit different needs, objectives, and career goals. Students may choose from five available concentrations which combine the study of public administration with course work in a substantive policy area, or they may build a customized course of study through elective courses in consultation with the major advisor. Prior students have completed MPA elective courses in management; education; economics; information and communication science; environment and natural resources; marketing; accounting; social work; and sociology.
Many opportunities exist for participation in workshops and experiential learning settings with currently serving public and nonprofit administrators. Students without qualifying professional experience will be required to complete a full-time internship for credit.
To graduate, all students must complete a written portfolio that provides comprehensive examination of their graduate work, including:
- Major papers produced by students in their core requirement courses,
- Major papers produced to fulfill the student’s research requirements, and
- A 10-15 page active reflection essay evaluating how the process of creating this body of work enhanced the student’s knowledge and competency for public service.
Portfolios will be reviewed by the MPA examination committee consisting of core MPA faculty.
36-39 credits
Core requirement 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 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Research requirement for all concentrations, 3-6 credits
If RES 697 is chosen, it must be taken for 3 credits. If THES 698 is chosen, it must be taken for 6 credits.
MPA with Information & Communication Science Concentration, 15 credits
ICS concentration requirements, 6 credits
| ICS 620 | Information and Communication Technologies, Standards and Lab I | 3 |
| ICS 621 | Information and Communication Technologies, Standards and Lab II | 3 |
6 credits from
| CS 639 | Seminar in Computer Science | 1-6 |
| 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 | |
Electives, 3 credits
Select any 600-level course in POLS, ICS, or other as approved by the program director/advisor.
MPA with Social Issues & Policy Concentration, 15 credits
SIP concentration requirements, 12 credits
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 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
MPA with Urban Planning Concentration, 15 credits
UP concentration requirements, 12 credits
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 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
MPA with Adult Education Concentration, 15 credits
AE concentration requirements, 6 credits
| EDAC 631 | Adult and Community Education | 3 |
| EDAC 655 | Continuing Education for Professionals | 3 |
3 credits from
6 credits from
| EDAC 629 | Psychology of Adult Adjustment | 3 |
| EDAC 632 | Organizing Adult and Community Education Programs | 3 |
| EDAC 638 | Program Planning in Community and Adult Education | 3 |
| EDAC 644 | Collaborative Learning in Adult, Higher, and Community Education | 3 |
| EDAC 646 | Working with Volunteers in Community Agencies | 3 |
| EDAC 648 | The Community Educator | 3 |
| EDAC 681 | Managing Community Education | 3 |
| EDAC 698 | Seminar in Adult and Community Education | 3 |
| EDFO 660 | Comparative Education | 3 |
| EDMU 660 | Multicultural and Multiethnic Education in American Schools | 3 |
| EDST 680 | Staff Development to Strengthen Curriculum | 3 |
| EDST 697 | The Grant Process and Research | 3 |
| EDTE 660 | Instructional Design and Technology | 3 |
| EDTE 665 | Visual and Digital Literacies | 3 |
| EDTE 675 | Distance, Flexible, and Blended Education | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
MPA with Community Education Concentration, 15 credits
CE concentration requirements, 6 credits
6 credits from
| EDAC 638 | Program Planning in Community and Adult Education | 3 |
| EDAC 646 | Working with Volunteers in Community Agencies | 3 |
| EDAC 681 | Managing Community Education | 3 |
3 credits from
| EDAC 629 | Psychology of Adult Adjustment | 3 |
| EDAC 632 | Organizing Adult and Community Education Programs | 3 |
| EDAC 681 | Managing Community Education | 3 |
| EDAC 698 | Seminar in Adult and Community Education | 3 |
| EDST 697 | The Grant Process and Research | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
MPA with Customized Concentration, 15 credits
Electives, 15 credits
Select from the courses listed below, any 600-level courses in POLS, ICS, PLAN, or SOCW, or other 600-level courses as approved by the program director/advisor.
| EDST 697 | The Grant Process and Research | 3 |
| EDAC 631 | Adult and Community Education | 3 |
| EDAC 632 | Organizing Adult and Community Education Programs | 3 |
| EDAC 638 | Program Planning in Community and Adult Education | 3 |
| EDAC 681 | Managing Community Education | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Total Credit Hours: 36-39