Public Administration, MPA

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The Master of Public Administration program is designed to teach students the fundamentals of leading and serving in the public and nonprofit sectors. The program focuses on students acquiring an extensive understanding of the structure, organization, and responsibilities of public and nonprofit entities, their own personal leadership style and ethics, budgeting and financial management, organizational behavior, and talent management, and the role of strategic communication in effective governance.

Through professional work experience, students who complete the program will also acquire the sector-specific professional experiences necessary to successfully serve in diverse and complex organizations. They will be able to apply public service ethics to complex decision-making processes and to identify and evaluate the needs of the broad diversity of localities and populations in the United States to make a positive impact on the lives of citizens and society.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Lead and manage in the public interest.
Participate in, and contribute to, the policy process.
Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment.
Articulate, apply, and advance a public service perspective.
Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.

Program CIP: 44.0401 - Public Administration.

Program SOC:

Program Requirements

The degree requirements include 27 hours of core courses, which includes an internship and capstone course, and 9 hours of electives totaling 36 semester hours.

Required Core Courses (27 sem. hrs.)

MPA Elective Courses (9 sem. hrs.)

Students must take nine semester hours of electives. They can choose to take three electives of their choosing for a generalist MPA degree or they can choose a concentration with prescribed elective courses. The concentrations and required courses are discussed further down.

Minimum Total Semester Hours: 36 sem. hrs.

Concentrations

Students can choose to take three electives of their choosing for a generalist MPA degree. Students also have the option to choose a concentration with prescribed elective courses in the following areas: Emergency and Disaster Management; Homeland Security and National Defense; and Non-Profit Management.

Emergency and Disaster Management Concentration

Homeland Security & National Defense Concentration

Non-profit Management Concentration

Internship & Professional Work Experience

Students are required to complete an internship of 100 hours. The three-credit internship allows students without significant work experience an opportunity to utilize skills and lessons gained in the classroom in a non-profit or public agency professional work environment. It will also provide occasions for students to receive mentorship, expand their professional networks, and increase employment prospects. The scope and responsibilities of the internship will be negotiated between the student and the host organization, with approval required by the College. A student project is required to complete the internship.

Professional Work Experience (PWE), defined as two years of full-time work experience in a government, non-profit, or business organization, can be used to fulfill the internship requirement. Students with verified PWE will choose an additional elective rather than complete the internship.