Course Curriculum

MPA 5100 Theories of Public Administration and Democratic Governance (3)

Socio-economic, political contexts of public administration; role of public administration in the politico! process; social values, ethics and public interest; characteristics of public bureaucracy, theories and practices; role and responsibility in democratic accountability, governance. 

3 hours seminar.

MPA 5010 Public
Policy Formulation and Implementation (3)

Public policymaking politics, process and execution in the public, public/private and public/not-for-profit context. Emphasis on policy development, planning, implementation strategies, organizational adaptation and assessing consequences for diverse community interests.

3 hours seminar.

MPA 5020 Public Fiscal Administration (3)

Examines public agency discretionary decision making, administrative controls, agency coordination, rivalry; intergovernmental relations and budgetary process; emphasis on budgetary reform, planning, process, capital and operating budgets, fiscal management, public accounting procedures; integrated financial management systems.

3 hours seminar.

MPA 5030 Public Human Resources Issues and Management (3)

Public service concepts, institutions; relationship to executive and legislative functions and issues; adult learning theories, group dynamics; human resource issues including workforce diversity, collaboration, conflict; use of volunteers; assessment methods and instruments. 

3 hours seminar.

MPA 5040 Quantitative Methods for Public Sector Issues (3)

Quantitative methodologies to define, execute, monitor, manage policy, program, and projects. Emphasis on problem-solving, actual applications to organizational issues and ethical use of information and analysis in serving diverse community interests. 

3 lectures/problem-solving/ seminars 

MPA 5080 Ethics and Law in  Public Administration (3)

An examination of administrative ethics and administrative law as related subfields of
the study of public administration in the United States, with special emphasis on
practical considerations of individual choice, agency structure, public accountability
and the processes of agency action and decision making.

3 hours lecture/discussion

MPA 6000 Seminar on the Integration of Theories, Methods, and Practices (3)

Integration of major theoretical, methodological and practical subject matter; use of case studies, examination of reports, practitioner assessment; preparation and administration of field interviews; selection and presentation of project topic or master's thesis proposal. 

3 hours seminar. Prerequisites: All core courses should be completed.
Unconditional standing required.

MPA 6950 Project (3)
OR
MPA 6960 Thesis (3)
OR
MPA 6070 Exam (3)

Project integrating theories and methodologies; focus on practical concerns
and issues of public and nonpublic agencies, diverse perspectives within a task-oriented framework. Contract with participating agency. Faculty and practitioner supervision.
Specialized activity.   MPA 6000 and unconditional standing

Thesis: compilation, evaluation, interpretation, and presentation in thesis form of
individual research supervised by faculty advisor. 

Prerequisites: Completion of all core courses. Specialized activity.
MPA 6000 and unconditional standing.

Examination: Preparation for and completion of the written comprehensive examination.
This exam or any subpart may be taken no more than two times.
Failure to complete the examination or any subpart satisfactorily the second time will
result in termination form the program. Advancement to candidacy is required.
MPA 6000 and unconditional standing