MPA 8010 : Management Internship
Administrative field experience in an agency or organization. Permission of the MPA Director required.
Public Administration
Degrees and Certificates
The mission of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is to offer graduates the knowledge of values, roles, skills, and practices that will help them become competent professionals capable of ethical, intelligent, inclusive, and creative leadership in public service. This program is offered either fully on-campus, fully online, or in a hybrid format (multi-modality).
This program is NASPAA accredited.
Classes
MPA 8011 : Public Administration Theory
Explore fundamental public service delivery concepts through the evaluation of classical and emerging theories in light of contemporary public challenges. Students apply frameworks to case studies, building a sophisticated toolkit for managing the complexities of 21st-century public institutions.
Credits
3MPA 8012 : Individual Research I
An individual research project under the direction of public administration faculty member. Permission of MPA Director and consent of faculty member required.
Credits
3MPA 8013 : Individual Research II
An individual research project under the direction of public administration faculty member. Permission of MPA Director and consent of faculty member required.
Credits
3MPA 8020 : Comprehensive Exam Prep Course
Must have taken all MPA required courses (MPA 8011-8061) and completed 24 credits.
Credits
0MPA 8021 : Leadership Ethics
The application of theories and organizational practices to the ethical decision-making process and the development of skills and habits necessary to attain ethical competence in the field of public service.
Credits
3MPA 8031 : Financial Management
The study of financial management of government and nonprofit organizations, emphasizing financial reporting, public revenue systems, budget practices, financial condition analysis, benchmarking, and forecasting in support of fiscal decision-making.
Credits
3MPA 8041 : Human Centered Management
This course explores the study of Human-centered leadership principles and Human Resource principles and Human Resources practices to help students develop the skills needed to engage nonprofit and government employees in meaningful public service work.
Credits
3MPA 8051 : Applied Research Methods
This course introduces applied research methods for public-sector leadership, focusing on data-based decision making and evaluation. Students gain technical proficiency in Excel to transform qualitative and quantitative data into actionable intelligence while evaluating the ethical use of data in public policy leadership.
Credits
3MPA 8061 : Organization Theory
The study of the similarities and differences in various formal and complex organizations, the structures and dynamics of these organizations, and the theories applicable to such organizations.
Credits
3MPA 8100 : Policy Analysis
The study of public policy analysis as an applied social science, emphasizing the identification of policy problems, the development of policy alternatives, and the systematic comparison of alternatives using evidence and analytical tools, including cost-benefit analysis.
Credits
3MPA 8199 : Spec Top in Public Admin
Selected subjects of special interest in public administration.
Credits
3MPA 8200 : Strategic Communication
The study of the communication process within and among complex organizations and the listening, writing, and speaking skills needed to promote better relations among individuals and organizations.
Credits
3MPA 8299 : Spec Top in Public Admin
Selected subjects of special interest in public administration. Three one-credit courses may be used to substitute for a three-credit elective.
Credits
1MPA 8400 : Strategic Planning
The study of strategic planning and management with special emphasis upon planning models as well as planning functions. Strategic planning and management are used as synonyms in this course; however, the literature distinguishes planning as more cognitive, while management as action and implementation.
Credits
3MPA 8500 : Effective City Management
Relating to community, working with the governing body, creating the organizational climate for excellence, overseeing the delivery of services, promoting the community's future, conducting relations with other governments, and maintaining personal effectiveness.
Credits
3MPA 8550 : Urban Politics and Government
The study of institutions, powers, and policy challenges shaping governance in cities and metropolitan regions. Topics include the historical evolution of cities and suburbs, the legal and political foundations of municipal government, and selected contemporary policy issues affecting urban areas.
Credits
3MPA 8600 : Effective Non-Prof Mgmt
Examination of nonprofit civic and political involvement, ethics and accountability, leadership and board development, human resources practices, financial management and performance measurement, philanthrophy and fundraising, volunteer management, and marketing and communications.
Credits
3MPA 8700 : Fundraising for Non-Prof Org
This course introduces fundraising for nonprofit organizations, including annual, major/capital, and planned giving, donor relations, ethics, and development office operations. Students develop practical skills through creating a case for support, grant proposal, annual appeal, and analyzing a comprehensive development plan.
Credits
3MPA 8800 : Managing Public Networks
Theories of federalism, intergovernmental relations, and intergovernmental and intersectoral networks, collaborative decision-making approaches and negotiating skills.
Credits
3MPA 8900 : Public Policy
The study of the public policy process, focusing on how policy ideas are translated into laws and regulations, the roles of political institutions and actors across levels of government, the implementation of public policies, and the evaluation of policy outcomes.