Public Administration, Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Introduction

The Master of Public Administration degree program (MPA) is a graduate professional degree program that helps students prepare for careers in public service in the 21st Century. Founded in 1987, the program requires the completion of a total of 36 semester hours, including a minimum of 27 hours of Public Administration Core courses (including the Capstone report and Professional Internship) and 9 hours of concentration courses in order to earn the Master of Public Administration Degree. There are presently four 9-hour concentrations. Three are offered within the program and one (criminal justice administration) is offered through a collaborative arrangement with the departments of criminal justice:  

  1. Criminal Justice Administration
  2. Public Management
  3. Health Administration & Policy
  4. Human Resources Management

The goal of the program is to provide quality education that helps prepare people to work in government and nonprofit management at the community, state and federal levels. The program also conducts research and renders assistance to community groups and agencies as a means of providing a vital link between the institution, the program and the community.

Education Philosophy

We believe that in order to become effective managers students should understand the five domain competencies outlined by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs & Administration (NASPAA). These include abilities

  • to lead and manage in public governance;
  • to participate in and contribute to the public policy process;
  • to analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions;
  • to articulate and apply a public service perspective; and
  • to communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.

In order to help students, achieve these competencies, the program incorporates both practice and theory.