The master of public administration degree requires all students to:
1. satisfactorily complete 42 credits of coursework with a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0. No more than 9 credits with a grade of C or C+ are allowed.
2. satisfactorily complete all requirements in a concentration.
The 42 credits of coursework are divided into 21 credits required under the core courses and 21 credits of specialized courses, electives, seminars, internships, specialized courses for concentration, and research requirement. The exact mix, as well as some specific courses a student must take, is determined by the concentration chosen.
Students may enroll in elective courses through the School of Law-Camden, the School of Business-Camden, and other departments on the Camden, New Brunswick, and Newark campuses. Students wishing to take such electives must obtain, in writing, the approval of both the Department of Public Policy and Administration and the school or department in which the proposed elective is to be taken.
Educational Policy and Leadership Concentration
The educational policy and leadership concentration is oriented toward educational administrators who display the potential and motivation necessary to assume responsibilities as school principals. The two-year program includes rigorous course work, seminars, and a one-year internship under the supervision of a qualified mentor principal and a Rutgers faculty mentor. Upon completion of the program, successful participants will have earned an M.P.A. degree with an educational policy and leadership concentration, and will have fulfilled the requirements for a certificate of eligibility as school principal, including (1) written examination (administered through ETS) and (2) assessment (incorporated into the program requirements through the administration of the PROFILOR and offered directly through Rutgers-Camden).
Students in this program must complete the core courses (21 credits) for the M.P.A. degree, as well as the specialized educational policy seminars and a one-year internship. Degree requirements are as follows:
56:834:501 Foundations of Policy Analysis (3)
56:834:503 Law and Public Policy (3)
56:834:505 Organizational Behavior (3)
56:834:515 Introduction to Public Budgeting and Finance (3)
56:834:525 Public Management (3)
56:834:535 Research Methods (3)
56:834:536 Public Information Systems (3)
In addition to the above core courses, all educational policy and leadership students are required to complete four specialized seminars (12 credits) from among the following:
56:834:522 Educational Supervision of Instruction (3)
56:834:557 Human Resources Management (3)
56:834:558 Executive Leadership and Communication Skills (3)
56:834:612 or 56:834: 613 Colloquium in Educational Policy and Leadership (3) Topics may include systematic school reform, partnerships and school improvement, managing change, and leadership strategies for transforming schools.
Nine additional credits are required in the educational policy and leadership internship. Students will be placed under the mentoring and supervision of a school principal to gain additional administrative and research expertise through individual fieldwork.
56:834:543 Educational Policy and Leadership Internship I (6)
56:834:544 Educational Policy and Leadership Internship II (3)
56:834:545 Models for Planning and Policy in Education (3)
56:834:546 Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Education (3)
56:834:547 Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement (3)
56:834:548 Developing Curriculum for Deep Learning (3)
56:834:549 Curriculum Leadership (3)
International Public Service and Development Concentration
The international public service and development concentration combines graduate-level studies in public policy and administration with coursework on community service, international development policy and administration, and nonprofit management. Students in this concentration serve a placement in the Peace Corps or other approved international development organizations (one-year minimum). Students who serve a Peace Corps placement will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Peace Corps in addition to the M.P.A. degree.
Students in the international public service and development concentration are required to complete the following core courses during one academic year in residence:
56:834:501 Foundations of Policy Analysis (3)
56:834:503 Law and Public Policy (3)
56:834:505 Organizational Behavior (3)
56:834:515 Introduction to Public Budgeting and Finance (3)
56:834:525 Public Management (3)
56:834:535 Research Methods (3)
56:834:536 Public Information Systems (3)
In addition to the core courses, all international public service and development students are required to take:
56:834:556 International Community Development (3)
56:834:605 Nongovernmental Organization Management and Development (3)
56:834:606,607 Colloquium: International Economic Development (3,3)
56:834:676 International Public Service Internship and Directed Study (9)
Public Management Concentration
The public management concentration is designed to provide public employees or those preparing for service in the public sector with essential knowledge and skills in administration, budgeting and finance, communications, information systems, law, leadership, personnel, and policy analysis that are important for effective management in local, state, and federal agencies or nonprofit organizations.
Students in the public management concentration are required to complete the following core courses during their first two semesters (full-time students) or three semesters (part-time students):
56:834:501 Foundations of Policy Analysis (3)
56:834:503 Law and Public Policy (3)
56:834:505 Organizational Behavior (3)
56:834:515 Introduction to Public Budgeting and Finance (3)
56:834:525 Public Management (3)
56:834:535 Research Methods (3)
56:834:536 Public Information Systems (3)
In addition to the 21 credits of core courses, students in the public management concentration must take:
56:834:541 Internship I (3)*
56:834:553 Financial Management of Public Programs (3)
56:834:557 Human Resources Management (3)
56:834:558 Executive Leadership and Communication Skills (3)
56:834:675 Research Workshop (3)
Two electives and/or seminars (6)
