Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)
The master of public administration (M.P.A.) degree requires all students to satisfactorily
complete 42 credits of coursework with a minimum cumulative grade-point
average of 3.0 (no more than 6 credits with a grade of C or C+ are
allowed), and satisfactorily complete all requirements in a program specialization.
Coursework consists of a seven-course core curriculum required for all students, and additional courses in a specialization, electives, and an internship.
Students may enroll in elective courses through the Rutgers Law School in Camden, the School of Business-Camden, and other departments at Rutgers University-Camden, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, and Rutgers University-Newark with prior permission from the M.P.A. graduate director and the school or department in which the proposed elective is to be taken.
Core Curriculum
All students in the M.P.A. program must complete 42 credits including a seven-course core curriculum:
56:834:501 Foundations of Policy Analysis (3)
56:834:503 Law and Public Policy (3)
56:834:515 Introduction to Public Budgeting and Finance (3)
56:834:525 Public and Nonprofit Management (3)
56:834:535 Research Methods (3)
56:834:557 Human Resources Management (3)
56:834:675 Research Workshop (3) (prerequisite: all core courses)
Specializations
All students select an additional specialization in either public management or community development.
Public Management (PM) Specialization
The
public management specialization is designed to provide public and nonprofit managers 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.
In addition to the core curriculum, students specializing in public management take:
56:834:505 Organizational Behavior (3)
56:834:536 Public Management Information Systems (3)
56:834:553 Financial Management of Public Programs (3)
Community Development (CD) Specialization
The
community development specialization is designed to provide students
with theoretical and applied exposure to domestic and international
aspects of power, policy, advocacy, and resource allocation to address
issues in urban public administration.
In addition to the core courses, students specializing in community development take:
56:834:603 History and Practice of Community Development (3)
56:834:604 Alternative Development Strategies (3) OR 56:834:606
Poverty Alleviation Strategies (3) OR 56:834:613 Immigration and Community Development (3) OR 56:834:619 Practicum in Sustainable Community Development (3)
56:834:608 Geographic Information Systems in the Public Sector (3) OR 56:834:536 Public Management Information Systems (3)
Internship
Unless waived for relevant work
experience, students complete a one-semester, 3-credit internship under faculty supervision in order to gain experience working in public agencies or nonprofit organizations.
56:834:541 Internship I (3)
Optional Policy Focus
In addition, students may opt for a policy focus in one of two areas, education policy or international public service and development, as a way to structure the M.P.A. elective course requirement.
To complete the education policy focus, students take:
56:834:546 Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Education (3)
56:834:547 Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement (3)
56:834:549 Curriculum Leadership (3)
To complete the international public service and development policy focus, students take:
56:834:556 International Negotiations (3)
56:834:616 International Economic Development (3)
56:834:670 International Conflict and Conflict Resolution (3)
Executive Master of Public Administration
Students with the requisite work experience who are admitted to the executive M.P.A. program take the same seven course core curriculum listed above, plus three more public administration courses: 56:834:505 Organizational Behavior, 56:834:536 Public Management Information Systems, and 56:834:558 Executive Leadership and Communication Skills, for a total of 10 courses. The program utilizes a
cohort model in which students move through the program together. Classes meet on Saturday mornings in West Windsor, New Jersey, and are taught in a hybrid learning format.
Graduate School-Camden 
