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).
Coursework consists of a seven-course core curriculum, three courses in a chosen specialization, electives, and a semester internship for those students with less than three years of relevant full-time work experience.
Core Curriculum
All students in the M.P.A. program must complete the 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 a specialization in either public and nonprofit management or community development.
Public and Nonprofit Management (PNM) Specialization
The
public and nonprofit management specialization prepares students to serve in management and leadership positions in public sector agencies or nonprofit organizations. Courses provide students with knowledge and skills in administration, budgeting and finance,
communications, information systems, law, leadership, personnel, and
policy analysis essential for effective management.
In addition to the core curriculum, students specializing in public and nonprofit management must complete three of the following five courses:
56:834:505 Organizational Behavior (3)
56:834:536 Public Management Information Systems (3)
56:834:539 Race and Public Administration (3)
56:834:553 Financial Management of Public Programs (3)
56:834:559 Ethics in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors (3)
Community Development (CD) Specialization
The
community development specialization is designed to introduce students to theoretical and applied
aspects of power, policy, advocacy, and resource allocation important to effective and just 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)
One of the following:
56:834:604 The Solidarity Economy (3)
56:834:606 Poverty Alleviation Strategies (3)
56:834:609 Politics of Community Development
56:834:613 Immigration and Community Development (3)
56:834:619 Practicum in Sustainable Community Development (3)
One of the following:
56:834:608 Geographic Information Systems in the Public Sector (3)
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)
Executive Master of Public Administration
This program is limited to students with the requisite work experience and consists of the same seven course core curriculum listed above, plus three additional 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 
