The
core curriculum consists of five clusters, each of which addresses
important elements of public administration knowledge and skills. The
clusters are: foundation of public administration, research and
analysis, management, financial management, and application. (The core
curriculum is a total of 33 credits.)
Core One - Foundation (12 credits/4 courses)
The foundation cluster consists of four courses providing the contexts
of public administration decision-making. This set of courses provides
all students with the scope and impacts of public administration both
intellectually and practically. Four courses are required.
20:834:501 Introduction to Public Administration (3)
20:834:515 Administrative Ethics (3)
20:834:521 Technology and Public Administration (3)
20:834:541 Economics for Public Administration (3)
Core Two - Research and Analysis (6 credits/2 courses)
The research and analysis cluster provides students with the tools to
be effective consumers of research, including the knowledge to
understand and evaluate research presented to them in classes and in
their careers. Students take two courses. Applied Statistics is a
prerequisite for Applied Research Design.
20:834:561 Applied Statistics (3)
20:834:562 Applied Research Design (3)
Core Three - Management (9 credits/3 courses)
The management cluster addresses three fundamental aspects of
management: the organizations in which goal-directed actions occur and
the human capital by which goals are achieved.
20:834:522 Managing Public Organizations (3)
20:834:523 Human Resources Administration (3)
20.834.524 The Public Policy Process (formerly known as Strategic Planning) (3)
Core Four - Financial Management (3 credits /1 course)
The financial management cluster gives all M.P.A. students a foundation
in the role of money in organizations, particularly budgeting. The
assumption is that effective management requires understanding of
financial management. One course is required.
20:834:542 Public Budgeting Systems (3)
Core Five - Application (3 credits/1 course)
20:834:563 Capstone Project (3)
The capstone provides students with an opportunity to integrate
learning from various courses with applied analysis of real-world
issues. Students work individually under the guidance of a faculty
member to develop a research design, carry out data collection and
analysis, evaluate their findings, and provide conclusions and
recommendations. The outputs are a project report and presentation to
fellow students, faculty members, and invited guests. The capstone
seminar serves as a culminating experience in the M.P.A. program. The
course allows students to draw on material presented throughout the curriculum
to develop and conduct an applied research project on a topic salient to public
or nonprofit administration. This seminar will prepare students to use the
skills they have developed throughout the program to analyze and solve key public
management and policy problems. Students will complete practical analytic
papers suitable for publication or public consumption as their key graded
assignment. These papers demonstrate each student's abilities and their
collective body of skills and knowledge acquired throughout the M.P.A. curriculum.
The capstone project challenges students to clearly articulate a research
question, identify best practices in the field through a literature review, and
develop and execute a research protocol, in which the student:
- defines a research question
that addresses an existing public or nonprofit problem;
- identifies a theoretical model
through which to approach the issue;
- selects appropriate data
collection methods;
- collects data;
- analyzes and interprets the
data; and
- develops a written report and
oral presentation of the findings and recommendations.
At the
conclusion of the course, students will have demonstrated effective research
skills, excellent oral and written communication skills, and will have
displayed the level of knowledge necessary for effectively managing a public or
nonprofit organization as a competent leader.
[Prerequisites:
26:834:561 Applied Statistics and 26:834:562 Applied Research Design in order.]
Degree Programs and Courses 
