Core Curriculum ::
Public Management Concentration ::
Human Resources Concentration ::
Dual Degree Programs
Academic Programs
Core Curriculum
The MPA degree requires 42 credit hours of study and can be achieved under the Thesis option or the Non-Thesis option.
Thesis option: Students complete 24 credit hours of core courses, 12 hours of concentration courses, and 6 credit hours of thesis.
Non-thesis option: Students complete 24 credit hours of core courses, 15 hours of concentration courses, and 3 credit hours of Professional Paper.
Core Courses: The core curriculum consists of 24 credit hours that cover the general concepts and common body of knowledge in the field of Public Administration.
PLEASE NOTE: Core courses must be completed before concentration courses. Student course registration will be reviewed, and students may be disenrolled if courses are not taken according to these SPA guidelines.
PADM 500: Public Management and Policy
Principles and methods of public management and policy analysis: policy formation and implementation, organizational relations, institutional development, administrative process and public sector ethics.
PADM 521: Institutional Development and Behavior
Survey of theories of public organization, principles for planning in the public sector, methods of developing organizations, implementing change and adapting to operational demands. Major issues of human behavior related to ethics and productivity.
PADM 525: Human Resources Management in the Public Sector
Survey of human resources management principles and practices in public sector organizations.
PADM 527: Employment Relations in the Public Sector
Survey of employment relations among employers, employees and government in the public sector, with particular attention to unionizations.
PADM 544: Public Budgeting
Basic management of public funds, preparation and processing of budgets, revenue projections and expenditure controls. Issues of public policy and establishment of priorities through budgeting.
PADM 546: Public Financial Administration
Analysis of financial management functions of government including treasure, comptroller, accounting, auditing and computer impact. Prerequisite: PADM 544.
PADM 596: Analytical Methods for Public Managers
Presents methods for inquiry and analysis by public managers and students of public administration. It covers strategies for the design of quantitative analysis projects and for collection of information in institutional and field settings. Prerequisite: MATH 145/STAT 145 or the equivalent
PADM 597: Computer Applications for Public Managers
This course represents the use of computers, and the role of information system technology in public sector institutions and management. It will cover the rudiments of hardware engineering and selection and will review the most commonly available software applications and their uses. Prerequisite: PADM 596.
