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MPA Curriculum

Developing the skills necessary to be a leader in the public service rests upon four basic elements: knowledge, skills, values, and behavior. The MPA program is organized around (1) core courses, (2) focus area, (3) supervised field internship, and (4) capstone to develop leaders in public policy and management.

(1) Core Courses

Course Title

Course Descriptions
PP 5397 Introduction to Public Policy

This course focuses on the policy process, major policy domains, and ethics and decision making in public policy. Case studies are used as a vehicle for improving writing and presentation skills.
PP 5375 Analytic Tools for Public Problems

This course applies basic microeconomic analysis to public policy and management problems. The principal goal of the course is to teach students economic reasoning so they can use the tools of microeconomic analysis to help untangle the complex policy problems they will confront as policy makers, policy analysts, and administrators. Some specific topics include supply and demand; budget constraints; utility theory; cost and production curves; the nature of markets; elasticity of demand, supply, and income; and application of economic tools to policy and management problems, such as rent control, minimum wage laws, taxation, etc.
PP 5376 Applied Quantitative Methods

This course focuses on the following key elements of statistics: descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis, probability theory, statistical inference, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. Students learn how to describe a data set, use it to make inferences, and analyze management and public policy issues.
PP 5370 Applied Research Design

In PP 5370 students learn the application of the tools and methods of social science research in order to develop the requisite skills to design high quality research. The course also enables students to be better consumers and translators of research reported in the news media and in professional journals.  Some topics include experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental designs; validity; reliability; and analysis techniques such as survey research.
PP 5342 Policy Analysis

This course focuses on the approaches and techniques used to evaluate public programs and public policy. Some topics include program evaluation techniques;  the economic reasons for government; efficiency and equity; time value of money; and cost-benefit analysis.
PP 5361 Theory of Public Organizations

This course provides students with concepts and methods important to understanding the behavior of people in public and nonprofit organizations.  Students examine the structures and processes that operate day-to-day in these organizations, how people attempt to change organizations, and how organizations react to both their external environments and the individuals within the organization.  Some course topics include effectiveness and performance; strategic planning; organizational structure and design; organizational change; diagnosing organizational problems;  identifying emerging conditions, problems and needs of organizations; leadership; organizational culture;  theories and methods for understanding behavior of people in organizations; and IT management.

PP 5364 Public Finance and Budgeting

 This course covers the techniques, practices, and organization of the financial functions in governmental administration.  Some topics include tools for analyzing revenue systems; analysis of specific revenues (such as income, sales, and property taxes); analysis of financial statements; costs concepts; budget cycles; and applied budgeting exercises.
PP 5365 Human Resource Management

In PP 5365 students learn about human resource management responsibilities in public and non-profit organizations.  The course covers topics such as diversity at work;  strategies for increasing effectiveness and satisfaction of individuals and their motivation; personal values and beliefs and approaches to human resources in organizations; skills, tools, and procedures for managing human resources (hiring, termination, recruiting, training, ADA, etc); negotiation, mediation and other labor-management relations;  conflict resolution; and interpersonal communication in an organizational context.

 

(2) Area of Focus

Student complete at least 12 credits in an area of focus that supports their career goals. More than one focus area can be developed. Our particular areas of strength are public finance and budgeting, nonprofit management, survey research, and public policy analysis.

Of course, students have the opportunity to develop their own focus area. Examples of other focus areas pursued by students in the past include local government management, environmental policy, educational leadership, international studies and social policy. Students are not limited to the Department of Public Policy for their focus area courses. In fact, the MPA program encourages students to choose courses in other departments or schools as part of their focus areas.

Sometimes area of focuses courses can count toward the completion of a graduate certificate. The Department of Public Policy offers a Graduate Certificate in Public & Nonprofit Management (PNPM); a Graduate Certificate in Public Financial Management (PFM); and a Graduate Certificate in Survey Research (SR).

Below are some examples of past courses that have been offered in our areas of strength. The courses offered vary from year-to-year.  Students also have a substantial introduction to these focus areas through the core courses.

Public Finance and Budgeting: PP 5318 Introduction to Financial Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations; PP 5317 Capital Financing and Budgeting; PP 5397 Investment Analysis; PP 5373 Budgeting in Public Service Organizations

Survey Research: PP 5379 Principles and Methods of Survey Research; PP 5386 Attitude Formation; PP 5382 Advanced Quantitative Methods

Nonprofit Management:  PP 5323 Leadership and Management of Nonprofit Organizations; PP 5324 Resource Development for Nonprofit Organizations; PP 5318 Introduction to Financial Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations; PP 5319 Program Development and Evaluation

Public Policy Analysis: PP 5397 Analysis for Management Decision Making (formerly Policy Tools); PP 5382 Advanced Quantitative Methods; PP 5322 Evaluating Public Programs

 

(3) Supervised Field Internship

Students test classroom theory during their internship and develop contacts that might lead to securing a position after graduation. Internships are an integral part of the MPA program. A student who has not had significant career experience must complete six credits of internship.


Internships can be completed during the summer between the first and second year or during the second year. The MPA program offers a number of unique Internship and Professional Practice (IPP) internships. Student IPP interns work with the hosting organizations during an entire academic year. The expected student time commitment is 15 hours per week. This provides IPP interns with the time to take on significant responsibilities during their internships. Please click here for more about the IPP program.


Some or the entire internship requirement may be waived if the student has professional experience. These waivers will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Questions about applying for a waiver should be addressed to the Administrative Program Director.

 

(4) Capstone project

The capstone requirement is 6 credits and consists of PP 5315 Capstone in Public Administration I taken in the fall semester and PP 5316 Capstone in Public Administration II taken in the spring semester.  Students work in teams over the course of the academic year to complete a research project for an organization.  PP 5315 focuses on project development and scope as well as the project management skills necessary to conduct the applied research project.  During the second semester, students complete the research, produce a report detailing their approach and findings, and present their research results to their clients.  Students draw upon techniques covered in PP 5315 and concepts learned in the core courses to provide an analysis of a problem and recommendations for the organization.


Model Program

Please click here for model programs for Full-Time and Part-Time study.