MPA Curriculum
MPA Degree Requirements
(a Minimum of 40 Credit Hours)
Required Core Courses
(9 Courses Consisting of 24
hours)
PLSC 510 Modern Public Administration (3 cr.)
An overview of the nature of public administration and its relation to politics and the tasks of the modern political system.
PLSC 515 Public Personnel Administration (3 cr.)
This course examines contemporary administration practices in public sector personnel management, particularly as related to the local level of government. Areas of emphasis include the collective bargaining process, discipline practices, grievance handling and arbitration preparation, affirmative action requirements and recruitment, and validation of evaluation and promotion practices.
PLSC 540 Public Budget Administration (3 cr.)
Part one of a two-semester sequence, this course examines varying approaches to public sector budgeting, the political context of budgeting decisions, and critical steps in preparing public budgets.
PLSC 610 Public Organization Theory (3 cr.)
An analysis of theories of organization in relation to government and public institutions.
PLSC 615 Public Budget Applications (2 cr.)
Focuses on an assessment of budgetary alternatives, reforms and innovations in the public sector. A budgeting simulation provides interactive experience with public sector budgeting practices.
PLSC 630 Public Bureaucracies and Policy Formation (3 cr.)
Focuses on the role of bureaucrats in public policy making. Examines both national and local policy making, and follows the process from agenda setting through evaluation.
PLSC 677 Analytical Methods for Public Administration (2 cr.)
Introduces research design theory and methods for doing research in public and nonprofit administration. Focus is on data collection techniques – surveys, interviews, focus groups, direct observation. Requires preparation of a research proposal, which can form the basis of a capstone project. Part one of a two-course sequence.
PLSC 678 Analytical Techniques for Public Administration (3 cr.)
Provides a comprehensive treatment of a range of quantitative techniques for public and nonprofit administration, including a rigorous examination of multiple regression analysis. This course helps students develop competencies for designing their own quantitative research and for analyzing quantitative work done by others. Part two of a two-course sequence.
PLSC 695 Research Seminar in Public Administration (2 cr.)
A capstone course in the public administration curriculum, acquainting students with the major research trends and problems in the discipline. Requires from the student a substantial research project, to be reviewed by three faculty members.
Restricted Elective Courses
(4
Courses Consisting of 8 to 12 Credit Hours)
- PLSC
565 Studies in State and Local Government (2 cr.)
- PLSC 587 Cooperative Education in Political Science
(3 cr.)
- PLSC 590/591/592 Special Topics (1-3 cr.)
- PLSC 597/598/599/ Independent Study (1-3 cr.)
- PLSC 620 Administrative Law (2 cr.)
- PLSC 625 Local Government Management (2 cr.)
- PLSC 635 Public Policy Analysis Techniques and Applications
(2 cr.)
- PLSC 640 Modern County Government (2 cr.)
- PLSC 645 Intergovernmental Relations (2 cr.)
- PLSC 650 Urban Poverty Policy (2 cr.)
- PLSC 655 Politics of Local Planning (2 cr.)
- PLSC 660 Public Health care Policy (2 cr.)
- PLSC 665 Basic Arbitration Training for Professionals
(2 cr.)
- PLSC 688 Practicum in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
- PLSC 697/698/699/ Independent Study (1-3 cr.)
*Click to See Restricted Elective Course Descriptions*
Concentrations
(Choose One - Each
Concentration Requires 4 Courses Consisting of 8 to 12 Credit Hours):
Public
Management
Gerontology
Health
Administration
Human
Resources Administration
Land
Planning & Development
Organization
Management
Public
Safety Administration
Non
Profit Management
