The MPPA degree consists of 40 credit hours, 25 of which are taken as part of the core curriculum and 15 that are electives. Students who complete the degree must demonstrate the ability to:
All candidates for the MPPA degree must complete 25 hours in the core curriculum sequence composed of the following public policy administration courses:
Policy Analysis and Economics
P P ADM 6000, Introduction to Policy Analysis
ECON 5550, Economics for Public Policy Analysis
P P ADM 6900, Cases in Public Policy Administration
Public Administration and Budgeting
P P ADM 6400, Public Administration: Theory & Practice
P P ADM 6490, Human Resources in the Public Sector
P P ADM 6180, Governmental Budgeting and Financial Control
Statistics, Research Methods, and Information Technology
P P ADM 6010, Introduction to Policy Research
P P ADM 6750, Applied Research Design
P P ADM 6850, E-Governance in the Public Sector
Internship
An internship is required. After completing the core coursework, students work with the internship coordinator to identify a placement that provides an individualized practical experience. If the student has significant public or nonprofit sector experience, the student may request that the internship requirement be waived, in which case another 3-hour elective course would be selected. See internship guidelines for more information.
P P ADM 6000 should be taken at the beginning of the program. It is strongly recommended that P P ADM 6010 and ECON 5550 be taken early in a student’s course plan. P P ADM 6900 is a capstone course and must be taken toward the end of the program.
A thesis is not required to complete the program. However, writing is an important component of the degree, and students will complete written analyses as part of their coursework and/or internship.
Students may select one of three emphasis areas in which to concentrate their advanced studies:
Students may also select an individualized emphasis area in consultation with their advisor and with approval of the Director.
Prior to the completion of 15 hours in the MPPA program, students should identify an emphasis area. In each of the emphasis areas students may be able to substitute another course for a specified elective, with the MPPA Director’s approval. Specific requirements for each emphasis area are as follows:
| Required | |||
| POL SCI 6402 | Intermediate Techniques in Policy Research | 3 | |
| or | |||
| ECON 4100 | Introduction to Econometrics | ||
| Electives | |||
| Select four of the following: | 12 | ||
|
BUS AD 5001
|
Managerial Economic Analysis | ||
|
POL SCI 6403
|
Advanced Techniques in Policy Research | ||
|
or ECON 4110
|
Applied Econometrics | ||
|
or ECON 5110
|
Topics in Applied Econometrics | ||
|
ECON 4160
|
Geospatial Analysis in the Social Sciences | ||
|
ECON 4170
|
Fundamentals of Cost-Benefit Analysis | ||
|
ECON 4550
|
Natural Resource Economics | ||
|
POL SCI 6404
|
Multi-Method Research Design | ||
|
POL SCI 6422
|
Law, Courts and Public Policy | ||
|
POL SCI/P P ADM 6444
|
Seminar in Public Policy and Aging | ||
|
POL SCI 6452
|
Public Policy of Conservation and Sustainable Development | ||
|
SOC WK 6443
|
Health Care Policy | ||
|
or POL SCI 6443
|
Health Care Policy | ||
|
P P ADM 6950
|
Internship (in assignment relevant to the emphasis area) | ||
|
HIGHERED 6422
|
Policy Analysis of Higher Education | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | ||
| Required 1 | ||
| P P ADM 6340 | Seminar in City Administration | 3 |
| or | ||
| P P ADM 6350 | Issues in Urban Management | |
| P P ADM 6470 | Proseminar in Urban Politics | 3 |
| or | ||
| P P ADM 6471 | Seminar In Urban Politics | |
| Electives | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
|
P P ADM 6600
|
Managing People in Organizations | |
|
P P ADM 6300
|
Leadership and Management in Nonprofit Organizations | |
|
P P ADM 6340
|
Seminar in City Administration | |
|
P P ADM 6350
|
Issues in Urban Management | |
|
P P ADM 6470
|
Proseminar in Urban Politics | |
|
P P ADM 6471
|
Seminar In Urban Politics | |
|
P P ADM 6510
|
Urban and Regional Planning and Public Policy | |
|
P P ADM 6800
|
Management Information Systems | |
|
P P ADM 6950
|
Internship (in assignment relevant to emphasis area) | |
|
ECON 4160
|
Geospatial Analysis in the Social Sciences | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
| 1 |
For Local Government Management specialization, a course not taken to fulfill the “required six hours” may be taken as an elective. |
Nonprofit Organization Management and Leadership
| Required | ||
| P P ADM 6300 | Leadership and Management in Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| P P ADM 6310 | American Philanthropy and Nonprofit Resources Development | 3 |
| P P ADM 6311 | Staff Management Issues in Nonprofit Organizations | 1 |
| P P ADM 6312 | Legal Issues in Managing Nonprofit Organizations | 1 |
| P P ADM 6313 | Financial Issues in Managing Nonprofit Organizations | 1 |
| Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
|
ACCTNG 3451
|
Accounting for Governmental and Not-For-Profit Entities | |
|
BUS AD 5100
|
Managerial Communication | |
|
BUS AD 5900
|
Law, Ethics and Business | |
|
MKTG 5700
|
Contemporary Marketing Concepts | |
|
P P ADM 6501
|
Selected Topics in Nonprofit Management and Leadership | |
|
P P ADM 6550
|
Strategic and Program Planning for Nonprofit Organizations | |
|
P P ADM 6600
|
Managing People in Organizations | |
|
P P ADM 6800
|
Management Information Systems | |
|
P P ADM 6950
|
Internship (in assignment relevant to the emphasis area) | |
|
PSYCH 7412
|
Social Psychology | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Prior to the completion of 15 hours in the MPPA program, the student must present a proposal for 15 hours of specific coursework for approval by the MPPA faculty. The 15 hours must include P P ADM 6950, Internship (in an assignment relevant to the emphasis area) unless the student has significant public or nonprofit sector experience, in which case the internship may be waived and another 3-hour course is selected. See internship guidelines for more information.
