Master of Public Administration
Program Mission
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program equips graduate students to become competent, confident, and ethical leaders to implement public policy effectively, efficiently, and responsively. Our goal is to develop Christ-centered difference makers in the public sector environment promoting justice through scholarship and leading transformative practice.
The MPA prepares students to become leaders of change in their communities and government agencies by providing comprehensive academic choices: communication and the public sector, data analytics, government budgeting, health policy and public administration, organizational science, and public sector business administration. The program’s rigorous focus is on research, writing, and managerial decision making using data and cultural awareness to achieve the public good.
Our vision is to:
- Prepare pre-service and midcareer professionals to manage and make evidence-based decisions.
- Develop skills in critical thinking, analysis, data use, and research evaluation for meaningful real-world applications.
- Equip future leaders to think creatively and innovatively to solve problems and transform public, nonprofit, and private organizations.
- Prepare culturally confident public sector leaders who nurture collaborative relationships with diverse groups and lead in work, home, and community contexts.
Highlights
- The MPA program equips students with strong moral character and the leadership and analytical skills needed to lead change in today’s public-sector environment.
- Relevant coursework and real-world projects guided by faculty with business experience allow students to immediately apply learning at work.
- Focused certificates and credentials provide in-demand skills, know-how, and experience, verifying and showcasing students’ skills and abilities to potential employers.
- Students learn from Fulbright Scholars and world-renowned professors with real-world experience.
- Flexible course scheduling allows students to advance their academic and professional goals at their own pace.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| PADM 501 | Origin of Public Administration | 3 |
| PADM 502 | Organizations and Behavior | 3 |
| PADM 503 | The Policy Process | 3 |
| PADM 504 | Economic and Urban Development | 3 |
| PADM 505 | Public Sector Research Methods | 3 |
| PADM 506 | Ethical Leadership and Management | 3 |
| PADM 522 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the Public Sector | 3 |
| PADM 600A | Community Engagement | 3 |
| PADM 600B | Public Administration Capstone | 3 |
| Concentration | 9 | |
| Choose one of the following: | ||
Communication and the Public Sector | ||
| Integrated Marketing Communications | ||
| Nonprofit Storytelling | ||
| Social/Digital Media and the Public Sector | ||
Data Analytics | ||
| Emerging Trends in Information Technology | ||
| Emergent Information Technologies | ||
| Relational Database Technology | ||
Government Budgeting | ||
| Business Finance for Managers | ||
or PADM 532 | Business Finance for Managers | |
| Accounting for Nonprofit Entities | ||
| Government Financial Management | ||
Health Policy and Public Administration | ||
| Strategic Leadership in Health Care | ||
| Healthcare Administration | ||
| Community Health and the Built Environment | ||
Public Sector Business Administration | ||
| Business Strategy: Theory and Practice | ||
or PADM 533 | Business Strategy: Theory and Practice | |
| Public-Private Partnerships | ||
| Nonprofit Collaborations with Governments | ||
Organizational Science 1 | ||
| Total Units | 36 | |
1 This concentration is designed for students who for personal and/or career reasons need to create an individualized concentration. Three courses are typically chosen from existing concentration courses, but students with unique needs may propose concentrations that include up to 12 units of graduate study offered by the School of Business and Management. The degree requirement is 36 units. All concentrations must be approved in advance by the SBM Graduate Business Admissions Committee.
Admission
University graduate admission and program-specific requirements must be met before an application is complete (see Admission to the University). Program-specific application requirements are available online.
International students should contact Graduate and Professional Admissions for application procedures.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:- Evaluate leadership and management techniques reflecting theories and practices of public administration.
- Analyze effective strategies to manage policy programs reflecting the global professional standards and ethics of Network Schools of Public Policy Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).
- Formulate innovative and value-based decisions to manage the political-administrative policy process and solutions for effective public service and program outcomes.
- Communicate using a Christ-centered worldview and technologies (e-commerce, e-governance, e-learning) helpful to manage intergovernmental relations with diverse groups.
- Differentiate the function of budgeting and financial planning approaches used by public sector organizations for economic and community development.
- Develop personal and professional skills to make positive changes at work and in the community as honorable public servants.