2020-2021 Graduate Catalog 
    
    Dec 23, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Public Administration, M.P.A., Public Safety Concentration


Available Fully Online

 

Coordinator: Christy D. Smith, Ph.D.

The Master of Public Administration is the most widely accepted and valued professional degree in the field of Public Service. Our MPA program provides students with the core skills and knowledge necessary to be a successful professional in Public Service, as well as offering students an opportunity to complete a concentration in one of five timely areas: 1) Municipal Management, 2) Public Financial Management, 3) Public Safety, 4) Nonprofit Management, and 5) Fire and Emergency Medical Services. Our MPA accommodates the needs of students new to the field as well as those already working in public service. In both cases, we seek students who are motivated to increase their knowledge and gain the skills necessary to take on challenging assignments in public service, particularly at the state and local level.

Required Courses


The degree is comprised of 36 credits. Many students are eligible for 3 credits of waivers toward completion as a result of work in public administration settings, but those who are not will complete a 3-credit focused practicum, PADM 6600  . All students complete a basic core of courses including:

Concentration in Public Safety


The Public Safety concentration is designed to give students a focused background in local and state Public Safety, from the perspectives of Emergency Management, Criminal Justice, Fire Science, or National Security. In consultation with their academic advisor, students who choose this concentration must choose three courses (9 credits) from the array of graduate public safety courses offered by the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences.  Course include those from within the domains of Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Fire Science, Investigations, Legal Studies or National Security as well as others that are approved by the student's academic advisor.