Public Administration, M.P.A., Public Financial Management Concentration

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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:

PADM 6601 - Principles of Public Administration
PADM 6602 - Public Policy Formulation and Implementation
PADM 6611 - Quantitative Methods in Public Administration
PADM 6620 - Personnel Administration and Collective Bargaining in the Public Sector
PADM 6625 - Administrative Behavior
PADM 6632 - Public Finance and Budgeting
PADM 6635 - Political Economy
PADM 6690 - Research Seminar
Electives or Concentration (three courses)

Most students will then elect one of the above concentrations, each of which requires students to complete a combination of courses totaling 9 credits. Students can elect to complete the degree without a concentration area, in which case they may choose, in consultation with their advisor, three additional elective courses comprising 9 credits.

Concentration in Public Financial Management

The Public Financial Management concentration provides students with the analytic skills and knowledge to assess the finances and economic position of a municipality or other governmental unit with the power to tax. Students in this concentration must choose three of the following: