Graduate Programs

Master of Public Administration M.P.A.

The Department of Public Administration offers a Master of Public Administration degree. This degree is designed to meet the needs of those who intend to advance their careers in public and nonprofit service-related professions. Students admitted to this degree are required to complete 54 credits of coursework. Students complete 39 credits of required coursework which provides them with public and nonprofit service fundamentals as well as 15 credits of specialized skill development electives. The program allows students to apply and matriculate in fall, winter, and spring quarters, and proceed through the program in either full-time or part-time status.

Requirements

Foundations of Public Service and Administration (15)

PA 511Public Administration and Democratic Governance

3

PA 513Public Service Ethics

3

PA 533Public Policy Development and Implementation

3

PA 534Administrative Law

3

PA 582Public Budgeting Processes

3

Organization Management and Leadership (12)

PA 528Public and Nonprofit Leadership

3

PA 540Organization Management and Behavior

3

PA 549Communicating and Managing Across Difference

3

PA 585Financial Management for Public Organizations

3

Analytic Methods (8)

PA 551Qualitative Methods for Public and Nonprofit Managers

4

PA 552Quantitative Methods for Public and Nonprofit Managers

4

Integrative Experience (4)

The integrative experience PA 509 is available to students only after they have completed at least 36 credits in their master’s program.

PA 509Public Service Capstone

4

Electives (15)

Choose one of the available options to earn 15 elective credits:

Option 1

Complete one of the following Graduate Certificates. If you choose this option, you must complete the GO-19 form after completing 30 credits of coursework in the MPA program. Consult with your faculty advisor on how to complete this process. You must also apply to graduate from both the MPA program and your selected Graduate Certificate option.

Local Government Administration
PA 560 Local Government Administration (3 credits)
PA 561 Intergovernmental Relations (3 credits)
PA 542 Sustainable Development Implementation (3 credit)
6 additional credits of elective skill development coursework

Nonprofit Leadership
PA 521 History and Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector (3 credits)
PA 520 Nonprofit Governance and Management (3 credits)
PA 525 Fundamentals of Grantwriting and Fundraising (3 credits)
6 additional credits of elective skill development coursework

Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis
PA 554 Policy Analysis Research (3 credits)
PA 555 Program Evaluation and Management (3 credits)
9 credits of additional graduate-level methods or skill development coursework

Option 2

Choose 15 credits total from among the coursework listed for the three graduate certificate options and/or from available elective skill development courses. Students who choose this option will receive an MPA without additional credentials.

Total Credit Hours: 54