Department of Public Administration

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Department of Public Administration

(585) 395-2375

Chairperson and Associate Professor: James Fatula, PhD, Fordham University. Associate Professors: Ann S. Altmeyer, PhD, Syracuse University; Edward H. Downey, DPA, SUNY Albany; Robert Guhde, PhD, Kent State University, Faith Prather, PhD, SUNY Buffalo. Professors Emeriti: Richard D. Evans, PhD, Syracuse University; John Phillips, PhD, Ohio State University. Assistant Professor: Wendy J. Wright, PhD, SUNY Binghamton.

• Requirements
• Courses

Public administration is a program of graduate professional study for the Master of Public Administration (MPA). The program, instituted in 1974, develops competencies in administration, management, and policy analysis for public, nonprofit and private-service organizations. Students acquire basic knowledge and skills through the program's core courses, while individual career objectives are met through one of three emphasesgeneral, health-care management, and information management. Within the General Emphasis, students find the opportunity to specialize in areas such as nonprofit management and recreation and leisure. To receive the MPA, students complete 42-45 credits of graduate course work, an internship (if applicable), and an applied research paper (portfolio or project paper). Original papers become the property of the Department of Public Administration. Students are advised to always retain a copy of their submitted work.

Courses are generally three credits, meeting once a week for a semester; occasionally other options are offered, including distance-learning. Most classes are offered in the evening at the SUNY Brockport MetroCenter in downtown Rochester. Some are offered at the Brockport campus.

For the most current policies, please go to the Department of Public Administration's Web site at http://www.brockport.edu/pubadmin/

Admission Requirements

Eligibility to apply to the MPA program requires a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and evidence of potential to succeed at graduate study. The Department of Public Administration requires matriculation prior to or during the first nine credits of course work (three PAD courses). Students must apply for matriculation to the Office of Graduate Admissions by March 1, July 1, or October 1 as appropriate. More information regarding this process may be obtained from the department at (585) 395-2375.

To apply for admission, an applicant must submit a self-managed application containing the following information to:

Office of Graduate Admissions
SUNY College at Brockport
350 New Campus Drive
Brockport, New York 14420-2915

1. official transcripts of undergraduate and prior graduate work (except for SUNY Brockport);
2. three letters of recommendation from persons in a position to assess the applicant's potential for significant academic or administrative achievements (e.g., professors, supervisors, business colleagues); and
3. résumé (only if requesting to be considered "inservice");
4. GRE Test scores, if applicable. Applicants to the MPA program at SUNY Brockport must submit GRE General Test scores at or above the 50th percentile if any of the following conditions apply:
   • The applicant has less than an overall cumulative average of 2.75 in undergraduate study.
   • The applicant's undergraduate transcript shows a pattern of repeated courses with grades below "B".
   • The applicant graduated from an undergraduate institution that does not supply letter grades for 40 percent or more of the courses on the transcript.

Applicants who already possess a master's degree from an accredited institution are exempt from this policy.

To meet department standards, the above requirements must reflect the ability to do graduate work. Those who wish to be considered "inservice" should include with their admission application a résumé which details past organizational responsibilities and achievements (including position titles and organizations, beginning and ending dates, and any staff supervised). Please see degree requirements regarding inservice students.

Any undergraduate major course of study provides acceptable preparation for the study of public administration. Students will find courses in business, computer science, political science, health sciences, economics, sociology, and psychology particularly useful.

The faculty reserve the right to deny admission even when minimum requirements are met.

Master of Public Administration

Degree Requirements

To receive the MPA, students must fulfill the following requirements within a seven-year period from the time of matriculation into the program. Extensions may be requested under extenuating circumstances.

1. Complete the specific number of credits required, dependent upon whether an individual is "inservice" or "preservice," which is determined at admission. Students must include a current résumé with the admission application in order to be considered for "inservice" status, which is determined by the department. "Inservice" status requires a minimum of two years of experience in either administrative, managerial or professional work (in a position that requires a baccalaureate degree) in an organizational context. "Inservice" students require a total of 42 credits to complete the MPA degree. "Preservice" students require 45 credits to complete the MPA degree.
2. Demonstrate computer proficiency.
3. Attain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 ("B"). Failure to maintain adequate progress* will result in dismissal from the program. More than three credits of core course work (one core course) below "B" will result in dematriculation. Core courses may not be repeated, and an "E" in the core will result in dematriculation.
4. "Preservice" students (see #1 above) must complete a six-credit internship.
5. "Inservice" students have three options for the internship. They may select one of the following:
   1. enroll in the course PAD 690 Internship Health, 3 credits; PAD 692 Internship General, 3 credits; or PAD 694 Internship IMS, 3 credits; and complete a three-credit internship at an organization;
   2. enroll in the course PAD 690 Internship Health, 3 credits; PAD 692 Internship General, 3 credits; or PAD 694 Internship IMS, 3 credits; and complete a seven- to 10-page application paper that applies selected theory, concepts and techniques from MPA courses to a significant administrative or policy issue (often based on the student's professional employment experiences), or
   3. take an elective course in place of the internship course. The student will select one of the options at the time the Plan of Study is completed.
6. Complete an applied research paper (project paper) or develop a student portfolio, based on either the internship experience or some other administrative or policy issue.

*Adequate progress refers to the relationship between GPA and credits earned: 6 credits=2.00 GPA; 12 credits=2.50 GPA; 21 credits=2.75 GPA; 30+ credits=3.00 GPA.

Public Administration Courses

PAD 613 Health Care in America. Studies the American health-care system, including its organization, politics, economics, and delivery system. Surveys the characteristics of America's health system in relationship to other industrial countries; private and government proposals for financing the system; and the problems of access to care and cost containment. 3 Cr. Fall and Spring.

PAD 614 Local Policy Issues. Prerequisite: PAD 680. Focuses on local government public policy. Covers policy issues and responses to these issues, roles of the various players both inside and outside of the bureaucracy, such as the media, formal lobbying groups and citizen action groups. 3 Cr. Spring.

PAD 619 Financial Administration of Health Care. Helps prospective administrators in health-care settings understand and use financial information in the decision-making process. Assists students/prospective administrators in developing an understanding of accounting principles and develops basic skills in financial statement analysis, managing working capital, budgeting, cost finding, and pricing. 3 Cr. Fall.

PAD 620 Management Information Systems. Provides a graduate-level introduction to systems analysis theory and systems application. Emphasizes an administrative focus on the use of systems analysis, application and the consequent development of computerized management information systems. Defines, in particular, the role and responsibilities of the manager in systems design and implementation. 3 Cr. Spring.

PAD 622 Legal Aspects of Public Administration. Provides students with exposure to legal issues frequently encountered by managers of public and nonprofit agencies. Provides students with insight into principles of legal analysis, and an in-depth review of employment issues is conducted. Covers discrimination, informed consent issues, and the regulatory powers of government agencies. 3 Cr.

PAD 624 Managerial Issues in Drug Use and Abuse. Assists managers in learning about drug use and abuse and designing appropriate workplace policies. Examines issues around drug testing and legal implications of drug use in the workplace; and explores model policies and appropriate community resources that may be used in treatment options. Teaches managers how to recognize substance abuse and abuse in the workplace, and demonstrates how managers can effectively cope with substance use and abuse through the development and application of appropriate policies. 3 Cr. Summer.

PAD 627 Designing Integrated Office Systems. Prerequisite: PAD 665 or 666. In the course of business today, information needs to be collated, manipulated, and reported in various ways for many purposes. This information needs to be up-to-the-minute, accurate, and easily accessible by employees, management, and customers. Requires students to create integrated Microsoft Office applications that can be used in current workplaces. 3 Cr. Spring.

PAD 629 Fund Raising and Development. Designed for individuals who are currently preparing for leadership roles in this area. Explores the ethics and values in professional fund raising. Also explores various forms of exchange that take place in fund raising, from individuals through corporations. Develop skills, including prospect identification, cultivation, and research. 3 Cr. Spring.

PAD 633 Managed Health Care. Examines the principles of "managed care" and their application in health care. Provides students with a basic orientation to the various examples of managed care through a historical perspective in the overall health care environment. Addresses various user and provider needs including purchasers (the general public and employers), regulators (state and federal), providers (physicians and institutions), and insurance carriers. 3 Cr. Spring.

PAD 644 Supervision Skills. For those now in (or preparing for) informal or formal leadership positions. Teaches supervisory skills through discussion, exercises, role plays, and the design/presentation of a training module on topics such as coaching and counseling, leading staff meetings, handling employee complaints, delegating responsibility, performance problem solving, performance appraisal interviewing, disciplinary action, and the job interview. 3 Cr. Fall.

PAD 645 Communications in Organizations. Strongly recommended that students have taken a course in organizational management or organizational behavior. Covers communication by supervisors in face-to-face, small group and public contexts. Emphasizes interpersonal skills, including building self-esteem; awareness of behavioral styles; nonverbal language techniques; how to inform, direct, listen, praise, criticize, reprimand, encourage and confront; and basic interviewing and negotiation skills. Also covers small-group processes, group leadership and teamwork skills, and communications in public contexts, including writing memos and reports. 3 Cr. Fall.

PAD 649 Improving Program Performance in Nonprofit Organizations. Builds competencies in critical skills needed to successfully manage programs in nonprofit, health, health and human-service organizations. Addresses the use of quality systems and evaluation concepts to improve program outcomes. Covers use of logic models to design effective programs. Explores basic budget development, objective setting, and methods for monitoring ongoing progress. Gives students experience in researching best practices and use of common program management tools. 3 Cr. Spring.

PAD 653 Ethics in Administration. Enables students to gain a conceptual and practical understanding of ethics and of the principal ethical theories. Teaches students to appreciate how ethics are applied to decisions and behavior in professional life, whether in the public or nonprofit sectors. Examines the relationship between being ethical and leadership and excellence in management. 3 Cr. Summer.

PAD 655 Medicare and Medicaid Policy Issues. Provides a thorough overview of both the Medicare and Medicaid programs: their background and history; eligibility; covered benefits; provider reimbursement methods; program administration; financing; cost and spending patterns; their respective roles and importance in the American health-care system; and how Medicare and Medicaid both affect and are affected by current health-care reform proposals. 3 Cr. Fall.

PAD 657 Women as Managers. Prerequisite: PAD 682. Examines issues facing women managers and aspiring managers in today's organization such as women's struggle to crack through the proverbial "glass ceiling" and assume positions in the upper echelons of organizations. Uses political, psychological and sociological paradigms to explore the unique dilemmas and challenges of women in administrative positions. Addresses vital leadership issues such as power, status, authority and influence with regard to the impact of gender bias in the workplace. Considers gender differences in communication, decision making and managing individuals and groups. Gives major attention to concrete ideas and realistic strategies for creating pathways to managerial success. Uses research, theory and lessons learned by successful women managers to foster an awareness of the unique managerial qualities women possess. 3 Cr. Spring.

PAD 659 Policy Issues in Public Safety. Examines critical policy issues facing today's public- safety manager. Explores crucial problems in the public-safety environment in terms of both the internal and external forces which can affect a public-safety administrator's approach to problem solving. Emphasizes concrete ideas and realistic strategies for management effectiveness. Includes participation of experienced public-safety managers who will provide a practical, hands-on view of issues explored. 3 Cr. Fall.

PAD 661 Creating an Empowered Organization. Covers the many issues surrounding the development of empowered teams from both the leader's and team member's perspective. Includes a mix of current theories and experiential activities, with the latter to be used as the primary instruction method. Since there is no generic step-by-step plan for building an empowered organization, challenges students with applying the general theories and methodologies to their own workplace. Focuses throughout the course on the role of manager in developing empowered teams. 3 Cr. Summer, Fall.

PAD 665 Introduction to Computers. Provides opportunities for students to learn basic Windows and DOS concepts such as file and hard-disk management, input-output operations, and equipment requirements to assist in understanding IBM-compatible computer systems. Introduces three applications that are valuable tools for mangers: word processing, spreadsheets and database management. Knowledge of these PC-based applications is recommended for all students in the MPA program. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

PAD 666 Computer Applications. Prerequisite: PAD 665 or sufficient experience with computers to be determined by the instructor. Introduces students to computer functions such as hardware, modems, single vs. network printers, network concepts, topologies and telecommunications. Explores computer applications at the intermediate level, including file types valuable to managers such as text files, binary files, database files, GUI interfaces, DOS and UNIX with the goal of making managers more productive. Builds upon student's basic knowledge of computer functions and software programs such as Microsoft Excel, Access, and Project. 3 Cr. Fall.

PAD 668 Database Applications for Managers. Prerequisite: A working familiarity with microcomputer operation systems strongly recommended. Teaches students to create and maintain databases, make data queries and reports, and to develop unique database applications to meet specific management needs. Focuses first on the basics of database management with the most current and widely used database management software; then allows students to use these skills to create a database application of their choosing. 3 Cr. Fall.

PAD 672 Internet for Managers. Prerequisite: A home PC with Windows and a modem. Provides opportunities for students to learn to use the Internet (NET) resources to gather information and do research on resources which include e-mail, Listserv, Telnet, FTP and Archie, Gopher and Veronica, World Wide Web, and a commercial on-line computer service. Teaches students to access computers around the world to retrieve information on any topic. Includes only two class sessions; weekly assignments will be completed using e-mail and computer conferencing. Final assignment involves a network resource guide to be developed by the student. 3 Cr.

PAD 678 Nonprofit Management. Provides an understanding of nonprofit organizations: their characteristics, purpose, structure, role, and the management challenges confronting them. Examines practical methods and strategies for strengthening governance and board issues; planning; fund raising; marketing; public relations; financial management; and working with volunteers. Emphasizes organizational and management issues specific to health and human services agencies. 3 Cr. Fall.

PAD 679 Grant Writing and Management. Gives a comprehensive overview of the grant process and how it can be integrated into the mission of the public or nonprofit organization. Involves two very important elements for those who are ready to add grants to their revenue streamwriting a grant and following through after you receive the grant. 3 Cr. Spring.

PAD 680 Public Policy. Focuses on public problems and policy development, including public issues and policy responses, the role of values, and the function of the bureaucracy in formulating and implementing public policy. 3 Cr. Fall and Spring.

PAD 681 Strategic Management for Public Organizations. Presents new theories of management, strategic thinking, and the goal-oriented planning and control techniques essential for survival. Explores the dilemmas and challenges of today's managers in a dynamic economy. Provides students with concepts in four areas crucial to modern managers in the present and future such as industry analysis, competitive positioning, management of change, development of strategic thinking, visioning, leadership, long- and short-range planning, and control systems. Explores management of diversity and the question of ethics in today's restructured economy. Uses interactive lecture-discussion format and case studies designed to enable students to develop team-building and communication skills. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

PAD 682 Organizational Behavior. Focuses on the interpersonal and social characteristics of organizations and the skills required to manage them. Covers topics from a behavioral perspective, including motivation, communication, leadership, group and intergroup behavior, conflict management, problem solving, ethics, diversity, and other special topics. Features role plays, field interviews, films and the application of measurement instruments to complement the lecture-discussion format. Draws examples from governmental, nonprofit, and business organizations. 3 Cr. Fall and Spring.

PAD 683 Intergovernmental Relations. Prerequisite: PAD 680. Explores tensions between national goals and state and local priorities, and the implications for subnational units of shifts in priorities and grant-in-aid instruments at the national level. 3 Cr. Spring.

PAD 684 BudgetState and Local Government. Examines budgeting as a crucial management function in public and nonprofit organizations. Gives special concern to the politics, practice, and analysis which surround the budgetary process. Emphasizes the planning emphasis involved in budgeting. 3 Cr. Fall.

PAD 685 Human Resource Management. Covers human resource management (HRM) principles and skills useful for both the supervisor and the personnel specialist in the public, nonprofit and private sectors. Includes the role of the human resource manager, job analysis and position descriptions, selection, EEO and affirmative action, civil service, employee rights, quality of work life, compensation and benefits, performance appraisal, training and career development, labor relations, and occupational safety/health. Uses team projects, class exercises, role plays, student presentations, lecture-discussion and a Human Resource Information System demonstration to assure that both the knowledge and skills of human resource management are learned. 3 Cr. Fall and Spring.

PAD 686 BudgetHealth. Provides students enrolled in the health emphasis of the MPA program with an exposure to budgeting and financial operations in a variety of public and private health-care organizations. Demonstrates how organizations function as enterprise activities where revenues are generated as a result of service delivery and must cover all costs of operations, and how the health-care organization has the added objective of long-term profits or surplus. Explores both planning and controlling as management aspects of budgeting. Considers significant changes occurring in the financing of health care in America and the role of the health-care organization within the total public-policy framework. 3 Cr. Spring.

PAD 687 Statistics for Managers. Teaches students to use SPSS by reading chapters in a text specifically designed to help them gain proficiency in using the software and understanding statistical methods. Also teaches students to describe data, develop and test of hypotheses, and examine the relationships that exist among variables. Evaluates students on short exercises from the text, a mid-term, and a final project. 3 Cr. Fall and Spring.

PAD 688 Research and Program Evaluation. Prerequisite: PAD 687. Covers methods of measuring the efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of programs and services. Teaches students to apply statistical tools, use the computer in problem solving, design research projects, interpret research results, and evaluate programs. Places subject matter in a context that the practicing administrator can apply to programmatic needs. 3 Cr. Fall and Spring.

PAD 690 Health Internship. Prerequisite: Completion of 21 credits toward the MPA, including PAD 613 and 681. A guided eight-week work experience. Provides students an opportunity to observe and participate in the practical application of theories, concepts and techniques taught in the Public Administration program. Through health-care sector employment, teaches students practical administrative or policy practices and how to integrate theoretical issues with those found in the workplace and find an opportunity to gain experience in work areas that are new to the student. Topic determined jointly by the student with the assistance of the course instructor. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

PAD 691 Health Internship. Prerequisite: Completion of 21 credits toward the MPA, including PAD 613 and 681. A guided 16-week work experience. Provides students an opportunity to observe and participate in the practical application of theories, concepts, and techniques taught in the Public Administration program. Through health-care sector employment, teaches students practical administrative or policy practices and how to integrate theoretical issues with those found in the workplace and find an opportunity to gain experience in work areas that are new to the student. Topic determined jointly by the student with the assistance of the course instructor. 6 Cr. Every Semester.

PAD 692 General Internship. Prerequisite: Completion of 21credits toward the MPA, including PAD 680 and 681. A guided eight-week work experience. Provides students an opportunity to observe and participate in the practical application of theories, concepts, and techniques taught in the Public Administration program. Through public-sector employment, teaches students practical administrative or policy practices and how to integrate theoretical issues with those found in the workplace and find an opportunity to gain experience in work that areas that are new to the student. Topic determined jointly by the student with the assistance of the course instructor. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

PAD 693 General Internship. Prerequisite: Completion of 21credits toward the MPA, including PAD 680 and 681. A guided 16-week work experience. Provides the student an opportunity to observe and participate in the practical application of theories, concepts, and techniques taught in the Public Administration program. Through public-sector employment; teaches students practical administrative or policy practices and how to integrate theoretical issues with those found in the workplace and find an opportunity to gain experience in work areas which are new to the student. Topic determined jointly by the student with the assistance of the course instructor. 6 Cr. Every Semester.

PAD 694 IMS Internship. Prerequisite: Completion of 21credits toward the MPA, including PAD 666 and 620. A guided work experience in Information Management Systems. Provides students with an opportunity to observe and participate in the practical application of theories, concepts, and techniques taught in the Public Administration program's Information Management emphasis. Through employment for a period of eight weeks, teaches students practical administrative or policy practices, and how to integrate theoretical issues with those found in the workplace and find an opportunity to gain experience in work areas that are new to the student. Allow students to find internships in the sub-fields of network administration, programming, information systems management, and related areas. Topic determined jointly by the student with the assistance of the course instructor. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

PAD 695 IMS Internship. Prerequisite: Completion of 21credits toward the MPA, including PAD 666 and 620. A guided work experience in Information Management Systems. Provides students with an opportunity to observe and participate in the practical application of theories, concepts, and techniques taught in the Public Administration program's Information Management emphasis. Through employment for a period of 16 weeks, teaches students practical administrative or policy practices, and how to integrate theoretical issues with those found in the workplace and find an opportunity to gain experience in work areas that are new to the student. Allows students to find internships in the sub-fields of network administration, programming, information systems management, and related areas. Topic determined jointly by the student with the assistance of the course instructor. 6 Cr. Every Semester.

PAD 696 General Project Paper Seminar. Prerequisites: Instructor's permission prior to registration (April 1 for summer sessions, April 30 for fall semesters, and October 30 for spring semesters) and completion of at least 30 credits of course work toward the MPA in order to enroll, including PAD 687 and 688. Requires students in the program to write a project paper or develop a student portfolio for the master's degree. Administrative, policy, and operational issues are acceptable as topics. Project Paper Guidelines are available at: http://www.brockport.edu/pubadmin/current/guidelines.html Limited to 10 students. 3 Cr. Fall, Spring and occasionally Summers.

PAD 697 Information Management Systems Project Paper Seminar. Prerequisites: Instructor's permission prior to registration (April 1 for summer sessions, April 30 for fall semesters, and October 30 for spring semesters) and completion of at least 30 credits of course work toward the MPA in order to enroll, including PAD 687 and 688. Requires students in the program to write a project paper or develop a student portfolio for the master's degree. Administrative, policy, and operational issues are acceptable as topics. Project Paper Guidelines are available at: http://www.brockport.edu/pubadmin/current/guidelines.html Limited to 10 students. 3 Cr. Fall, Spring and occasionally Summers.

PAD 698 Health-care Management Project Paper Seminar. Prerequisites: Instructor's permission prior to registration (April 1 for summer sessions, April 30 for fall semesters, and October 30 for spring semesters) and completion of at least 30 credits of course work toward the MPA in order to enroll, including PAD 687 and 688. Requires students in the program to write a project paper or develop a student portfolio for the master's degree. Administrative, policy, and operational issues are acceptable as topics. Project Paper Guidelines are available at: www.brockport.edu/~pubadmin/guidepro.htm. Limited to 10 students. 3 Cr. Fall, Spring and occasionally Summers.

PAD 699 Independent Study.Allows students to work individually with faculty on an area of special interest. Requires students to develop the objectives and methodologies, subject to review and approval of the faculty. 3 Cr. Every Semester.