Public Administration (MPA)

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Description

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a 39-credit program of graduate professional study for management and leadership in public service and is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

Admission to the Program

Eligibility to apply to the MPA requires a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and evidence of potential to succeed at graduate study. Applications are welcomed until three weeks prior to each semester, however individuals are encouraged to apply for admission to the MPA program as soon as possible as enrollment in classes often fills. (After these dates, applications are reviewed if time permits and seats are available.)

Application materials are available online. The application includes:

  1. a Statement of Objectives;
  2. official transcripts of undergraduate and prior graduate work (except for transcripts from SUNY Brockport);
  3. two letters of recommendation from persons in a position to assess the applicant's potential for significant academic or administrative achievements (e.g., professors, supervisors;
  4. résumé; and
  5. test scores on the GRE General Exam if any of the following conditions apply:
    • the applicant has less than an overall cumulative average of 3.0 in undergraduate study from the college or university granting applicant's baccalaureate degree.
    • 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 applicant's transcript.

Program Requirements

Students must meet the College's standards for graduate study.

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

  1. Complete 39 graduate credits.
  2. Complete PAD 696 Portfolio or PAD 694 Internship Experience (these are graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory).
  3. The Department of Public Administration adheres to the College’s Academic Standing/Academic Probation Policy for Graduate Programs.

In order to attain the MPA degree students complete a total of 39 credits of course work (13 courses). Twenty-one credits are in the common core courses; 9 credits are in the required courses from the emphasis selected; 9 credits are in elective courses as shown below.

Common Core and Elective Courses (21 credits)

  • PAD 640 Financial Management
  • PAD 680 Public Policy
  • PAD 682 Organizational Behavior
  • PAD 685 Human Resource Management
  • PAD 687 Statistics for Managers
  • PAD 688 Research and Program Evaluation (Pre- or co-requisite for all other courses)
  • PAD 696 Portfolio Seminar or PAD 694 Internship Experience

In addition, students pursue a three-course emphasis in one of the following areas:

Emphasis in State and Municipal Management (9 credits)

  • PAD 541 Foundations of Public Administration
  • PAD 681 Strategic Management for Public Organizations
  • PAD 683 Intergovernmental Relations

Emphasis in Health Care Management (9 credits)

  • PAD 513 Health Care in America
  • PAD 615 Strategic Management for Health Care Organizations
  • PAD 677 Special Topics in Health Care

Emphasis in Nonprofit Management (9 credits)

  • PAD 546 Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector
  • PAD 637 Marketing for Public Service Organizations
  • PAD 678 Nonprofit Management

Emphasis in Public Safety (9 credits)

  • PAD 617 Disaster Recovery
  • PAD 639 Cybersecurity for Public Managers
  • PAD 652 Emergency Management

Emphasis in Poverty Studies (9 credits)

  • PAD 512 Poverty Initiatives
  • PAD 602 Economics for Public Managers
  • PAD 603 Social Policy

In addition, 3 elective courses (9 credits) that complement the emphases are required totaling 39 credits for the completion of the MPA.

Elective credits taken outside of the Department of Public Administration must be approved by the student’s Academic Advisor.

Total Number of Credits: 39

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  1. Apply techniques for program evaluation.
  2. Identify short and long term impacts of budgets.
  3. Integrate self-knowledge: awareness of one’s own stylistic preferences for relating to others.
  4. Appraise the organizational environment, both internal and external as well as the culture, politics, and institutional setting.
  5. Identify and employ alternative sources of funding.
  6. Articulate and apply methods for measuring and improving human performance.
  7. Employ analytical tools for collecting, analyzing, presenting, and interpreting data, including appropriate statistical concepts and techniques.
  8. Communicate effectively in writing.
  9. Lead, manage, and serve a diverse workplace and citizenry.
  10. Apply concepts of social equity to public affairs, administration, and policy.
  11. Integrate self-knowledge: awareness of one’s own stylistic preferences for relating to others.
  12. Work productively in teams: interact effectively in a team, and demonstrate an ability to develop effective working relationships.