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Graduate Catalog 2014-15 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Master of Public Administration
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Advisors:
Dr. Robert Peters, Dr. Melisa Beeson, Dr. James Visser, and Dr. Barbara S. Liggett.
The mission of the Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) program is to engage in learner-centered education in administrative leadership, managerial competencies, and professional ethics relevant to the common good and today’s organizational and societal needs. The program develops public servants capable of applying innovative theory and practice to enhance the capacity of public-serving organizations to improve the lives of our citizens in our local communities, our nation, and our world. The MPA program serves current and prospective in-career and pre-professional practitioners in government, nonprofit, and healthcare organizations.
Reflecting the multi-disciplinary nature of the field, the M.P.A. draws upon the diverse talents of academic departments throughout the University in addition to the faculty of the School of Public Affairs and Administration. The M.P.A. is offered on the main campus in Kalamazoo, and at the University’s locations in Battle Creek and Lansing.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the M.P.A. program must meet the Graduate College requirements of an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university with an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students with an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5, and who demonstrate a record of relevant work experience and professional advancement, may be considered for conditional admission.
The following must be submitted in order to be considered for admission:
- The University’s Application for Graduate Admission, with the application fee.
- An official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended (except WMU).
- The School of Public Affairs and Administration’s “Departmental Information Form” (DIF).
- Responses to two essay questions listed on the DIF.
- A current resume.
- Two letters of recommendation.
Admission is based on undergraduate grade point average, work experience, letters of recommendation, and career goals. The M.P.A. Admissions Committee meets in February (Summer I & II admission), February (early decision Fall admission), June (Fall admission), August (late decision Fall admission), and October (Spring admission) to consider applications for the following term.
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Program Requirements (39 hours)
The M.P.A. curriculum provides a foundation in the principles of administration, addresses the practical responsibilities of managers, and reflects on the task of administrative leadership. The 39 credit hour program includes three components: the Core Program, an Area of Concentration, and the Project Paper Seminar. Pre-career students (status determined upon admission) also complete a three credit hour (300 contact hour) internship. The curriculum assumes that candidates already have basic computer literacy and a working knowledge of the American political processes at local, state, and national levels. Core Program (18 hours)
The Core Program includes course work in the theoretical foundation of public management, critical areas of administrative responsibility, and methods of administrative and policy analysis. Students complete each of the following courses: Project Paper Seminar (3 hours)
PADM 6800 - Project Paper Seminar is the capstone course of the M.P.A. program. It provides an opportunity for students to integrate theory and practice in a significant problem solving exercise. The product of the seminar is a professional analysis of a management problem or an applied scholarly inquiry in the field of public administration. M.P.A. candidates who have completed at least 30 hours of M.P.A. course work, including all M.P.A. core requirements, are eligible to enroll in the Project Paper Seminar. M.P.A. advisors encourage students to enroll in this seminar as their last course, if possible. Professional Field Experience/Internship (3 hours)
For pre-career students, the fourth major component of the M.P.A. is a planned professional field experience, or internship, equivalent to three credit hours (300 contact hours). The goal of the internship is to provide candidates with a work experience which will afford realistic exposure to their world of professional administration and to the organizational and bureaucratic environment in which the dynamics of an agency are developed. Area of Concentration (18 hours)
Each Area of Concentration includes 18 hours of courses beyond the M.P.A. core program. Options for the Area of Concentration are health care administration, human resources administration, law, nonprofit leadership and administration, and public management. In the event that a student’s needs are not adequately addressed by one of the five areas of concentration, he or she may, with an advisor’s assistance and approval, design his or her concentration from the wide array of courses that are offered by the School of Public Affairs and Administration or by other departments in the University. Health Care Administration Concentration
The 18 credit hour Health Care Administration (HCA) concentration in the M.P.A. is composed of four three-hour required courses and two three-hour elective courses. Candidates may select either PADM 6270 or PADM 6290, but not both courses, for three credit hours toward their required coursework; and they may select either PADM 6780 or PADM 6481, but not both courses, for three credit hours of elective credit. Candidates completing the concentration in addition to all the other degree requirements will have “Health Care Administration” noted on their official transcript. Required Courses (12 credit hours)
Elective Courses (6 hours)
Select any two of the following courses, except PADM 6780 and PADM 6481 count as only one course. Note:
Other courses may be substituted for these electives for a maximum of three-credit hours and only with the permission of the student’s MPA advisor. Professional Field Experience
Students admitted to the MPA HCA program in a pre-career status must complete: Departmental Note
The current curriculum counts PADM 6800 (3 credit hour) as part of a 21-hour HCA concentration. The proposed curriculum still requires completion of the PADM 6800 capstone seminar, but as a separate degree requirement, and not as a component of the concentration. Human Resources Administration Concentration
The 21 credit hour Human Resources Administration (HRA) Concentration in the M.P.A. is composed of one course from each of Areas I, II, III, and V, and nine credit hours from Area IV. M.P.A. candidates completing the concentration in addition to all other degree requirements will have “Human Resources Administration” noted on their official transcript, beginning with those who graduate in the fall of 2001. Area I, Legal Dimensions:
Area II, Budgeting and Finance:
Area III, Human Resources:
Area V, Capstone Project:
Law Concentration
The 21 credit hour Law Concentration is composed of one course from each of Areas I, II, III, IV, and VI, and 6 hours from Area V. M.P.A. candidates completing the concentration in addition to all other degree requirements will have “Law” noted on their official transcript, beginning with those who graduated Fall of 2002. The Area I required law course and all Area V law electives will be taught by Thomas M. Cooley Law School faculty. Students must be admitted to the Thomas M. Cooley Law School JD program and complete the Introduction of Law School Online Course (www.cooleylaw.edu) prior to enrolling in any law courses and PADM 6000: Historical and Legal Foundation of American Public Administration, or another appropriate M.P.A. core course. Students are also urged to consult their advisor before pursuing the M.P.A. law concentration. Area I, Legal Dimensions:
Federal Administrative Law (Thomas M. Cooley Law School course) Area II, Budgeting and Finance:
Area III, Human Resources:
Area IV, Cognate Electives:
Area V, Law Electives:
All Area V Law Electives are offered through Thomas M. Cooley Law School Area VI, Capstone Project:
Nonprofit Leadership and Administration Concentration
The 18 credit hour Nonprofit Leadership and Administration (NLA) Concentration in the M.P.A. is composed of three required course and 9 credit hours of electives. M.P.A. candidates completing the concentration in addition to all other degree requirements will have “Nonprofit Leadership and Administration” noted on their official transcript. Public Management Concentration
The 18 credit hour Public Management (PM) Concentration in the M.P.A. is composed of two options (local government administration or state government administration). Each option includes three required courses and three elective courses. Additionally, students must take the Capstone Project (3 credit hours). M.P.A. candidates completing the concentration in addition to all other degree requirements will have “Public Management” noted on their official transcript.
Students desiring to combine or blend the local government and state agency administration options into a more general public management concentration, may do so under the guidance and special permission of the students’ advisor. Local Government Administration Option
Required Courses (9 hours)
Select 9 credit hours from the following: Elective Courses (9 hours)
Select 9 credit hours from the following: Other Courses
With special permission from the student’s advisor, students may substitute a course for one of the elective courses noted above. Suggested course substitutions may include: State Agency Administration Options:
Required Courses (9 hours)
Select 9 credit hours from the following: Elective Courses (9 hours)
Select 9 hours from the following: Other Courses
With special permission from the student’s advisor, students may substitute a course for one of the elective courses noted above. Suggested course substitutions may include: |
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