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Dec 18, 2024
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Graduate Catalog 2007-08 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Master of Public Administration
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 Return to: Departments and Programs
Advisor:
Robert Peters, Barbara Liggett, L. Robert McConnell, James Visser
Room 220E, Walwood Hall
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) integrates research, teaching, and service in a manner that enhances leadership skills, administrative capabilities, management practices, and an understanding of environmental constraints on policy in southwest Michigan public-serving organizations. Program content emphasizes the administration of local, regional, and state government agencies; health care organizations; and other public and nonprofit agencies. Reflecting the multi-disciplinary nature of the field, the MPA 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 MPA is offered on the main campus in Kalamazoo, and at the University’s regional campuses in Battle Creek and Lansing. Courses will be offered in the Grand Rapids and Berrien County regional campuses through Fall, 2007.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the MPA 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.
- An official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended (except WMU). Even if the applicant is a graduate of WMU, an official transcript is required from each institution attended prior to, and after, 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 MPA Admissions Committee meets in February, June, and October of each year to consider applications for the following term.
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Program Requirements (39 hours)
The MPA 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 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)
The capstone course of the MPA program 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. MPA candidates who have completed at least 30 hours of MPA course work, including all MPA core requirements, are eligible to enroll in the Project Paper Seminar. MPA 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 MPA 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 MPA 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 21 credit hour Health Care Administration (HCA) Concentration in the MPA is composed of one course from each of Areas I, II, III, IV, and VI and six hours from Area V. MPA candidates completing the concentration in addition to all other degree requirements will have “Health Care Administration” noted on their official transcript. Area I, Health Care Environment:
Area II, Budgeting And Finance:
Area III, Human Resources:
Area IV, Health Care Policy Development:
Area V, Electives:
Other courses by permission of MPA Advisor. Area VI, Capstone Project:
Human Resources Administration Concentration
The 21 credit hour Human Resources Administration (HRA) Concentration in the MPA is composed of one course from each of Areas I, II, III, and V, and three courses from Area IV. MPA 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:
Select one: Area II, Budgeting And Finance:
Area III, Human Resources:
Area IV, Electives:
Other courses by permission of MPA Advisor. 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. Since the Area I course (PADM 5860) and the Area II course (PADM 6440) are two-hour rather than three-hour courses, students who enroll in these courses must take an additional two hours of Nonprofit Leadership and Administration courses. MPA candidates completing the concentration in addition to all other degree requirements will have “Law” noted on their official transcript, beginning with those who graduate in the fall of 2002. Each of the law courses 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 other appropriate MPA core course. Students are also urged to consult their advisor before pursuing the MPA law concentration. Area I, Legal Dimensions:
Federal Administrative Law (Thomas M. Cooley Law School course) Area II, Budgeting And Finance:
Select one: Area III, Human Resources:
Select one: Area IV, Cognate Electives:
Other courses by permission of MPA Advisor. Area VI, Capstone Project:
Nonprofit Leadership And Administration Concentration
The 21 credit hour Nonprofit Leadership and Administration (NLA) Concentration in the MPA is composed of one course from each of Areas I, II, III, and V, and 12 hours from Area IV. MPA candidates completing the concentration in addition to all other degree requirements will have “Nonprofit Leadership and 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 IV, Electives:
Other courses by permission of MPA Advisor. Area V, Capstone Project:
Public Management Concentration
The 21 credit hour Public Management (PM) Concentration in the MPA is composed of one course from each of Areas I, II, III, and V, and three courses from Area IV. MPA candidates completing the concentration in addition to all other degree requirements will have “Public Management” 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:
Local Government Administration Options:
Other courses by permission of MPA Advisor.
- PSCI 6403 - Relations Between Subnational, National, and International Systems
State Agency Administration Options:
Other courses by permission of MPA Advisor. Area V, Capstone Project:
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