Program Overview

Curriculum

Core Courses (13 courses)

• MPPA 402-DL Elements of Public Finance and Budgeting
• MPPA 403-DL Fundamentals of Public Administration
• MPPA 404-DL Microeconomics for Public Policy and Administration
• MPPA 405-DL Elementary Statistics for Research
• MPPA 406-DL Analytic Methods for Public Policy Analysis
• MPPA 407-DL Scope and Dynamics of Public Policy
• MPPA 408-DL Sociology of Organizations
• MPPA 409-DL Applied Research and Writing
• MPPA 411-DL The Legislative Process
• MPPA 419-DL Strategic Policy Implementation
• MPPA 452-DL The Global City
• MPPA 481-DL Foundations of Leadership (see below)
• MPPA 498-DL Capstone Project or MPPA 590-DL Thesis Research (Independent)

Leadership Class

This course provides advanced theoretical perspectives on public leadership and the application of theories to work experience. Students develop leadership tools necessary to influence policy decisions, encourage collaboration, and build coalitions; explore strategies for building and sustaining partnerships; learn strategic practices for leading and managing change; strengthen the capacity to lead in a diverse society; and think critically about the moral responsibilities and ethical dilemmas of public leadership.

Capstone Project

MPPA students may pursue their capstone experience independently or as part of a team. As their final course, students take either the individual research project in an independent study format or the classroom capstone class in which students integrate the knowledge they have gained in the core curriculum in a project presented by the instructor. In both cases students are guided by MPPA faculty in exploring the body of knowledge on public policy and administration while contributing research of practical value to the field. The capstone independent project and capstone class project count as one unit of credit.