Master of Public Administration

Department of Government and Justice Studies
College of Arts and Sciences

Brian Ellison, Chair and Professor
EllisonBA@appstate.edu

Mark D. Bradbury, Interim Graduate Program Director and Associate Professor
BradburyMD@appstate.edu

http://www.mpa.appstate.edu/

The Department of Government and Justice Studies offers the Master of Public Administration (MPA) (Major Code: 279*/44.0401), with five concentrations:

  • Administration of Justice (279D)
  • Emergency Management (279E) [Under Review – not currently accepting students]
  • Not-for-Profit Management (279F) [Under Review – not currently accepting students]
  • Public Management (279B) [Recommended for those interested in Not-for-Profit &/or Emergency Management]
  • Town, City and County Management (279C)

The Department of Government and Justice Studies also offers programs in Criminal Justice and Criminology (MS) and Political Science (MA), described under those headings in this bulletin. Graduate programs in the department are supervised by the departmental chair, the individual graduate program directors, and the graduate committee.

Location of Program: This program is offered on campus in Boone in the format described in this Bulletin. Off-campus cohorts are started periodically, and follow a part-time extended program format. For information on upcoming off-campus cohorts, please contact the Office of Extension and Distance Education: http://www.distance.appstate.edu.

The MPA program is designed to ensure that students become proficient in the knowledge, skills and ethical values needed to become effective managers of public sector agencies (on the federal, state, and local levels). Our graduates serve as town and county managers, economic developers, agency directors, and are employed in leadership roles in public safety and nongovernmental agencies. Over 350 graduates have completed the MPA degree at Appalachian since its inception in 1988.

Students in the MPA program are required to choose one of the following open concentrations:

  • Administration of Justice Concentration: This concentration is designed to prepare persons for administrative/management positions in a variety of law enforcement, court, and correctional agencies at the local, state and federal levels.
  • Public Management Concentration: This concentration is designed to allow individuals to develop a program to suit specific needs in such areas as not-for-profit management, emergency management, budget analyst, personnel administration, etc., or to prepare students with a generalist background in public administration.
  • Town, City and County Management Concentration: This concentration is designed to prepare persons for managerial roles in towns, cities, and county governments or in organizations and agencies related to towns and counties.


MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (MPA)

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Graduate School; official general GRE exam scores.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the criteria for admission to the Graduate School. In addition, the program faculty will give preference to applicants who meet or exceed the following: Undergraduate GPA > 3.00 and/or GRE Verbal > 25th percentile and GRE Quantitative > 25th percentile. Meeting this condition does not guarantee admission.

Location: On Campus and Off Campus; Off-Campus cohorts begin periodically, and follow a part-time extended format.

Course Requirements for the Master of Public Administration
Semester Hours Required (minimum): 42

Required Courses
  • PA 5000: Research Methods (3)
  • PA 5060: Seminar in Public Administration (3)
  • PA 5180: Public Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation (3)
  • PA 5260: Organization Theory and Behavior (3)
  • PA 5360: Public Personnel Administration (3)
  • PA 5460: Budgeting and Fiscal Administration (3)
  • PA 5558: Capstone Research (1)
  • PA 5559: Capstone in Public Administration (2)

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Concentration (CHOOSE ONE)

Administration of Justice Concentration (Code: 279D)

  • 9 s.h. of graduate courses chosen from the following courses:
    • CJ/PS 5050: Seminar in Public Law & Judicial Behavior (3)
    • CJ 5060: Administration of Justice (3)
    • CJ 5150: The American Justice System and Social Justice (3)
    • CJ 5625: Seminar in Police and Society (3)
    • CJ 5660: Crime, Theory and Policy (3)
  • 3 s.h. of graduate elective coursework from outside the department
  • 3 s.h. chosen from the following electives:
    • CJ 5500: Independent Study (3)
    • CJ/PS 5661: Court Administration (3)
    • CJ 5670: Crime Analysis and Criminal Justice Planning (3)
    • CJ 5680: Organized Crime (3)
    • CJ 5805: Directed Research (3)

OR
Emergency Management Concentration (Code: 279E) [Under Review – not currently accepting students]

  • GHY 5100: Seminar in Physical Geography (3)
  • PA 5140: Emergency Management Systems (3)
  • PA 5560: Local Government Administration (3)
  • Choose one course from:
    • GHY/PLN 5400: Planning Theory and Process (3)
    • PLN/COM 5425: Task-Oriented Group Facilitation Methods (3)
  • 3 s.h. of graduate coursework in consultation with the MPA Program Director (3)

OR
Not-for-profit Management Concentration (Code: 279F) [Under Review – not currently accepting students]

  • PA 5270: Not-for-Profit Organizations (3)
  • PA 5271: Grants Strategies and Preparation (3)
  • PA 5665: Public Management (3)
  • Choose two courses from:
    • MBA 5420: Marketing Strategy and Applications (3)     
    • MGT 5770: Business Ethics (3)
    • PLN/COM 5425: Task-Oriented Group Facilitation Methods (3)
    • PLN 5700: Project Management (3)

OR
Public Management Concentration (Code: 279B)

  • 15 s.h. of graduate courses in consultation with the MPA director, including 3 s.h. of graduate elective coursework from outside the department  

OR
Town, City and County Management Concentration (Code: 279C)

  • 9 s.h. from the following courses
    • GHY/PLN 5400: Planning Theory and Process (3)
    • PLN 5700: Project Management (3)
    • PS 5330: Problems in State and Local Government (3)
    • PA 5560: Local Government Administration (3)
    • PA 5665: Public Management (3)
  • 6 s.h. of graduate courses in consultation with the MPA Director, including 3 s.h. of graduate elective coursework from outside the department   

15

Fieldwork / Internship Option (CHOOSE ONE)

Internship for Pre-service Students

  • PA 5900: Internship in Public Administration (6)

OR
Field Research Option for In-service Students

  • PA 5010: Field-based Research (3)
  • One additional graduate course (3)

6

Other Requirements for the MPA:

  • Thesis: Not required
  • Proficiency: Students must demonstrate a proficiency in reading a foreign language or quantitative analysis as a research tool. The department may determine the proficiency required.
  • Candidacy: Not required
  • Comprehensive: Successful completion of a capstone experience (PA 5558 plus PA 5559) fulfills the requirement for a comprehensive examination.
  • Product of Learning: Not required

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