Public Administration, MPA

Dr. Leah Pieper, Director

LeahPieper@clayton.edu

Mission and Goals

The mission of the MPA program is to prepare students to be ethical and effective leaders in public, governmental, and non-profit agencies. Students will develop skills in human resource management, ethical decision making, local government administration and finance, and organizational management. Students can choose electives that focus on general administration and policy to develop additional skills like policy analysis, program evaluation and leadership. Alternatively, students can choose the criminal justice electives to develop skills applicable to the administration of justice in law enforcement, correctional, or judicial agencies.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Explain relevant issues that face public administrators using knowledge and fundamental concepts of the practice of public administration. 
  2. Evaluate the ethical implications of decisions made by public administrators’ decisions.
  3. Analyze public policy, public programs, and/or public services using critical thinking skills.
  4. Apply financial knowledge to make economically sound and ethical decisions in the public interest.
  5. Demonstrate the decision-making skills necessary for leadership in the public sector.

Additional Admission Requirements:

  • A minimum GPA of 2.5 from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution verified by official transcripts.
  • A statement of purpose.
  • Two academic/professional letters of reference.
  • Curriculum Vita/Resume.
  • For applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.5 and 2.99, a GRE score of 300 or higher may be required.

Public Administration, MPA

In order to earn a MPA degree, students must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours of coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. At least 26 of these credits must be taken at Clayton State University. Students also have the option to earn a certificate in a specialized area of public administration by completing a specific set of electives within the MPA degree.

Program Requirements

Master of Public Administration Required Courses18
POLS 5010Public Administration3
POLS 5050Research Methods & App Stats3
POLS 5210Ethics in Public Admin.3
POLS 6060Public Admin HR Management3
POLS 6230Local Govt Admin & Finance3
POLS 6250Org. Theory and Management3
Capstone Experience3
Choose one from the following. (Students should complete an internship unless they currently have full-time employment in the field.) 1
Internship in Public Admin
Project in Public Admin
Electives
Choose electives from the following:15
POLS graduate level (5000 or 6000 level) courses
CRJU graduate level (5000 or 6000 level) courses
Approved graduate level (5000 or 6000 level) courses
Total Credit Hours36
1

Students working full-time in the public or non-profit sector may choose to complete POLS 6980 Project in Public Admin in place of the internship.  Students should consult with the MPA program director to obtain approval prior to the semester the course is taken.

Public Policy Certification

The Public Policy Certification allows students to gain a more in-depth understanding of public policy, including the policy process and evaluation and analysis of implemented policies and programs.

Students must be enrolled in the MPA program to be eligible for the certification, which will be awarded upon completion of the MPA program. 

Public Policy Certification Requirements
Complete the following three courses:
Public Policy
Policy Analysis
Program Evaluation
Total Credit Hours9

Political Science (POLS)

POLS 5010. Public Administration (3) 

This course is an introduction to the fundamental concepts and practices relevant to the role of the non-elected, career administrator in a democratic system.

POLS 5030. Public Policy (3) 

This course will explore the process of public-sector policy-making by examining selected policy issues and outcomes. Special attention will be given to the role of policy analysis and politics in the process.

POLS 5050. Research Methods & App Stats (3) 

An overview of research design and research methodology as it applies to social sciences, and a review of descriptive and inferential statistics as they apply to the field of social sciences.

POLS 5190. Studies in Politics - Topics (3) 

A graduate seminar exploring selected political science topics. A variety of perspectives will be examined.

POLS 5191. Studies in Politics - Topics (3) 

A graduate seminar exploring selected political science topics. A variety of perspectives will be examined.

POLS 5192. Studies in Politics - Topics (3) 

A graduate seminar exploring selected political science topics. A variety of perspectives will be examined.

POLS 5193. Studies in Politics - Topics (3) 

A graduate seminar exploring selected political science topics. A variety of perspectives will be examined.

POLS 5194. Studies in Politics - Topics (3) 

A graduate seminar exploring selected political science topics. A variety of perspectives will be examined.

POLS 5210. Ethics in Public Admin. (3) 

This course examines basic issues of morality and ethics associated with public service roles in a democratic society. Topics covered in this course include the foundations of public service ethics, individual-centered approaches to ethics, institutional approaches to ethics, and issues in public service ethics.

POLS 5230. Public Management & Leadership (3) 

This course examines the fundamentals of management and leadership within public organizations, including skills needed to become an effective public administrator. The course also provides an evaluation of current and evolving challenges faced by public administrators and strategies to respond and adapt.

POLS 5250. Nonprofit Administration (3) 

This course is designed to provide a theoretical and practical understanding of the non-profit sector, an introduction to skills essential for effectively managing non-profit organizations (NPOs), and exposure to contemporary issues and strategic opportunities. Students will increase their understanding of how non‐profit organizations can be managed to effectively and efficiently deliver services and products to their constituents, clients, customers, and the public.

POLS 5260. Nonprofit Budgeting (3) 

This course provides a framework for planning, budgeting, and financial management in nonprofit settings by offering both theoretical and practical applications for everyday use. The course also examines the mission of nonprofits and identifies resources for fiscal growth and development.

POLS 6040. Policy Analysis (3) 

This course will teach students to analyze complex public-policy issues and develop concise reports with recommendations on how to address these issues.

POLS 6051. Program Evaluation (3) 

Designed to familiarize students with techniques that are utilized in evaluating the effectiveness and impact of public policies and programs. It offers an analysis of c program development with emphasis on procedure and design.

POLS 6060. Public Admin HR Management (3) 

This course is a study in human resource management in public and non-profit agencies. It will address current complex human resource issues, by introducing the student to best practices for impacting long-term workforce needs, recruiting and maintaining high-performance teams, and creating a culture of excellence within governmental agencies.

POLS 6210. Law for Public Administrators (3) 

Using case law and real-world examples, students in this class will examine constitutional, administrative, and civil laws that regulate the actions of public servants.

POLS 6230. Local Govt Admin & Finance (3) 

An introduction to local governmental organization and its various agencies. Particular attention will explore the management of revenue-raising and expenditure activities, including financial management, budgeting, grants and contracts, expenditure monitoring, procurement and purchasing policies, and financial auditing procedures.

POLS 6240. Urban Politics and Policy (3) 

This course will introduce students to the concepts of urban governance, including the process of designing, implementing, and managing public policy in an urban environment. Students will develop and apply the analytical and leadership skills necessary to navigate the political and economic structures characteristic of urban politics.

POLS 6250. Org. Theory and Management (3) 

This course is an introduction to major theories concerning organizational behavior and management in the public sector, including analysis of individual behavior in an organizational context. Contemporary trends in organization theory and public management are emphasized.

POLS 6260. Environmental Policy (3) 

The aim of this course is to expose students to the broad themes in environmental policy and the major concepts and debates influencing decision-making processes in this area. The course will discuss the development of key environmental policies in the U.S. from the local to national level and use case studies on a range of environmental problems to prepare students for work in the field.

POLS 6270. Environmental Management (3) 

This course examines the structure, function, and outcomes of environmental and natural resource management in the US with special attention to the role of markets and maximization of social benefit. Topics may include pollution control, water management, land use policy, endangered species, fishery management, forestry policy, and sustainable development.

POLS 6940. Internship in Public Admin (3) 

Supervised field experience in a governmental or not-for-profit agency. Students will be required to complete a project that uses scholarly research to illuminate experience gained during their internship.

POLS 6980. Project in Public Admin (3) 

Using knowledge obtained from coursework, and input from a faulty advisor, students will produce a research paper analyzing an element of public administration and/or policy.

Christie Burton
Jason Davis
Lisa Holland-Davis
Antoinette France-Harris
Andrea Allen-Jacques
Bryan LaBrecque
LaKeisha Levy
Joshua Meddaugh
Leah Pieper
 

This is a suggested course sequence and assumes a graduate student intending to complete their degree in 12 months. Students taking less than the suggested number of courses per semester below should prioritize required courses over electives when registering for classes. 

Fall Semester Start

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterCredit Hours
Fall Semester
POLS 5010 Public Administration 3
POLS 5210 Ethics in Public Admin. 3
POLS 5050 Research Methods & App Stats 3
POLS/CRJU Elective 3
POLS/CRJU Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
Spring Semester
POLS 6060 Public Admin HR Management 3
POLS 6250 Org. Theory and Management 3
POLS 6230 Local Govt Admin & Finance 3
POLS/CRJU Elective 3
POLS/CRJU Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Third Semester
Summer Semester
POLS 6940
Internship in Public Admin
or Project in Public Admin
3
POLS/CRJU Elective 3
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours36

Spring Semester Start

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterCredit Hours
Spring Semester
POLS 6060 Public Admin HR Management 3
POLS 6250 Org. Theory and Management 3
POLS 6230 Local Govt Admin & Finance 3
POLS/CRJU Elective 3
POLS/CRJU Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
Summer Semester
POLS 6940
Internship in Public Admin
or Project in Public Admin
3
POLS/CRJU Elective 3
 Credit Hours6
Third Semester
Fall Semester
POLS 5010 Public Administration 3
POLS 5210 Ethics in Public Admin. 3
POLS 5050 Research Methods & App Stats 3
POLS/CRJU Elective 3
POLS/CRJU Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours36