Public Administration, MPA
Dr. Leah Pieper, Director
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:
- Explain relevant issues that face public administrators using knowledge and fundamental concepts of the practice of public administration.
- Evaluate the ethical implications of decisions made by public administrators’ decisions.
- Analyze public policy, public programs, and/or public services using critical thinking skills.
- Apply financial knowledge to make economically sound and ethical decisions in the public interest.
- Demonstrate the decision-making skills necessary for leadership in the public sector.
Admission Requirements:
- A minimum GPA of 2.5 from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution verified by official transcripts.
- A statement of purpose of around 250-500 words describing how your current experience or education prepare you for the Master of Public Administration degree, and how this degree will contribute to your future goals or career development.
- Two academic/professional letters of reference.
- Curriculum Vita/Resume.
Interested Applicants
Visit the MPA Program webpage for more information, including course maps, FAQs, and instructions on how to apply. Please contact the director for questions about the program by email or by phone at: (678) 466-4602.
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
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Public Administration Required Courses | 18 | |
| POLS 5010 | Public Administration | 3 |
| POLS 5050 | Research Methods & App Stats | 3 |
| POLS 5210 | Ethics in Public Admin. | 3 |
| POLS 6060 | Public Admin HR Management | 3 |
| POLS 6230 | Local Govt Admin & Finance | 3 |
| POLS 6250 | Org. Theory and Management | 3 |
| Capstone Experience | 3 | |
| 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 Hours | 36 | |
- 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. To be eligible for certification, students must be enrolled in the MPA program. The certification must be earned simultaneously with the MPA and will be awarded in conjunction with the degree via a notation on the transcript.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Certification Requirements | ||
| Complete the following three courses: | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| Policy Analysis | ||
| Program Evaluation | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Political Science (POLS)
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.
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.
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.
A graduate seminar exploring selected political science topics. A variety of perspectives will be examined.
A graduate seminar exploring selected political science topics. A variety of perspectives will be examined.
A graduate seminar exploring selected political science topics. A variety of perspectives will be examined.
A graduate seminar exploring selected political science topics. A variety of perspectives will be examined.
A graduate seminar exploring selected political science topics. A variety of perspectives will be examined.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This course will teach students to analyze complex public-policy issues and develop concise reports with recommendations on how to address these issues.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
The suggested course sequence below is the accelerated option for students intending to complete their degree in 12 months.
Please see the Course Maps on our program page for sample schedules for regular full-time and part-time options.
Fall Semester Start
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| POLS 6940 or POLS 6980 |
Internship in Public Admin or Project in Public Admin |
3 |
| POLS/CRJU Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
Spring Semester Start
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit 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 Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| POLS 6940 or POLS 6980 |
Internship in Public Admin or Project in Public Admin |
3 |
| POLS/CRJU Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |