Master of Public Administration Overview

Are you a natural-born leader? Do you work in the public or non-profit sectors? The Master of Public Administration program online at South University can enable you to get the degree you seek to enhance your career potential. Our program provides a non-traditionally structured graduate education designed to meet your needs. Designed for working adults, our Master of Public Administration program is for those seeking to get into or pursue advanced opportunities within the public or non-profit sectors - a degree aligned to your career growth.

By attending the Master of Public Administration program online at South University you can benefit from the convenience and flexibility of online education while at the same time experiencing the quality of instruction you expect from an accomplished university, including classes taught by doctoral level degree-holding practitioners in the field. In addition, students have the opportunity to create their own focus of study. At South University, you are in control of your education.

Students of the public administration master's program can choose from five specializations:

• Public Policy
• Non-Profit Management
• Criminal Justice
• Information Technology
• Public Health

As a graduate of South University's online Master of Public Administration program, you will be prepared to pursue management, administrative, research, and teaching positions. Program graduates may also choose to pursue admission to doctoral programs in public administration and other related fields, as well as growth opportunities within existing governmental and non-profit institutions, enhancing graduates' ability to manage such organizations and associations.

Employment Opportunities

 

Graduates with degrees in Public Administration work in many different types of fields. Browse these results from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to learn more.

Academic Requirements

The Master of Public Administration program is designed for prospective students who have:

• Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.70 (on a scale of 4.0) for the last 60 hours of coursework (including relevant graduate work).
• Exceptions to the Minimum GPA
  Applications with grade point averages lower than the stated program minimum may be considered for admission with significant evidence of academic and professional potential demonstrated by the career and/or personal accomplishments indicated in the personal statement of academic and professional goals, the career résumé, academic or professional letters of recommendation, and GRE Scores. Although GRE scores are optional, submission of scores may improve an applicant's application. Exceptions must be recommended by the department chair or program director. Students admitted on an exception basis will be admitted as regular students on a probationary status for the first quarter of enrollment. In order to remain enrolled after the first quarter, the student must achieve a GPA of at least 3.0.
• Students may transfer a total of 12 credit hours into the Master of Public Administration program. The specific courses for which transfer credit is available are MPA5001 Foundations of Public Administration, MPA5005 Public and Non-profit Organizational Behavior, and MBA6501 Strategic Human Resources Management. The evaluation of transfer of credit follows South University's applicable policies and procedures that pertain to accredited institutions.

Master of Public Administration - 48 Total Hours

Students pursuing the Master of Science in Public Administration are required to take a total of 12 courses as follows:

• 5 core courses - 20 Credits
• 4 specialization courses - 16 Credits
• 2 elective courses - 8 Credits
• 1 capstone course - 4 Credits

Capstone Course - 4 Credits
Students are required to take the following capstone course:

MPA6999 - Strategic Challenges in Public Administration

This course integrates knowledge, skills, and abilities from a wide variety of content areas to better meet the challenges faced by public administrators. Topics include developing organizational strategy, executing decision making, shaping the planning process, and managing organizational change. Use of the case method will draw significantly on students' prior public administration study and experience.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

Core Curriculum Courses - 20 Credits
Students are required to take 5 core courses as follows:

MPA5001 - Foundations of Public Administration

This course provides students with an overview of public administration and examines the political, social, institutional, and organizational setting in which practitioners in public administrators function.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

MPA5005 - Public and Nonprofit Organizational Behavior

This course addresses the issues of motivation, leadership, and communication within public and nonprofit organizations. Included are negotiation, conflict resolution, and team building. Special attention will be paid to the unique character of public and nonprofit organizations operating with a mission of public service and within the context of the political leadership and public constituencies.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

MPA5010 - Public and Nonprofit Budgeting and Accounting

This course examines the management of public funds and the preparation and administration of their related budgets. Basic accounting and financial management functions most relevant to public administration are examined, including the roles of treasury, comptroller, and auditing. Topics may include revenue projections, expenditure controls, fiscal management, the relevance of public policy in establishing budgetary priorities, and the utilization of information and accounting systems. Course will also include accounting and auditing requirements particular to nonprofit organizations.

Prerequisite(s): MPA5001

Credits: 4

MPA6001 - Research and Data Analysis in Public Administration

This course explores the concepts, principles, and methods of research in public administration, with application to administrative functions and decision making. Topics include literature reviews, research design, definition and measurement of variables, analysis and interpretation of data, and communication of research results. Emphasis is placed on the role and importance of scientific investigations and systematic inquiries in the development and planning of public policy related to public administration.

Prerequisite(s): MPA5001

Credits: 4

MPA6501 - State and Local Government and Intergovernmental Relations

This course analyzes the structures, principles, and operations of state and local government in the United States. It examines the governmental interrelationships contained in the U.S. federal system. Topics include the analysis of the executive, legislative, and judicial functions of state and local governments. In addition, special attention is paid to the similarities and differences among the levels and branches of government. Topics also cover the complementing and conflicting relationships between the state and federal government levels.

Prerequisite(s): MPA5001

Credits: 4

Specialization Courses - 16 Credits
Students are required to take 1 specialization track from the choices below:

Non-profit Management Specialization

MPA6100 - Nonprofit Fundraising and Volunteer Development

This course explores the goals, processes, and activities associated with fundraising and resource development including the resources provided by volunteers in the nonprofit sector. Topics include annual and capital campaign development, special events, planned giving, communication strategies, stakeholder relationships, automation techniques, and volunteer procedures (including recruitment, training, and recognition). The course will also address legal reporting requirements pertaining to contributions.

Prerequisite(s): Completion of the core courses

Credits: 4

MPA6105 - Grant Writing and Contract Administration

This course examines the strategies and execution of grant and proposal writing as well as contract administration in the nonprofit and governmental sectors. Topics include research into funding sources, use of prospectus documents, preparation of competitive proposals for grants and contracts, and peer review. Students will engage in all aspects of grant and proposal writing, including how to efficiently and effectively describe research and program design, outcomes, objectives and methodology, data management, evaluation, and budget development applied to the preparation of an actual proposal. Students will also examine the contract administrative responsibilities resulting from successful grants and contracts, including monitoring and reporting program and fiscal data.

Prerequisite(s): MPA5001

Credits: 4

MPA6110 - Management for Non-Profit Organizations

Management for Non-Profit Organizations

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits:

MPA6115 - Program Evaluation Of Public And Nonprofit Organizations

This course examines the goals, methods, and techniques of program evaluation in governmental and nonprofit organizations. Special emphasis is placed on how program evaluation relates to legislative and executive budgeting, program planning, and program implementation.

Prerequisite(s): MPA5001

Credits: 4

Public Policy Specialization

MPA6115 - Program Evaluation Of Public And Nonprofit Organizations

This course examines the goals, methods, and techniques of program evaluation in governmental and nonprofit organizations. Special emphasis is placed on how program evaluation relates to legislative and executive budgeting, program planning, and program implementation.

Prerequisite(s): MPA5001

Credits: 4

MPA6505 - Legislative and Judicial Process

This course examines the process of enacting laws and performing other legislative, administrative, and judicial functions in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures. Special attention is paid to the relationship between public administrators and the legislative and judicial processes.

Prerequisite(s): MPA5001

Credits: 4

MPA6510 - Economics of Public Policy

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits:

MPA6515 - Public Policy Analysis

The course provides an overview of the concepts and processes of policy research, including the relationship between policy analysis and programmatic planning. Topics include the role of policy analysis in improving government decision making and assessing the effectiveness of public programs.

Prerequisite(s): MPA5001

Credits: 4

Criminal Justice Specialization

MCJ5003 - Ethics and Moral Behavior in the CJ System

This advanced course in ethics and moral behavior discusses, examines, considers and critiques the various facets of justice, crime, and ethics within the criminal justice system. A major emphasis will be placed on the theoretical foundations of ethics as they apply to the fields of criminal justice practice. Students will examine the diverse values and ethical dilemmas that arise in law enforcement, the courts and corrections. In addition, we will explore the same concerns in the formulation of crime control policies at the federal, state, and local levels.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

MCJ6001 - Criminal Justice Administration

A critical examination of theories, concepts, and principles concerned with organizational behavior and functions of personnel administration with special attention paid to criminal justice applications. More specifically, how these concepts may be practically applied to administrative and managerial practices in criminal justice organizations.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

MCJ6004 - Criminal Justice Planning and Innovation

The application of planning theory and techniques to the criminal justice system as well as to agency-specific problems. Emphasizes problem identification, goal-setting, forecasting, and the selection of alternative courses of action. Students become familiar with computerized data analysis and case study simulation in order to illustrate suitable planning techniques as well as pitfalls that can be avoided by implementing such techniques.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

MCJ6405 - Organizational Leadership

This course provides a survey overview of the major theories and research on leadership and managerial effectiveness in formal organizations with practical suggestions for improving leadership skills. Students will focus on the practical and theoretical applications of charismatic and transformational leadership, creating and communicating vision and values, inspiring others to act, risk management, empowerment, building trust and teamwork, mentoring, managing change, and converting crisis into opportunity.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Information Technology Specialization

IST5010 - Information Technology Infrastructure

Concepts, systems development and effective use of up-to-date tools and application software, focusing on IT infrastructure, systematic approach to management, processes involved in managing IT infrastructures, best practices to IT service support and service delivery, the place of IT infrastructure and IT service in an organization, IT management frameworks, and concepts of the work processes used to manage an IT infrastructure.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

IST5020 - Information Systems Fundamentals

This course explores the real-world projects dealing with issues related to development, management, and maintenance of medium-sized and a large-scaled information system (IS) with emphasis on business IS for a distributed environment. The identification of vulnerabilities and risks inherent in the operation of IS are also explored.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

IST6000 - Principles of Systems Development

This course summarizes system development and design and software engineering methodologies, with emphasis on structured and object-oriented analysis, design and implementation of information systems, distributed information systems, information systems life cycle models, and platforms with discussions of requirements definition and management, modeling quality assurance and development environments.

Prerequisite(s): IST5010 IST5020

Credits: 4

IST6020 - Corporate Information Systems Management

The course is an overview and case studies of contemporary information systems management in a digital enterprise. It focuses on the relevant issues of effective management of information services activities and highlights the areas of greatest potential application of the technology. The course emphasizes the skills and knowledge to identify and communicate business system needs, select the right information systems and integrate these systems into organizations to improve business performance.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

Public Health Specialization

PHE5001 - Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health

The application of the social and behavioral sciences as they contribute to an understanding of health and illness

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

PHE5005 - Introduction to Health Services and Research

Examines the organization, delivery, and financing of the U.S. Healthcare system. Students use evidence from health services research to identify principles for application in various public health settings. For students intending to complete the applied research project at the end of their program, guidance is provided about the project and relevant agency selection.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

PHE5010 - Environmental and Occupational Health

The study of the major environmental and occupational factors that contribute to the development of health problems in industrialized and developed countries.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

PHE5015 - Principles of Epidemiology

The study of epidemiological methods to evaluate the patterns and determinants of health and diseases in populations.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

General Specialization

MPA6105 - Grant Writing and Contract Administration

This course examines the strategies and execution of grant and proposal writing as well as contract administration in the nonprofit and governmental sectors. Topics include research into funding sources, use of prospectus documents, preparation of competitive proposals for grants and contracts, and peer review. Students will engage in all aspects of grant and proposal writing, including how to efficiently and effectively describe research and program design, outcomes, objectives and methodology, data management, evaluation, and budget development applied to the preparation of an actual proposal. Students will also examine the contract administrative responsibilities resulting from successful grants and contracts, including monitoring and reporting program and fiscal data.

Prerequisite(s): MPA5001

Credits: 4

MPA6115 - Program Evaluation Of Public And Nonprofit Organizations

This course examines the goals, methods, and techniques of program evaluation in governmental and nonprofit organizations. Special emphasis is placed on how program evaluation relates to legislative and executive budgeting, program planning, and program implementation.

Prerequisite(s): MPA5001

Credits: 4

MPA6505 - Legislative and Judicial Process

This course examines the process of enacting laws and performing other legislative, administrative, and judicial functions in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures. Special attention is paid to the relationship between public administrators and the legislative and judicial processes.

Prerequisite(s): MPA5001

Credits: 4

MPA6520 - Legal Environment of Public Administration

Legal Environment of Public Administration

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits:

Elective Courses (for all specializations except Public Health) - 8 Credits
Students are required to take 2 elective courses as follows:

LEA5125 - Leadership Ethics, Culture, and Politics

This course compares and contrasts the disciplines of leadership and management with an emphasis on fostering organization culture and personal ethics. Topics may include historical and contemporary leadership and management theories, current leadership research and the practice of leadership and management across a wide variety of organizational contexts.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

MPA6501 - State and Local Government and Intergovernmental Relations

This course analyzes the structures, principles, and operations of state and local government in the United States. It examines the governmental interrelationships contained in the U.S. federal system. Topics include the analysis of the executive, legislative, and judicial functions of state and local governments. In addition, special attention is paid to the similarities and differences among the levels and branches of government. Topics also cover the complementing and conflicting relationships between the state and federal government levels.

Prerequisite(s): MPA5001

Credits: 4

Elective Courses (Public Health specialization only) - 8 Credits
Students are required to take 2 elective courses as follows:

MPA6115 - Program Evaluation Of Public And Nonprofit Organizations

This course examines the goals, methods, and techniques of program evaluation in governmental and nonprofit organizations. Special emphasis is placed on how program evaluation relates to legislative and executive budgeting, program planning, and program implementation.

Prerequisite(s): MPA5001

Credits: 4

MPA6505 - Legislative and Judicial Process

This course examines the process of enacting laws and performing other legislative, administrative, and judicial functions in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures. Special attention is paid to the relationship between public administrators and the legislative and judicial processes.

Prerequisite(s): MPA5001

Credits: 4

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