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General Information

The Master of Public Affairs program is an interdisciplinary, professional program that prepares students for positions in local, state, or federal government, quasi-governmental service, or the nonprofit (including philanthropic) arena. It broadens students' comprehension of the economic, environmental, political, and social context in which the public servant works. The course of study requires completion of (1) the M.P.A. core, (2) the concentration requirement, (3) the experiential requirement, and (4) sufficient electives and/or mid-career option credit to total 48 credit hours.

The curriculum of this program as contained in the core requirements encompasses preparation in a broad range of skills relevant to the operation of public agencies. It is based on the academic disciplines but not limited to any one. It is also problem-oriented, bringing the disciplines to bear on critical social, environmental, economic, and administrative issues.

Although the environment of public service is diverse and changing, effectiveness in that environment requires the development of special skills attained through detailed study in a chosen field of concentration. The fields of concentration span the variety of professional specialties found in public service. Thus, the program provides expertise in the core requirements and a specific concentration area, as well as a general working knowledge of public affairs.

The M.P.A. program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

Degree Requirements

(48 credit hours)

Before enrolling in the M.P.A. program, students must show proficiency in the foundation areas of computing, economics, government, mathematics, and statistics to facilitate mastery of core course material. Graduate credit is not given for work done to satisfy these undergraduate requirements. Students required to take SPEA-V 500 Quantitative Tools for Public Affairs will receive credit for work done in this graduate course.

The core requirements of the M.P.A. degree consist of 18 credit hours of work in six courses. Each student must also complete the requirements of (at least) one concentration. Students may also be required to take SPEA-V 500 Quantitative Tools for Public Affairs.

The experiential requirement ensures that each graduate of the M.P.A. program has gained insight into the world of public service by way of an experience outside the classroom. This experience may or may not involve the accumulation of credit hours toward the degree. The remaining credit hours necessary for graduation, if any, are general electives that can be used to add breadth to a student's program; to further explore a field of concentration; or to enhance skills in foreign languages, quantitative tools, or administrative techniques.

Core Requirements

(18 credit hours)

The M.P.A. core is designed to ensure that each student acquires both the prerequisite analytical skills and an understanding of policy issues and governmental processes that compose the environment within which graduates will pursue their careers.

Required Courses
SPEA-V 502 Public Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 517 Public Management Economics (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 540 Law and Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)

Extremely well-prepared applicants may petition the campus director to waive one or more of the core requirements on the basis of advanced course work done elsewhere. Students may be exempted on the basis of satisfactory equivalent course work or by examination. Credit hours waived from the core add to the electives a student may use. Students requesting course waivers should contact the appropriate campus director for requirements and guidelines.

Concentration Requirements

(18-21 credit hours)

Concentrations give students educational experiences in a substantive area of interest. The course of study in each concentration area is determined in conjunction with an advisor. Up to 3 credit hours of the concentration may be taken in SPEA-V 585 Practicum in Public Affairs, if approved in advance by an advisor.

Concentration requirements may be waived on the same basis as core requirements. Consult with an advisor about course prerequisites.

Experiential Requirements

Each M.P.A. student must obtain professionally relevant experience through one of the following options: an approved internship (0-6 credit hours); SPEA-V 590 Research in Public Affairs; SPEA-V 601 Workshop in Public Affairs; the Environmental Fellowship Program; or the Mid-Career Credit Option.

Mid-Career Credit Option

The Graduate Admissions Committee of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs may grant up to 12 credit hours toward the M.P.A degree for students who have had significant technical, administrative, or policy-level work experience in their backgrounds. Credit will be granted for work experience gained until the end of the semester in which the student completes 24 credit hours according to the following guidelines:

To receive 3 credit hours, a student must have a minimum of one year's technical, administrative, or policy-level work experience with a government or private agency.
6 credit hours will be awarded for one to four years of managerial experience in directing programs, preparing budgets, and making decisions on organizational or staff development, or for one to four years of professional experience in policy analysis or planning.
Those with four or more years of executive assignment may be awarded 9 to 12 credit hours. Applicants must have had responsibility for supervision of high-level staff, budget preparation, and organizational control of public agencies, or executive responsibility for policy analysis or planning.

Application Process and Policies
Students are eligible to apply for mid-career credit at the time of application. Applicants may appeal the initial mid-career credit decision by submitting a request, in writing, for reconsideration and providing additional information to the campus director.

Determination of mid-career credit is made separately from decisions about transfer of credit. Under no circumstances will the mid-career credit and transfer credit total more than 21 hours of the 48 required for the M.P.A. degree. Students receiving mid-career credit should carefully plan the balance of their program with an advisor.

General Elective Courses

Graduate courses, or undergraduate courses approved for graduate credit, may be used to complete the overall degree requirement of 48 credit hours.

Fields of Concentration

Concentrations give the student a focused educational experience in a substantive area of interest. The concentration is selected in conjunction with the faculty advisor and appropriate SPEA administrator. Concentrations offered on the Northwest campus are:

criminal justice
health systems administration
human services administration
public management

Criminal Justice Concentration

(18 credit hours)

The criminal justice concentration is for those interested in the issues, methods, and skills involved in the management of criminal justice or related agencies. Students are required to take a minimum of 9 "J" credit hours for this concentration.

Required Courses (12 credit hours)
SPEA-J 501 Evolution of Criminological Thought and Policy (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 502 Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Public Affairs (3 cr.) or
SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:
SPEA-J 666 Criminal Justice Policy and Evaluation (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 682 Criminal Justice Planning and Management (3 cr.)

Electives (6 credit hours)
Two courses from one of the following groups:

Group A
SPEA-J 550 Topics in Criminal Justice (1-3 cr.)
SPEA-J 582 Criminal Justice Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 587 Criminal Violation: Problems and Characteristics (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 588 Law and Control in Society (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 580 Readings in Public Affairs (criminal justice topics only) (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 585 Practicum in Public Affairs (criminal justice topics only) (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 685 Research Seminar in Public Affairs (criminal justice only) (3 cr.)

Group B
SPEA-H 507 Management of Individual and Group Behavior (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 550 Topics in Criminal Justice (1-3 cr.)
SPEA-V 504 Public Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 512 Public Policy Process (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 516 Public Management Information Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 518 Intergovernmental Systems Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 519 Data Base Management Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 522 Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 525 Management in the Nonprofit Sector (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 539 Management Science for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis of Public and Environmental Policies (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 542 Governmental Financial Accounting and Reporting (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs (non-criminal justice) (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 561 Public Human Resources Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 564 Urban Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 566 Executive Leadership (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 569 Managing Interpersonal Relations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 570 Public Sector Labor Relations (3 cr.)

Other courses approved by faculty advisor

Health Systems Administration Concentration

(21 credit hours)

The health services administration concentration is primarily for practitioners in the health care field, either in clinical or management areas, who desire additional education for career management and advancement, and also for the preservice individual seeking to enter the field of health care administration.

Required Courses (21 credit hours)
SPEA-V 504 Public Organization (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 543 Health Services Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 545 The U.S. Health Care System (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 546 Health Services Utilization (3 cr.)

Three of the following courses:
SPHA-H 514 Health Economics (3 cr.)
SPHA-H 515 Seminar in Health Policy: Special Topics (3 cr.)
SPHA-H 601 Hospital Organization and Management (3 cr.)
SPHA-H 604 Ambulatory Care and Managed Care Programs (3 cr.)
SPHA-H 626 Health Services Human Resources Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs: Ethics in Health Administration (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs: Marketing Health and Human Services (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs: Legal and Ethical Issues in Death and Dying (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs: Long-Term Care Organization and Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 631 Health Planning (3 cr.)

Other courses approved by faculty advisor

Human Services Administration Concentration

(21 credit hours)

The human services administration concentration prepares persons for management positions in federal, state, local, and nonprofit human service agencies. Emphases include application of public management processes to human services organizations; skills requisite to working with elected officials, administrative officials, and consumer groups; and practices of comprehensive departments of human resources, interagency administrative units, and multiservice centers.

Required Courses (21 credit hours)
SPEA-V 504 Public Organization (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 545 The U.S. Health Care System (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 554 Human Services Administration (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)

Three of the following courses:
SPEA-V 507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 522 Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 546 Health Services Utilization (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs: Social Welfare Programs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs: Long-Term Care Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs: Marketing Health and Human Services (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 556 Topics in Human Services Administration (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 561 Public Human Resources Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 563 The Planning Process (3 cr.)

Public Management Concentration

(21 credit hours)

The public management concentration is a structured program that enables students to develop a managerial perspective. The curriculum ensures breadth of coverage across those areas essential to a managerial career.

Required Courses (21 credit hours)
SPEA-V 504 Public Organization (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 539 Management Science for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 561 Public Human Resource Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 566 Executive Leadership (3 cr.)

Three of the following courses:
SPEA-V 507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 512 Public Policy Process (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 563 The Planning Process (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 595 Managerial Decision Making (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 639 Managing Government Operations (3 cr.)

Other courses approved by faculty advisor

General Information
Admission
Program Restrictions
Certificate in Environmental Affairs
Certificate in Nonprofit Management
Certificate in Public Management

Certificate Programs

General Information

Three graduate certificates are offered on the Northwest campus:

Certificate in Environmental Affairs
Certificate in Nonprofit Management
Certificate in Public Management

Certificate programs are flexible and adaptable to the needs of either precareer or in-service students.

Admission

Admission Eligibility
The student must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university to apply.

Application
Application forms and literature may be obtained from the same SPEA offices that offer material for the graduate degree programs.

Students should apply to the SPEA admissions office on the Northwest campus.

Application Fee
Students must pay a nonrefundable application fee.

Program Restrictions

Students enrolled in a certificate program must complete it within 15 credit hours of approved SPEA course work with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B). Failure to do so results in automatic dismissal from the certificate program.
Students who have completed more than three SPEA courses are not eligible for admission to a certificate program.
Transfer credit, course substitutions, or course waivers are not accepted for meeting the Environmental Affairs, the Public Management, or Nonprofit Management certificate requirements.
Students admitted to a SPEA graduate degree program are not eligible for admission to the certificate program or eligible for the awarding of a certificate.
Admission to or successful completion of a certificate program does not guarantee subsequent admission to a SPEA graduate degree program.
Students enrolled in the certificate program who apply to SPEA's graduate degree programs must meet all existing admission requirements.
Students planning to request admission to a SPEA graduate degree program after successfully completing a certificate program should refer to the application procedure presented earlier in this bulletin.

Return to Certificate Programs

Certificate in Environmental Affairs

The Certificate in Environmental Affairs is a 15 credit hour program of study in environmental affairs. The program is flexible enough to adapt to the needs of precareer or inservice persons and to individuals with varying degrees of experience. Individuals currently employed in industry, nonprofit organizations, and the public sector in environmentally related positions who have technical backgrounds but who seek greater insight and formal education on economic, policy, and legal issues related to the critical environmental issues will find the program particularly beneficial.

Certificate Requirements

(15 credit hours)

Required Courses (9 credit hours)
SPEA-V 517 Public Management Economics (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 520 Environmental Policy Analysis (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 645 Environmental Law (3 cr.)

Electives (6 credit hours)
Two additional SPEA graduate courses are selected with the approval of the student's advisor. Among possible additional courses are:
SPEA-E 549 Environmental Planning (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs: Environmental Crime (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 571 State and Local Environmental Management (3 cr.)

Certificate in Nonprofit Management

The Certificate in Nonprofit Management is a 15-credit-hour program of study. The certificate is designed to serve the needs of individuals who would like exposure to the nonprofit sector and nonprofit management issues but who do not wish or need to pursue a degree in nonprofit management. The certificate complements other courses of study or career experience in such areas as social work, library science, and parks and recreation. Students pursuing a nonprofit management certificate gain an understanding of how to work in and with nonprofit organizations.

Certificate Requirements

(15 credit hours)

Required Courses (9 credit hours)
SPEA-V 522 Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 525 Management in the Nonprofit Sector (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 526 Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

Electives (6 credit hours)
Two additional SPEA graduate courses are selected with the approval of the student's advisor. A sampling of current course titles includes: Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector, Ethics and Values of Philanthropy, Fund Development for Nonprofit Organizations, Public Relations in Nonprofits, and History of Philanthropy in the West.

Students interested in continuing for the Master of Public Affairs (M.P.A.) should consider selecting the electives from the nonprofit management concentration.

Certificate in Public Management

The Certificate in Public Management program is a 15 credit hour program of study in public management. The certificate program is flexible enough to be adapted to the needs of precareer and inservice individuals. Graduate students in other disciplines can use the program to supplement their primary fields with course work in public management, possibly using the certificate courses as part or all of a doctoral or master's degree minor. Career employees of public and private sector agencies seeking courses in public management, and especially those changing from professional or technical roles to managerial roles, find the certificate program beneficial.

Certificate Requirements

(15 credit hours)

Required Courses (9 credit hours)
SPEA-V 502 Public Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 561 Public Human Resources Management (3 cr.)

Electives (6 credit hours)
Two additional SPEA graduate public affairs courses approved by the program director.

Note: Students interested in continuing on for the Master of Public Affairs degree should consider selecting the two elective courses from the M.P.A. core; one of the courses recommended is V 506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making. These courses may also be applied to the Master of Planning upon admission to the M.Pl. program.