Master of Public Administration

Learning Goals

A Masters degree in Public Administration is intended to equip students with the knowledge and skills required of successful public servants, non-profit workers, and private sector employees working towards the public good.  The program will foster an environment of analysis and critique, while formulating solutions to issues addressed by public servants across all areas of nonprofit, volunteer, private business, and government service.

Students will be able to:

  • Analyze the historical and current background of needs, in order to develop programs that can best serve the communities addressed.
  • Synthesize financial data, in order to create budgets, and analyze expenditures for programs.
  • Analyze the current issues and trends in the areas of public administration.
  • Analyze legal issues related to public administration.
  • Develop a highly ethical, socially responsible, approach to public administration
  • Synthesize the complexities of funding of organizations through public and private sources
  • Explain the differences in administration of public and non-profit agencies
  • Develop and assess policies effectively
  • Utilize data to analyze trends in public administration and develop programs for social betterment
  • Use appropriate research methods and statistics for understanding current data based decisions as well as developing appropriate models for the future
  • Utilize knowledge of grant and evaluation process to obtain the ability to secure public and private funding, maintain sustainability after funding period, and disseminate projects demonstrated to be successful
  • Demonstrate leadership skills needed for resolving conflict, motivating individuals and groups, and manage issues related to human resources
  • Incorporate a pluralistic lens to the study of public administration
  • Apply concepts of social justice to the practice of public administration
  • Apply the change process to enable public and private institutions to be more active and effective in equitable service to broader populations
  • Use technology effectively for the administration of programs and management of personnel
  • Apply knowledge of political, cultural, and historical environment as well as financial data to public administration and policy development