THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY’s online Master of Public Administration focuses on the knowledge needed to help graduates resolve society and organizational dilemmas including those related to ethics, policy and more. The MPA program prepares graduates for careers in public, non-profit and private organizations in which they can develop, implement and manage public programs and policies.
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August 21, 2018
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Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to resolve societal problems. The MPA program prepares graduates for careers in public, non-profit, and private organizations in which they can develop, implement, and manage public programs and public policies.
Categories: MASTER DEGREE PROGRAMS, SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Tags: MASTER DEGREE, Public Administration
Upon completion of the program, students should be able to do the following:
- Analyze problem-solving strategies for implementation in public/non-profit agencies.
- Apply ethical principles related to multiculturalism and gender equity to resolve ethical dilemmas in the workplace.
- Manage the public policy process to improve organizations.
- Evaluate public sector budgets.
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to resolve societal problems. The MPA program prepares graduates for careers in public, non-profit, and private organizations in which they can develop, implement, and manage public programs and public policies.
Major Requirements | Total Required Semester Hours: 24
PUA 5301 Administration of Public Institutions
PUA 5301 Administration of Public Institutions (``3 SEMESTER HOURS``)
Description
Focuses on the evolution of the ontological (view of reality) and epistemological (view of knowledge derivation) theoretical foundations that undergird the multidisciplinary applied field of public administration research and practice. Students engage in critical thinking and decision-making in the application of public administration theoretical knowledge to the processes of solving real-world problems facing the field of public administration demonstrated in written evaluation briefings using both analysis and synthesis.
Outcomes
- Analyze public administration as a multidisciplinary field of research and practice.
- Examine the concept of intergovernmental reinvention in public service.
- Appraise code of ethics as it relates to public administration.
- Explore applicable financial management and budgeting methods useful in public administration in order to solve real-world problems.
- Critique management styles of public managers in public organizations as they apply to solving problems in the public agency/organization.
- Deduce the viability of collaboration and coordination theories related to financial accountability and agency transparency in public agencies.
- Integrate public administration theories into the evolving theoretical foundations of social equity, equality, and discrimination policies in managing public organizations.
- Evaluate historical and contemporary public administration theories when applied to future trends in public administration.
PreRequisites
None
Textbook(s)
Classics of public administration (Rev: 8th ed.)
Publisher: Cengage Learning (2017)
Author: Shafritz, J. M., & Hyde, A. C. (Eds.)
ISBN: 9781305639034
Price: $163.74
* Disclaimer: Textbooks listed are based on the last open revision of the course. Prior revisions and future revisions may use different textbooks. To verify textbook information, view the course syllabus or contact the AU Bookstore at bookstore@AU.EDU.GL
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PUA 5302 Public Administration Ethics
PUA 5302 Public Administration Ethics (``3 SEMESTER HOURS``)
Description
Focuses on meta-ethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics theory in the context of the multidisciplinary applied field of public administration and policy research and practice. Students demonstrate knowledge of ethical theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, and social constructivism, and through analysis, engage in critical thinking and problem solving for comprehension of real problems facing public managers.
Outcomes
- Define ethics in public administration, to include foundational theoretical constructs.
- Recognize the public service values; efficiency, effectiveness and ethical responsiveness.
- Distinguish public administration ethical theories.
- Apply public administration ethics theory to solve real-world problems.
- Analyze public administration ethics based on ontological and epistemological theory.
- Apply knowledge of ethical theories for appropriate use resolving real-world problems facing public managers.
- Evaluate the applicability of an organization’s code of ethics.
- Interpret a public code of ethics.
PreRequisites
None
Textbook(s)
The responsible administrator: An approach to ethics for the administrative role (Rev: 6th ed.)
Publisher: Jossey-Bass (2012)
Author: Cooper, T. L.
ISBN: 978-0-470-87394-6
Price: $59.28
* Disclaimer: Textbooks listed are based on the last open revision of the course. Prior revisions and future revisions may use different textbooks. To verify textbook information, view the course syllabus or contact the AU Bookstore at bookstore@AU.EDU.GL
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PUA 5303 Organizational Theory
PUA 5303 Organizational Theory (``3 SEMESTER HOURS``)
Description
Presents the foundational theories of both organizational theory and organizational behavior in the public administration context. Students evaluate the usefulness and applicability of various organizational, theoretical, and behavioral-based theoretical constructs to specific public sector organization/agency case study scenarios. Students apply theory to practice in solving case study problems, using appropriate and applicable theories from the body of literature addressing organizational theory and behavior in the context of public service.
Outcomes
- Evaluate a variety of views about human resource behavior in public organizations.
- Examine ways to use organizational human behavior theory to manage stress in public organizations.
- Apply different decision-making techniques of effective human resource management to case scenarios.
- Interpret motivation and leadership theories to solve human resource problems.
- Analyze the use of power and politics in public organizations by managers and leaders.
- Compare and contrast ways to improve human communication to build effective teams and groups.
- Synthesize lucid arguments with justifiable rationale for managing human conflict and organizational change in public organizations.
- Assess the utility of organizational and human behavior theories as tools to improve leadership and management in public and nonprofit organizations.
PreRequisites
None
Textbook(s)
Managing human behavior in public and nonprofit organizations (Rev: 4th ed.)
Publisher: Sage (2016)
Author: Denhardt, R. B., Denhardt, J. V., & Aristigueta, M. P.
ISBN: 9781483359298
Price: $105.04
* Disclaimer: Textbooks listed are based on the last open revision of the course. Prior revisions and future revisions may use different textbooks. To verify textbook information, view the course syllabus or contact the AU Bookstore at bookstore@AU.EDU.GL
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PUA 5304 Quantitative Research Methods
PUA 5304 Quantitative Research Methods (``3 SEMESTER HOURS``)
Description
Examines applied research, quantitative research, and qualitative research designs and methodologies that are applicable to the public workplace. Outlines each step in the research process for the public sector professional.
Outcomes
- Define research methods in the public administration context.
- Identify terms used in public administration pertaining to research, such as research methods, theoretical constructs, and research tools.
- Distinguish among types of research methods, theories, and tools that are applicable in public administration.
- Apply research methods and evidence to manage ethical dilemmas and program outcomes in justice administration, emergency services, and the nonprofit sector.
- Compare and contrast the usefulness of various research methods, theoretical constructs, and research tools in terms of solving real-world problems.
- Use Microsoft Excel to analyze real-world data sets and solve case and scenario problems.
- Synthesize lucid arguments with justifiable rationale for the selection of specific research methods, theoretical constructs, and tools for solving real-world problems in public administration.
- Prepare a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation of a research project to include description of methods, data analysis, and findings.
PreRequisites
None
Textbook(s)
Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (Rev: 4th ed.)
Publisher: Sage (2014)
Author: Creswell, J. W.
ISBN: 978-1452226101
Price: $67.60
* Disclaimer: Textbooks listed are based on the last open revision of the course. Prior revisions and future revisions may use different textbooks. To verify textbook information, view the course syllabus or contact the AU Bookstore at bookstore@AU.EDU.GL
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PUA 5305 Public Finance and Budgeting
PUA 5305 Public Finance and Budgeting (``3 SEMESTER HOURS``)
Description
Presents the foundational theories and methodological tools used in public finance and budgeting. Students apply their knowledge to make use of finance and budgeting methodological tools, such as cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis in the application of finance and budgetary theory to practice. Students also create and oversee public sector fiscal processes. Students evaluate a budget and identify important budget items that public managers must consider in preparation and presentation of a budget. The usefulness of finance and budgeting theoretical constructs and methodological tools are applied to solve real-world public finance and budgetary case studies.
Outcomes
- Assess the relationship of historical and contemporary finance-budgeting theory to real-world public administration issues.
- Discuss the ethical implications on the budget process at the federal, state, and local levels.
- Compare contemporary financial management practices at the federal, state, and local levels.
- Identify political factors that influence and determine financial management practice in the public arena.
- Evaluate a model budget.
- Consider the impact of citizen influence on the budgetary process at various levels of governance.
- Describe the impact of budgetary deficiencies on public agencies.
- Apply practical methods to reconstructing finance and budgeting techniques.
PreRequisites
- PUA 5301
Textbook(s)
Public finance: A contemporary application of theory to policy (Rev: 11th ed.)
Publisher: Cengage Learning (2014)
Author: Hyman, D. N.
ISBN: 978-1-285-17395-5
Price: $266.14
* Disclaimer: Textbooks listed are based on the last open revision of the course. Prior revisions and future revisions may use different textbooks. To verify textbook information, view the course syllabus or contact the AU Bookstore at bookstore@AU.EDU.GL
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PUA 5306 Public Policy
PUA 5306 Public Policy (``3 SEMESTER HOURS``)
Description
Provides a critical overview of the public policy process and effects on public, nonprofit, and private organizations. Students identify the steps in the public policy and analysis process, including problem identification, policy formation, and implementation, as well as evaluate techniques within various public sectors and nonprofit organization environments. Students implement successful strategies using case analysis and demonstrate understanding of the policy steps as students apply them to a public policy moving through their state, city, or county legislature or policy regulation within the public agency.
Outcomes
- Explain the policy environment to include official policy makers and unofficial participants.
- Evaluate the major stages in the public policy process.
- Differentiate administrative politics and policymaking.
- Analyze the methodological problems in the study of public policymaking.
- Summarize theories of public policy decision-making.
- Discuss the relationship between public policy and budgeting.
- Assess future alternatives for reforming the relationships between government and the economy.
- Analyze the impact that education and healthcare policies have on the future of policymaking.
PreRequisites
None
Textbook(s)
Understanding public policy (Rev: 15th ed.)
Publisher: Pearson (2017)
Author: Dye, T. R.
ISBN: 9780134169972
Price: $165.95
* Disclaimer: Textbooks listed are based on the last open revision of the course. Prior revisions and future revisions may use different textbooks. To verify textbook information, view the course syllabus or contact the AU Bookstore at bookstore@AU.EDU.GL
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PUA 5307 Strategic Planning
PUA 5307 Strategic Planning (``3 SEMESTER HOURS``)
Description
Provides an in-depth examination of strategic planning in the public and nonprofit sectors. Highlights how the lack of strategic planning has negatively impacted the efficiency and effectiveness of public and nonprofit agencies historically. In addition, the course presents real-world applicable strategies and techniques that can empower public and nonprofit agencies to craft strategic plans that will help ensure their health and success during an era of cutback management, reduced budgets and revenues, and increased citizen and stakeholder demand.
Outcomes
- Analyze the strategic planning decision-making process in public and nonprofit organizations.
- Justify the impact of eliminating strategic planning within public and nonprofit agencies regarding service delivery capabilities.
- Assess strategic planning theories applicable to solving real-world problems in public sector organizations.
- Compare and contrast strategic planning in the private and public/nonprofit sectors.
- Conduct a SWOT analysis to help clarify agency mission and goals.
- Evaluate how strategic planning relates to the core functions of public sector organizations.
- Discuss strategies for overcoming barriers in strategic planning related to institutional and structural problems.
- Create a strategic plan for a public sector organization.
PreRequisites
- PUA 5302
- PUA 5301
- PUA 5303
- PUA 5304
Textbook(s)
Strategic planning for public and nonprofit organizations: A guide to strengthening and sustaining organizational achievement (Rev: 5th ed.)
Publisher: Wiley (2018)
Author: Bryson, J. M.
ISBN: 9781119071600
Price: $80.60
* Disclaimer: Textbooks listed are based on the last open revision of the course. Prior revisions and future revisions may use different textbooks. To verify textbook information, view the course syllabus or contact the AU Bookstore at bookstore@AU.EDU.GL
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PUA 5308 MPA Seminar
PUA 5308 MPA Seminar (``3 SEMESTER HOURS``)
Description
Meets the critical thinking, written, and presentation outcomes of the MPA program. Students demonstrate integrative knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical constructs and methodological tools that they have learned in each of the previous MPA core courses. Students apply theory to practice and evaluate the usefulness of technology and e-government, e-learning, and e-training in a public sector context. Students develop a final project based on current and near future technological innovation and evaluate the usefulness of the technological innovation to enhancing the service provision of a governmental or nonprofit organization or agency.
Outcomes
- Critique theories to effectively manage the mission and goals in public organizations.
- Evaluate issues of diversity, equality, and equity in public service organizations.
- Differentiate functions of domestic and international public organizations in various democracies around the world.
- Evaluate challenges of crafting public policies in a participatory government.
- Assess public administration scholarship through transparent and collaborative governance.
- Discuss real-world problems facing public service organizations using e-government, e-commerce, and elearning tools.
- Relate major challenges facing the field of public administration and public managers to career development.
- Formulate solutions to real-world problems in public administration through integrated knowledge and comprehension of ethics, public policies, technology, and human and data resources.
PreRequisites
- PUA 5303
- PUA 5306
- PUA 5304
- PUA 5301
- PUA 5307
- PUA 5302
- PUA 5305
Textbook(s)
The future of public administration around the world: The Minnowbrook perspective
Publisher: Georgetown University Press (2010)
Author: O’Leary, R., Van Slyke, D. M., & Kim, S. (Eds.).
ISBN: 978-1-58-901711-5
Price: $78.29
* Disclaimer: Textbooks listed are based on the last open revision of the course. Prior revisions and future revisions may use different textbooks. To verify textbook information, view the course syllabus or contact the AU Bookstore at bookstore@AU.EDU.GL
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Major Requirements | Total Required Semester Hours: 24
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Designed for students to meet their specific educational goals and enhance their career opportunities. To satisfy the General concentration requirements, students may select any four graduate courses not used to meet other program requirements.
