Kent State University Catalog 2010 - 2011

Public Administration - M.P.A.

COLLEGE:	College of Arts and Sciences
DEPARTMENT:	Department of Political Science 302 Bowman Hall Tel: 330-672-2060 Fax: 330-672-3362 Web: http://www.kent.edu/cas/PoliSci/index.cfm

DESCRIPTION:	The Master of Public Administration consist of three concentrations: Health Care Management, Public Management and Public Policy. Health Care Management is for students wishing to pursue a career in either the public or not-for-profit sectors. Public Management, offered in either classroom or online format, provides students with a broad foundation in public and non-profit management, including the scope and history of public administration, administrative theory, ethical behavior in public management, public financial management, program evaluation, methods, personnel management and information technology management. Public Policy, offered in either classroom or online format, offers theory and skills oriented toward the practice of policy analysis. These include courses in the policy process, ethical issues, policy analysis, microeconomics and research methods.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:	Official transcript(s), 2.75 GPA, GRE, goal statement, three letters of recommendation and a writing sample.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:	Public Management: This concentration has 10 required courses (30 credit hours) and 3 elective courses (9 credit hours) that may be customized or taken within a designated area of specialization, plus a Capstone Seminar, and for students without previous experience, a formal field placement Internship (3). The core courses provide students with a broad foundation in public and nonprofit management, including the scope and history of public administration, administrative theory, ethical behavior in public management, public financial management, program evaluation, methods, personnel management and information technology management. Three elective courses are chosen by the student in consultation with an academic advisor. Designated areas of specialization that may be selected include public and nonprofit financial management, municipal management, nonprofit management, justice management, and nursing management. Other areas of specialization utilizing elective coursework outside of the program may be developed based upon the student’s needs. Public Policy: The public policy concentration requires the completion of five specified courses (15 credit hours), three more courses chosen from a list of options (9 credit hours), and four elective courses (15 credit hours), plus a Capstone course, and depending on the student’s experience or needs, a formal field placement Internship. The core requirements offer theory and skills oriented toward the practice of policy analysis. These include courses in the policy process, ethical issues, policy analysis, microeconomics and research methods. Students select at least one of the designated courses in each of the following three areas: public management; financial management; and an advanced tool in policy research or analysis. Five electives chosen in consultation with an advisor allow students to gain expertise in substantive policy areas (i.e., education policy, information policy, environmental policy). Electives may be chosen from graduate courses available in various university departments, as well as in the Department of Political Science.
PROGRAM FEE:	None
ACCREDITATION:	National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA)