Program Overview

Public Affairs, M.P.A.

The Master of Public Affairs requires 36 credit hours and is intended for persons interested in public service careers in local, state, and federal agencies; private, nonprofit agencies and voluntary organizations; public affairs offices in private businesses; and legislative staff positions. It provides professional training designed to meet current demands in public service positions and build the foundation for long-term development and advancement in a public service career. The M.P.A. program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

Program Overview

The program provides a foundation in the major substantive areas of public affairs: policy-making and policy analysis; administration, management and organizational behavior; quantitative analysis and evaluation; and the political context of public administration. Beyond these areas, students can declare a concentration (Community and Economic Development; Local Government Management; or Nonprofit Management) or take a mix of electives in the department and up to 9 credits in other departments (e.g., geography, conflict and peace studies, public health education).

Degree Program Requirements

• Required: 36 credit hours

Core Courses

The eight required courses are to be taken in approximately the following order, when possible. Consult an advisor for specific sections of 511.

• PSC 511J: Topics in Public Affairs: Legal Issues in Public Administration (1 credit)
• PSC 600: Public Administration and Management (3 credits)
• PSC 601: Politics of Public Policy (3 credits)
• PSC 602: Quantitative Analysis and Program Evaluation (3 credits)
• PSC 603: Budgeting and Fiscal Administration (3 credits)
• PSC 604: Public Personnel Management (3 credits)
• PSC 611: Program and Policy Evaluation (3 credits)

Electives

• Select 17 credits from the following:
  • PSC 510: Topics in Public Policy
  • PSC 511: Topics in Public Affairs
  • PSC 520: Urban Political System
  • PSC 540: Nonprofit Management and Leadership
  • PSC 560: Special Topics in Public Administration
  • PSC 612: Organizational Behavior and Leadership
  • PSC 613: Local Government Administration
  • PSC 615: Human Resource Development and Performance Management
  • PSC 620: Urban and Regional Development Policy
  • PSC 630: Community and Economic Development Theory and Practice
  • PSC 645: Nonprofit Financial Management and Budgeting
  • PSC 650: Philanthropy and Resource Development
• Total Credit Hours: 36

Experiential Component

Students not having approved prior work experience will be required to take Applied Policy Research (PSC 694) or complete a supervised internship (PSC 695) in a public or nonprofit agency for 3-6 credits, depending on the duration of the placement, together with a directed field study (PSC 696). Students with prior work who desire experience in a new area of public affairs may choose to complete an applied policy analysis or internship as well.

Comprehensive Examination (Capstone Experience)

The required exam consists of two parts:

1. A written essay examination (based on core courses) when halfway through the graduate program.
2. A summary of learning paper completed near the end of graduate work.

Concentrations

Community and Economic Development Concentration

This concentration combines the M.P.A. core requirements with courses emphasizing the knowledge and skills to prepare students to work in organizations focusing on community and economic development activities.

• Required Courses (13 credits):
  • PSC 511J: Topics in Public Affairs: Legal Issues in Public Administration (1 credit)
  • PSC 520: Urban Political System (3 credits)
  • PSC 620: Urban and Regional Development Policy (3 credits)
  • PSC 630: Community and Economic Development Theory and Practice (3 credits)
  • GES 602: Sustainable Urban Planning in an Entrepreneurial Environment (3 credits)
• Electives (5 credits): Select 5 credits of electives
• Internship (3-6 credits): PSC 695: Public Affairs Internship
• Total Credit Hours: 21-24

Local Government Management Concentration

This concentration combines the M.P.A. core requirements with courses emphasizing the knowledge and skills to prepare students to work as local government managers.

• Required Courses (6 credits):
  • PSC 520: Urban Political System (3 credits)
  • PSC 613: Local Government Administration (3 credits)
• Electives (11 credits): Select 11 credits of electives
• Internship (3 credits): PSC 695: Public Affairs Internship
• Total Credit Hours: 20

Nonprofit Management Concentration

This concentration combines the M.P.A. core requirements with courses emphasizing the knowledge and skills to prepare students to work in or with the nonprofit sector.

• Required Courses (9 credits):
  • PSC 540: Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 credits)
  • PSC 650: Philanthropy and Resource Development (3 credits)
  • Select three courses (3 credits) from the following:
    • PSC 511B: Topics in Public Affairs: Marketing for Public and Nonprofit Agencies
    • PSC 511D: Topics in Public Affairs: Strategic Planning
    • PSC 511G: Topics in Public Affairs: Grant Writing
    • PSC 511V: Topics in Public Affairs: Volunteer Management
• Electives (9 credits): Select 9 credits of electives
• Internship: PSC 695: Public Affairs Internship
• Total Credit Hours: 21

M.P.A. with Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Gerontology

Students with an interest in public service work related to the elderly and meeting the needs of an aging society may complete elective course work in the M.P.A. degree by jointly completing the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Gerontology.

Accelerated B.A. or B.S. to M.P.A. in Public Affairs

Application and Admission

Qualified UNC Greensboro undergraduate students may be nominated to participate in the Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) in Public Affairs by the Graduate Program Director. Students must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours with at least 30 credits and a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5 in a related major at UNC Greensboro.

Courses

Admitted students may apply a maximum of 12 credits of graduate-level course work toward completion of both the undergraduate and graduate degree, provided they earn a grade of B (3.0) or better in each course and fulfill graduate-level requirements. These courses must be approved by the Graduate Program Director from the following list:

• PSC 511: Topics in Public Affairs (1 credit)
• PSC 511J: Topics in Public Affairs: Legal Issues in Public Administration (1 credit)
• PSC 510K: Topics in Public Policy: Ethics in Public Policy (3 credits)
• PSC 511N: Topics in Public Affairs: Nonprofit Law (1 credit)
• PSC 520: Urban Political System (3 credits)
• PSC 540: Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 credits)
• PSC 600: Public Administration and Management (3 credits)
• PSC 601: Politics of Public Policy (3 credits)
• PSC 602: Quantitative Analysis and Program Evaluation (3 credits)
• PSC 603: Budgeting and Fiscal Administration (3 credits)