Program Overview

Public Administration Program

The Public Administration Program at San Francisco State University is designed to instill an appreciation for public service values such as accountability, civic engagement, equity, social justice, and sustainability. The program develops foundational knowledge and analytical skills in public policy, public administration, and research.

Program Scope

The program offers a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree that seeks to develop student knowledge and understanding of management perspectives. The program also offers seven elective themes to guide course selection for student specialization, including:

• Criminal justice administration
• Environmental administration
• Gerontology administration
• Nonprofit administration
• Public management
• Public policy
• Urban administration

Students may also self-design a theme by choosing courses relevant to their professional interests offered by other departments and programs throughout the University.

Career Outlook

Well-trained, competent, and ethical professionals are in high demand in all sectors. Graduates from the MPA program emerge with proficiency in theoretical foundations of public administration, a combination of technical professional skills and soft leadership skills, and high levels of analytical competency.

Faculty

The program has a diverse faculty with expertise in various areas of public administration, including:

• Sheldon Gen, Professor in Public Administration
• Jennifer Shea, Professor in Public Administration
• Genie N. L. Stowers, Professor in Public Administration
• M. Ernita Joaquin, Associate Professor in Public Administration
• Qian (Janey) Wang, Associate Professor in Public Administration

Courses

The program offers a range of courses, including:

• P A 400: Introduction to Public Policy in the U.S.
• P A 402: Introduction to Public Administration
• P A 700: Foundations of Governance and Management
• P A 705: Design and Consumption of Research
• P A 706: Applied Data Analysis
• P A 715: Policy Process and Civic Engagement
• P A 720: Organization Design and Change Management
• P A 722: Performance Management and Planning
• P A 724: Economic Perspectives
• P A 725: Managing Human Capital
• P A 727: Program and Service Delivery
• P A 730: Resource Allocation and Management
• P A 731: U.S. Courts and the Making of Public Policy
• P A 733: Intelligence and Foreign Policy
• P A 736: International Development and Global Governance
• P A 740: Public Service Management
• P A 744: Nonprofits, Public Policy and Society
• P A 745: Perspectives on Nonprofit Management
• P A 750: Financial Management in the Public Service
• P A 753: Decision Making in the Public Sector
• P A 755: Information and Knowledge in the Public Service
• P A 762: Leading Change Across Sectors
• P A 764: Democracy and Authoritarianism
• P A 770: Policy Analysis
• P A 775: Program Evaluation
• P A 776: Environmental Policy
• P A 780: Urban Administration
• P A 784: Intergovernmental Dynamics
• P A 791: Prevailing Issues in Public Administration
• P A 795: Applied Field Experience
• P A 803: Public Affairs Internship
• P A 890: Capstone Course in Public Administration
• P A 898: Master's Thesis
• P A 899: Independent Study

Quick Links

For more information, please refer to the following links:

• About the Bulletin
• Academic Calendar
• Courses
• Class Schedule
• General Education