Program Overview

MPA Program Mission, Values, and Goals

The mission of the SF State MPA Program is to enhance individual and organizational capacity to serve the public and nonprofit sectors through engaged and innovative teaching, research, and service.

Program Values

The program and its mission are guided by the values of:

• Accountability
• Civic Engagement
• Equity
• Social Justice
• Sustainability

Student Learning Goals

The program has established the following student learning goals:

• Goal 1: Provide students with substantive knowledge to lead and manage in public affairs today.
  • Objective 1a: Lead and manage with knowledge about the depth and breadth of public affairs today.
  • Objective 1b: Lead and manage with knowledge about a specialized area of public affairs.
  • Objective 1c: Possess professional skills necessary to be leaders in today's and tomorrow's organizations.
• Goal 2: Participate in and contribute to the public policy process.
• Goal 3: Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions.
• Goal 4: Articulate and apply a public service perspective.
• Goal 5: Communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce.
  • Objective 5a: Write effectively and concisely.
  • Objective 5b: Present effectively to small and large groups.
  • Objective 5c: Enhance student ability to work effectively in teams.
• Goal 6: Communicate and work to ensure the accountability, civic engagement, equity, social justice, and sustainability values highlighted by the Program.

Pedagogical Goals

The program aims to achieve the following pedagogical goals:

• Goal 1: Ensure the Program emphasizes real, hands-on learning through team and applied projects.
  • Objective 1: Provide all students the opportunity for at least one "substantive" individual or team-based service (applied) project.
• Goal 2: Work to enhance and increase connections for students with other students, other departments, and other academic institutions (through technology or other means).
  • Objective 1: Create a web of faculty and student connections to Bay Area and University resources.
• Goal 3: Work to balance practice and theory in instruction.
• Goal 4: Emphasize innovative thinking in administration, instruction, pedagogy, advising, service, and research by encouraging innovation as a value and by emphasizing cutting-edge ideas/concepts in the classroom.
  • Objective 1: Encourage faculty to stay on the cutting edge of current practice and pedagogy.
  • Objective 2: Encourage faculty to innovate in the classroom.
• Goal 5: Create a reliable "pathway" to graduation for all students.

Program Goals

The program has established the following goals:

• Goal 1: Continue to be an effective and high-quality program.
  • Objective 1: Become and remain a learning organization that changes when change is required.
  • Objective 2: Work collaboratively to take advantage of ideas and expertise outside the program.
  • Objective 3: Continue to evaluate the program and its successes and failures in order to improve its operation and education.
  • Objective 4: Improve and enhance the management of the Public Administration Program itself, thereby enhancing effectiveness and stretching existing resources.
  • Objective 5: Work towards a diverse faculty, particularly focusing upon part-time faculty due to the possibility of higher turnover.
  • Objective 6: Recruit and retain high-quality and diverse students in both the public and the nonprofit sectors.
  • Objective 7: Utilize the University's resources in a cost-effective fashion while still meeting the needs of students and providing for the professional development of faculty.
• Goal 2: Research: Contribute to the body of applied and theoretical research in public and nonprofit administration and policy, gaining recognition as faculty experts in their fields.
• Goal 3: Community Engagement: Emphasize value and service to the community.
  • Objective 1: Bring the resources of the Public Administration Program to the community through applied research and faculty/student involvement.
  • Objective 2: Bring the resources of the Public Administration Program to the community through faculty and student involvement in organizations and communities.
    • Develop strong community ties that can foster internships, jobs, and mentorships.
  • Objective 3: Bring the resources of the Public Administration Program to the community through active involvement in professional associations.
  • Objective 4: Bring the community to the program by taking advantage of the expertise in the community for classrooms, research, and other activities.