Program Overview

Public Policy Administration MPPA, Policy Research and Analysis Emphasis

The Master of Public Policy Administration (MPPA) program with a Policy Research and Analysis emphasis is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of public policy and administration. The program consists of 40 credit hours, with 25 hours in the core curriculum and 15 hours of electives.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree: A baccalaureate degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university.
• Grade Point Average: A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Demonstrated proficiency in college algebra or the equivalent.
• Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation, with at least one from a current or former college-level instructor.
• Personal Statement: A 2-3 page personal statement explaining how the MPPA program fits with the applicant's educational and professional goals.

Degree Requirements

The MPPA degree requires students to demonstrate the following:

• Design, research, write, and defend analyses of substantive public policy problems and/or potential solutions.
• Use data and sophisticated analytic tools to conduct research in public policy and administration.
• Understand the policy and internal/external environments of public and nonprofit organizations.
• Develop expertise in a substantive area of public policy administration.

Curriculum

The core curriculum consists of 25 hours in the following public policy administration courses:

• Policy Analysis and Economics
  • P P ADM 6000: Introduction to Policy Analysis
  • ECON 5550: Economics for Public Policy Analysis
• Public Administration and Budgeting
  • P P ADM 6400: Public Administration: Theory & Practice
  • P P ADM 6490: Human Resources in the Public Sector
  • P P ADM 6180: Governmental Budgeting and Financial Control
• Statistics, Research Methods, and Information Technology
  • P P ADM 6010: Introduction to Policy Research
  • P P ADM 6750: Applied Research Design
  • P P ADM 6850: E-Governance in the Public Sector

Emphasis Area Requirements

Students may select one of three emphasis areas: Policy Research and Analysis, Local Government Management, or Nonprofit Organization Management. For the Policy Research and Analysis emphasis, students must complete:

• Required courses:
  • POL SCI 6402: Intermediate Techniques in Policy Research
  • or ECON 4100: Introduction to Econometrics
• Electives: Select four of the following courses:
  • BUS AD 5001: Managerial Economic Analysis
  • POL SCI 6403: Advanced Techniques in Policy Research
  • or ECON 4110: Applied Econometrics
  • or ECON 5110: Topics in Applied Econometrics
  • ECON 4160: Geospatial Analysis in the Social Sciences
  • ECON 4170: Fundamentals of Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • ECON 4550: Natural Resource Economics
  • POL SCI 6404: Multi-Method Research Design
  • POL SCI 6422
  • POL SCI/P P ADM 6444
  • POL SCI 6452: Public Policy of Conservation and Sustainable Development
  • SOC WK 6443: Health Care Policy
  • or POL SCI 6443: Health Care Policy
  • P P ADM 6950: Internship (in assignment relevant to the emphasis area)

Internships

An internship is required for students without substantial experience in the public or nonprofit sectors. Students may be placed in planning agencies, city managers' offices, administrative departments, or nonprofit agencies. Credit is granted after successful completion of the internship and a written paper at the end of the semester. Students with significant relevant experience may request a waiver of the internship requirement, which must be approved by the program director.