Program Overview

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Introduction to the Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

The Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs is a renowned institution dedicated to providing high-quality education in public and environmental affairs. The school offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including degrees in public policy, criminal justice, and environmental science.

Undergraduate Programs

The school offers several undergraduate programs, including:

• Criminal Justice
• Management and Civic Leadership
• Public Policy
• Public Safety Management
• Sustainability Practice and Policy
• Community and Organizational Leadership Studies

Graduate Programs

The school's graduate programs include:

• Master of Public Affairs
• Master of Science in Criminal Justice & Public Safety
• Certificates

Master of Public Affairs Concentrations

The Master of Public Affairs program offers several concentrations, including:

• Environmental Policy & Sustainability
• Homeland Security & Emergency Management
• Innovation & Social Change
• Nonprofit Management
• Policy Analysis
• Public Management
• Specialized Study
• Urban & Regional Governance

Urban & Regional Governance Concentration

The Urban and Regional Governance concentration prepares students with the ideas and technical skills needed to address the challenges and opportunities found in urban areas. This concentration leverages the expertise of O'Neill's faculty, the urban location of the university, and the social, demographic, and economic trends that are attracting greater numbers of students to study, live, and work in metropolitan areas.

Importance and Challenges of Cities

Cities generate the majority of economic output and represent the political and cultural centers of states and nations. However, cities are facing pressing challenges, including fragile budgets, deteriorating infrastructure, education and housing pressures, declining public trust in government, and a shrinking middle class.

Learning Objectives

The Urban and Regional Governance concentration aims to equip students with the skills to:

• Analyze urban problems and make appropriate, theoretically informed policy recommendations to solve those problems
• Evaluate urban management practices and generate innovative solutions to improve those practices
• Critically interpret and conduct technical and quantitative analyses that contribute to the understanding of contemporary urban problems
• Present complex ideas clearly and systematically in verbal, graphical, and written forms

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Urban and Regional Governance concentration can pursue careers in:

• Urban and regional planning
• City management
• Regional development
• Real estate
• Economic development
• Environmental or transportation planning

Degree Requirements

The core requirements of the O'Neill MPA prepare students to enter or continue work in public service, no matter their area of focus. Each student must also complete the requirements of their chosen concentration and the required number of electives to fulfill the MPA's 39 credit hours.

O'Neill MPA Core (15 credit hours)

All core courses must be completed before taking the capstone course. The core courses include:

• SPEA-V 506: Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making
• SPEA-V 540: Law and Public Affairs
• SPEA-V 562: Public Program Evaluation
• SPEA-V 598: Governing and Leading in a Global Society
• SPEA-V 600: Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs

Required Courses (18 hours)

The required courses for the Urban and Regional Governance concentration include:

• SPEA-V 502: Public Management
• SPEA-V 507: Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs
• SPEA-V 511: Collaborative Governance
• SPEA-V 512: Public Policy Process
• SPEA-V 560: Public Finance and Budgeting
• SPEA-E 529: Application of Geographic Information Systems

Additional Requirements

Urban and Regional Governance students will also take two 3-credit-hour electives to complete the degree requirements.

Executive Education

The school offers executive education programs, including:

• Executive Master of Public Affairs
• Executive Public Management Certificate
• Leadership Programs

Research Areas

The school's research areas include:

• Criminology & Criminal Justice
• Environmental Policy & Sustainability
• Nonprofit Management
• Public Management & Governance
• Public Policy

Faculty and Research

The school has a diverse faculty with expertise in various fields of public and environmental affairs. The faculty directory and faculty publications are available for those interested in learning more about the school's research endeavors.

Community Engagement

The school is committed to community engagement and offers various programs and services to promote civic involvement and social responsibility.

Conclusion

The Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including degrees in public policy, criminal justice, and environmental science. The school's Urban and Regional Governance concentration prepares students to address the challenges and opportunities found in urban areas, and its executive education programs provide professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their careers.