Public Administration, MPA

Master of Public Administration Overview

The Clark University Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is designed to strengthen and advance the managerial and analytical skills of mid-career executives in both public organizations and nonprofit institutions.  This widely accepted professional credential is also ideal for students who have a commitment to public service and are seeking a career in a non-profit organization or a position with federal, state, or local government. The goal of this graduate level, professional program is to develop administrators who can effectively address the varied managerial, economic and political aspects of public issues and programs. The program also assists professionals from other fields who wish to make the transition to the administration of government, nonprofit, or other public institutions.

The 10 unit degree provides skills required for leadership roles in a wide range of public service careers. A Clark Master of Public Administration equips students with a solid academic foundation and training in nonprofit management, public management, and public affairs. Students gain knowledge and can implement policies, projects, and programs within government and non-profit organizations. A graduate of this program will be able to address public needs in effective and imaginative ways so they may lead a career of consequence for their constituents.

Course of Study

All MPA students must successfully complete 10 graduate courses, the five core courses listed below and five electives. Electives may be selected from courses offered in the M.P.A. program or from other relevant graduate courses offered by the School of Professional Studies. Further options for selecting electives that suit individual interests may be discussed with the Director of the MPA program.  Students must work with their advisor prior to selecting courses.

The School of Professional Studies offers Prior Learning Credit for up to 2 graduate level courses.  The Prior Learning Credit is awarded for both demonstrated learning and experience. The Prior Learning Credit is offered to adult learners with three (3) or more years of work experience. Burden of proof for Prior Learning Credit is the responsibility of the student.  The Prior Learning Credit can be applied to a core or elective degree requirement.  Admitted SPS Grad Students eligible for Prior Learning Credit must work with their academic advisor on the Prior Experiential Credit process from evaluation through final approval.  There is an administrative fee associated with the Prior Experiential Credit process.

Required Core Courses

The five core courses below are listed in order of general recommended sequence. There is no specific requirement that the required core courses be taken in this order.  Policy Analysis and Issues and Cases should be taken early* and the Capstone Practicum should be taken last. 

• MPA 3100 - Issues and Cases in Public Administration *
• MPA 3120 - Organizational Behavior & Leadership
• MPA 3320 - Ethics and Professional Life
• MPA 3400 - Policy Analysis *
• MPA 3999 - Capstone Practicum

• * International Students with minimal or no background in American government or civics, may substitute the Issues and Cases and/or Policy Analysis course with an MPA course approved by the MPA Program Director.

Internship

An internship option is available to students who enter the MPA program and meet the internship qualification criteria.

• MPA 3940 - Internship

Elective Courses

Students are free to select their elective courses according to their own preference. Often, however, students prefer to concentrate their electives in one particular area. The concentrations in MPA are listed above (Any MSC elective can be substituted for an MPA elective).

List of Concentrations

Students need to work with the MPA Progam Director when choosing a concentration. (Concentrations are optional). Graduate students are permitted to select courses offered in all School of Professional Studies graduate degree programs. Students may also petition to take graduate courses offered by other departments at Clark University.  Such petitions are decided on a case-by-case basis, and students should consult with the MPA Program Director regarding all such requests.

MPA Concentration (four electives from a chosen area of concentration and one elective of choice from any SPS course)  **Special Topic and other relative courses must be approved by your the MPA academic advisor to fulfill concentration requirements.

Learning Outcomes

The Master in Public Administration offers students the opportunity to develop competencies in the five foundations of organizational systems, ethics and corporate and social responsibility, applied research, workplace dynamics, communication, and career management, and theoretical grounding. The concentrations allow the student to specialize in areas that are particular to career paths and industries. 

1. Organizational Systems - to effectively communicate within public service and non-profit sectors. (Course MPA3120 Organizational Behavior and Leadership)
2. Ethics and Social Responsibility - to apply values and ethics within the public service and non-profit sectors. (Course: MPA 3220 Ethics and Professional Life)
3. Workplace Dynamics, Communication, and Career Management - to lead, manage, and engage others in public service and non-profit sectors. (Courses: MSC Professional Seminar)
4. Applied Research - to analyze information for effective and efficient decision making, (Courses: MPA3900 Research and MPA3999 Capstone) 
5. Theoretical Grounding - to participate and contribute to the policy formulation process. (Courses: MPA3400 Policy Analysis and MPA3100 Issues and Cases).

More detailed information about learning outcomes and core competencies can be found on the MPA website.

Courses

• MPA 3020 - Fundraising and Grant Writing
• MPA 3030 - United States Health Care Policy
• MPA 3040 - Health Care Administration
• MPA 3110 - Applied GIS For Decision Makers
• MPA 3111 - Cannabis Education and Enforcement
• MPA 3112 - Regulatory Frameworks for Cannabis Control
• MPA 3113 - Health and Public Safety Implications of Cannabis Use
• MPA 3114 - Social Policy and Equality
• MPA 3115 - Global Migration
• MPA 3116 - International Organizations
• MPA 3117 - Comparative Public Adminstration
• MPA 3121 - Workplace Development in the Public and Non Profit Sectors
• MPA 3122 - Criminal Justice and Public Administration
• MPA 3170 - Change Management
• MPA 3218 - Cannabis Law
• MPA 3219 - Social Equity and Social Impact of Cannabis
• MPA 3260 - Leadership
• MPA 3310 - Self as Agent of Change
• MPA 3311 - Historical and Contemporary Understandings of (In) Equities
• MPA 3312 - Social Change and Transformation
• MPA 3313 - Praxis
• MPA 3380 - Strategic Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations
• MPA 3440 - Special Topics: Public Administration
• MPA 3540 - Nonprofit Management
• MPA 3550 - Politics and Public Management
• MPA 3590 - Global Health
• MPA 3620 - Public Budgeting and Accounting
• MPA 3660 - Intervention, Mediation and Negotiation
• MPA 3710 - Managing Human Services Organizations
• MPA 3740 - Strategic Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations
• MPA 3820 - Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
• MPA 3840 - Project Management
• MPA 3880 - Cost Benefit Analysis of Public Programs
• MPA 3900 - Research Methods and Strategies
• MPA 3930 - Fundamentals of Business Analysis
• MPA 3940 - Internship