Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)

Master of Public Administration Overview

The Clark University Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) program is designed to strengthen and advance the managerial and analytical skills of mid-career executives in both public organizations and nonprofit institutions. 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.

Course of Study

All M.P.A. students must successfully complete 12 graduate courses, the seven 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 COPACE. Further options for selecting electives that suit individual interests may be discussed with the Graduate Programs staff.

Required Core Courses

The seven core courses below are listed in order of general recommended sequence. Though there is no specific requirement that they be taken in this order, Policy Analysis and Issues and Cases should be taken early, and the Capstone Practicum should be taken last.

• MPA3400 - Policy Analysis
• MPA3100 - Issues and Cases in Public Administration
• MPA3080 - Management Information Systems and Technology
• MPA3120 - Organizational Behavior and Leadership
• MPA3620 - Public Budgeting and Accounting OR
  MPA 3580 - Finance & Accounting for the Non-Financial Manager OR
  MPA 3930 - Foundations of Business Analysis
• MPA3900 - Research Methods and Strategies
• MPA3999 - Capstone Practicum. 

MPA Capstone Guidelines

An internship is available to students who enter the program with less than three years of professional experience. Internship Seminar (MPA3940).

Students who feel they have extensive professional experience in any of the required core courses, or who have taken similar courses in their graduate and/or undergraduate work, may petition for the requirement to be waived. Those who feel they may qualify for such a waiver should consult with the Graduate Programs staff. If their petition is approved, they may replace the waived core course with an elective course.

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 (see the list of concentrations).

List of Concentrations

Please contact the Graduate Programs staff for information on these and other possible concentrations, and which courses are currently being offered under each. Graduate students are permitted to select courses offered in all COPACE graduate degree programs. They may also petition to take graduate courses offered by other departments at Clark University or, with the additional approval of the instructor, upper-level undergraduate courses for graduate credit. Such petitions are decided on a case-by-case basis, and students should consult with the Graduate Programs staff regarding all such requests.

Managing State and Local Government

• MPA 3340 - Effective Local Government
• MPA 3770 - Political Communication
• MPA 3550 - Politics and Public Management
• MPA 3740 - Strategic Planning for Public & Non-Profit Organizations
• MPA 3820 - Arbitration, Collective Bargaining and Labor Relations
• MPA 3880 - Cost Benefit Analysis of Public Programs

Non-Profit Administration

• MPA 3020 - Fundraising & Grant Writing for Non-Profit Organizations
• MPA 3880 - Cost Benefit Analysis of Public Programs
• MPA 3540 - Managing Non-Profit Organizations
• MPA 3380 - Marketing for Non-Profit Organizations
• MPA 3740 - Strategic Management for Public and Non-Profit Organizations

Health Systems Administration

• MPA 3030 - U.S. Health Care Policy
• MPA 3030 - Health Care Administration
• MPA 3510 - Health Communication
• MPA 3450 - Strategic Management for Public and Non-Profit Organizations
• MPA 3020 - Fundraising and Grantwriting for Non-Profit Organizations
• MPA 3380 - Marketing for Non-Profit Organizations

Human Services Leadership

• MPA 3440 - Managing Human Services Organizations
• MPA 3800 - Applied Economics
• MPA 3020 - Fundraising & Grantwriting for Non-Profit Organizations
• MPA 3740 - Strategic Management for Public and Non-Profit Organizations
• MPA 3380 - Marketing for Non-Profit Organizations

Intercultural Leadership

• MPA 3670 - Approaches to Cross-Cultural Conflict Management
• MPA 3780 - The Global Enterprise
• MPA 3350 - Global Marketing and Advertising
• MPA 3320 - Ethics & Professional Life
• MPA 3520 - Intercultural Communications
• MPA 3140 - Managing Diversity

Courses