Public Administration Graduate Programs

Program Director: Kim Saks McManaway, J.D., Ph.D.
WebPlus Director: Patrick O’Donnell, Ph.D.
Program Manager: Linda Blakey, MA

Program Faculty: Bill DeFrance (MPA), Christopher Douglas (Economics), Jim Hughes (MPA), Kate Fields (MPA), Ken Litwin (Criminal Justice), Adam Lutzker (Economics), Kim Saks McManaway (Political Science), Max Mendieta (Heath), Patrick O’Donnell (MPA), Jeremiah Wade-Olson (Political Science), Chuck Vergon (MPA), Daniel Hummel (Political Science), Sheryl Kennedy (MPA), Linda Blakey (MPA).

The Master of Public Administration Program (MPA) is designed to provide advanced education in administration for persons employed in the public or nonprofit sectors, as well as for those seeking entry to careers in administration. This interdisciplinary program addresses the educational needs of those with specialized, technical, or liberal arts degrees, and of those seeking to expand or update their administrative education. The program draws upon faculty and courses in economics, education, health care, political science, psychology and sociology. Upon graduation students are awarded a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Michigan’s nationally recognized Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies.

The curriculum is designed around a basic core of courses in administration, which should be taken early in the student’s program. The core is supplemented by clusters of more specialized courses in administrative functions and processes and analytical methods. An applied research project and, for those with less than two years administrative experience, an internship, is also part of the curriculum. The program is designed for the part-time student, with courses offered primarily after 5:30 p.m., Monday - Thursday. The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree is available with a variety of concentrations as listed below.

Educational Administration (WebPlus)

The UM-Flint WebPlus Online/Weekend Program in Educational Administration is designed to provide a high-quality experience to full-time, working educators. A unique blend of face-to-face interaction and convenient online coursework provides teachers, administrators, and aspiring principals the tools and concepts necessary for successful administration and an informed perspective on the range of problems confronting P-12 education.

Online coursework is combined with Saturday classes that meet once each month. In addition, a clinical experience is organized in the student’s current school setting.

After completion of the two-year, 36-credit hour program, students are awarded a Master of Public Administration from the University of Michigan’s nationally recognized Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies and are eligible for administrative certification. The MPA in Educational Administration is approved by the Michigan Department of Education for Principal Preparation.

Program Mission and Assessment

The mission of the Master of Public Administration Program is to provide students with conceptual knowledge, analytical skills and practical experience relevant for administrative positions in public and nonprofit organizations. Focused on problem-solving and with central attention to the implementation of policies, the curriculum is intended to focus students’ attention on administrative processes, conditions, and rules and their implications for the implementation of policy and the provision of services. The Program participates in the University-wide effort to assess its academic programs. Information on assessment plans, including goals, methods and outcomes is available at http://www.umflint.edu/assessment/.

Admission Requirements

See Graduate Admissions for general admission requirements. Those seeking admission to the MPA program are expected to have a knowledge base involving understanding of the operation of public institutions, microeconomic principles, and basic analytical tools.

Applicants to the MPA WebPlus Educational Administration Program are required to have a teaching certificate or other P-12 teaching/administrative experience. Applicants without a teaching certificate must include a statement about their P-12 teaching/administrative experience with their application.

Transfer Credits

Up to six (6) credit hours of graduate credit completed at an accredited institution may be accepted for transfer. Transfers of credit are subject to the approval of the program director. Transfers are made in accordance with the policies of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Information on requesting transfer of credit is available at https://www.umflint.edu/graduateprograms/requesting-transfer-credit.