Public Administration (MPA)

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The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is designed to provide graduate education for those already in or seeking entry to the public or nonprofit sectors. This interdisciplinary program addresses the needs of those with specialized, technical, or liberal arts degrees, and those seeking to expand or update their administrative education. The program draws upon faculty and courses in economics, health care, political science, criminal justice 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 Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree is available with a variety of concentrations as listed below. 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 additional courses in various areas of administration or with one of five concentrations. As part of the degree program, students can engage in applied research, internships, and other applied activities. The program is designed for the part-time student, with courses offered primarily after 5:30 pm, Monday-Thursday, though some students opt to attend full-time. Students may opt to complete the program in-person or online, through a hyperflex format in which classes meet simultaneously in person and virtually.

Admission Information

The Graduate Programs Office serves as the primary source of information for all prospective graduate students, providing detailed guidance and resources to facilitate the application process. Up-to-date and comprehensive details regarding admissions procedures, requirements and deadlines can be found on the program page on the Graduate Programs website.

Transfer of Credit

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.

Time Limit for Degree Completion

Students are expected to complete all work within five years from the date of first enrollment in the program. Students exceeding this time limit must file a petition. See the Rackham School of Graduate Studies for further information.

Academic Rules and Regulations

See the Rackham School of Graduate Studies Programs and Graduate Study sections for rules and regulations pertaining to all Rackham School graduate programs.

Requirements

Thirty-six credits as follows:

Core Courses (27 credits)

PUB 500 - Foundations of American Public Policy (3)
PUB 501 - Administrative Organization and Behavior (3)
PUB 502 - Public Sector Management (3)
PUB 506 - Research Design and Qualitative Methods (3)
PUB 507 - Policy Analysis (3)
PUB 508 - Evaluation of Services and Programs (3)
PUB 518 - Budgeting and Finance in the Public Sector (3)
PUB 580 - Quantitative Methods for Public Administration (3)
PUB 593 - Public Administration, Leadership and Ethics (3) , elected in the first year of the program

General Program or Concentration Courses (9 credits)

One of the following tracks:

General Program

The General Program allows students to gain deeper insight into public administration more broadly and in a way that suits their individual needs professionally and academically. It is ideal for many public service professionals, especially those seeking to work in governmental organizations at the local, state or federal level.

Three from:
PUB 511 - U.S. State and Local Government (3)
PUB 519 - Law and Administrative Processes (3)
PUB 520 - Resource Development for Nonprofit Organizations (3)
PUB 522 - Environmental Law and Public Policy (3)
PUB 525 - Fundamentals of Nonprofit Organizations (3)
PUB 530 - Criminal Justice Policy (3)
PUB 531 - Restorative Justice (3)
PUB 532 - Policing Contemporary Society (3)
PUB 548 - Social Entrepreneurship (3)
PUB 571 - Economics of Public Policy and Nonprofit Organizations (3)
PUB 574 - Disability Law and Policy (3)
PUB 579 - Economics of Health Care (3)
PUB 596 - Intergovernmental Relations (3)
Another 500-level course approved by the program director

Criminal Justice Administration

The primary objective of the concentration in Criminal Justice Administration is to provide advanced education in administration and policy analysis to persons already employed in agencies in the criminal justice system. The educational needs of those with specialized, technical, or liberal arts degree, and others with limited or outdated training in administration are addressed. Designed to serve those seeking to update knowledge to deal with the more complex and numerous tasks facing professionals in the criminal justice system, the concentration includes study of contemporary developments in criminal justice administration, most notably the interdependence between preprosecutorial and post-prosecutorial agencies and functions and the close relationship between administration and policy.

Three from:
CRJ 588 - Corrections: A Critical Perspective (3)
PUB 519 - Law and Administrative Processes (3)
PUB 530 - Criminal Justice Policy (3)
PUB 531 - Restorative Justice (3)
PUB 532 - Policing Contemporary Society (3)

Health Care Administration

The concentration in Health Care Administration, offered in collaboration with the Department of Health Sciences and Administration, provides advanced education in administration and policy analysis primarily to persons employed within the health care field. It addresses the educational needs of those with specialized, technical, or liberal arts degrees, as well as others with limited or outdated education or training in administration. Focusing on contemporary developments in health care administration, the program concentration prepares students to deal with the complex tasks and challenges of today’s health care system.

Three from:
HCR 577 - Applications of Financial Management in Health Care (3)
HCR 587 - Legal Issues in Health Care (3)
PUB 505 - Health Policy (3)
PUB 574 - Disability Law and Policy (3)
PUB 579 - Economics of Health Care (3)

Nonprofit Administration and Social Entrepreneurship

The concentration in Nonprofit Administration and Social Entrepreneurship is designed to meet the needs of current and future public administrators working in the nonprofit and socially aware for-profit sectors. The concentration also serves, and is appropriate for, those with bachelor’s degrees but no current or previous relevant employment.

PUB 525 - Fundamentals of Nonprofit Organizations (3)
Two from:
PUB 520 - Resource Development for Nonprofit Organizations (3)
PUB 548 - Social Entrepreneurship (3)
PUB 571 - Economics of Public Policy and Nonprofit Organizations (3)
PUB 594 - Grantwriting and Administration (3)
Another 500-level course approved by the program director

Social and Public Policy

The Social and Public Policy Concentration of the MPA Program is designed to provide students a deep and broad understanding of public policy in a variety of areas. Given the growing complexity of United States and international policy, this concentration prepares students to better understand policy trends and to engage in thoughtful policy analysis and policy drafting.

Three from:
PUB 505 - Health Policy (3)
PUB 519 - Law and Administrative Processes (3)
PUB 522 - Environmental Law and Public Policy (3)
PUB 530 - Criminal Justice Policy (3)
PUB 571 - Economics of Public Policy and Nonprofit Organizations (3)
PUB 574 - Disability Law and Policy (3)
PUB 579 - Economics of Health Care (3)
Another 500-level course approved by the program director

Note

With consent of the program director, up to six credits in the following courses may be applied to the program: