Program Requirements
Progressing through the Program
Students may be admitted in Conditional Status if missing prerequisites—American government, microeconomics or statistics, or proof of Excel competency. Those admitted in Conditional Status may take no more than four MPA courses before providing proof of the completion of the missing prerequisites. Missing courses must be taken at a community college, and upon completion sealed official transcripts must be sent to the MPA Director directly, NOT TO GAPE. Proof of Excel competency may be provided as a certificate from a recognized source, or through a competency test with the MPA faculty.
When all missing prerequisites are met, the MPA Director will complete a Change of Classification for the student, who may then continue on with the rest of the MPA courses.
Following the filing of the Petition for Advancement to Graduate Candidacy [pdf], or upon being admitted as a Graduate Student, the student must consult with the MPA Director to create a Candidacy Form, which lists every class that the student will take in the MPA program. This document is the plan of study for the student, and is a contract with the university. Both the student and the MPA Director must sign the form. It must be filed as soon as the student has four course grades, and a completed Change of Classification. Students are encouraged to create the plan of study in their first semester to ensure a smooth and efficient passage through the program. It can then be ready to file when the 4 course grades are available, which may not be until after the date to register for the next semester’s courses.
The final form that students must file is the Graduation Request Form, which is done on line directly with GAPE. Students must complete the paperwork and file for graduation according to the schedule posted on the GAPE website for the graduation date of their choice.
University-wide requirements for progressing through graduate programs can be found at GAPE.
Prerequisite Courses for Classified Standing
To attain classified standing for those admitted as conditionally classified to the MPA Program, students need to document successful completion of three undergraduate courses:
- American Government (POLS 001 or POLS 15 or equivalent)
- Microeconomics (ECON 001B or equivalent)
- Statistics (STAT 095 or equivalent)
Students must provide evidence of basic competence in applying spread sheets, either through a certificate or by taking a practical test.
Students must finish the prerequisites before completing four (4) MPA courses. They must complete statistics before taking PADM 212, and complete economics as well as demonstrate spread sheet competence before taking PADM 218.
Students must file a change of classification at the end of 12 units!
36 Required Units (12 Courses)
Students must complete 36 units to graduate, including: 15 units of core courses, 9 units of advanced seminars, 9 units of electives, and a thesis-quality project report. Students who have not had substantial administrative work experience are required to take a 3-unit internship course as one of the electives.
The culminating experience project is completed by enrolling in PADM 298 for 3 units and is supervised by an adviser of the student’s choice. If the work requires more than one semester, students enroll in PADM 1290R for each additional semester until the project is completed. There are no graduate units attached to the PADM 1290R course.
Five Required Core Courses
All students need to complete five courses:
- PADM 210 - Introduction to Public Administration
- PADM 212 - Administrative Research Methods
- PADM 213 - Policy Analysis and Evaluation
- PADM 214 - Introduction to Public Management
- PADM 218 - Public Budgeting
We strongly advise students to complete these five core courses as soon as possible. Students must complete all core courses before enrolling in courses PADM 297 and PADM 298.
Three Advanced Seminars
Three advanced seminars may be selected from among the following:
- PADM 202 - Regional Governance
- PADM 215 - Public Personnel Administration
- PADM 217 - Organization Theory
- PADM 219 - Advanced Financial Administration
- PADM 220 - Non-Profit Management
- PADM 223 - Law and Public Administration
- PADM 295 - Topics in Public Administration
Electives
Students may select their 9 units of electives from additional advanced MPA seminars, or approved graduate courses offered in other departments, or approved upper-division courses offered in political science or other undergraduate departments. Adviser permission is required for all non-PADM courses to be applied to the degree. Electives are any MPA courses not taken as advanced seminars, or the following courses:
- URBP 205 - Private Development and Urban Planning
- URBP 206 - Market Analysis, Appraisal, & Finance of Real Estate Development
- PADM 281 - Public Administration Internship
- PADM 297 - Advanced Seminar in Public Management
Also, Electives may include approved 100- and 200-level courses in Political Science or other departments, with the MPA Director’s permission. No more than two 100-level courses may be taken for elective credit toward the MPA degree. No courses below the 100 level may be taken by graduate students.
Culminating Experience
A student is required to complete a thesis-quality applied research project by the end of their last year of the program. They enroll in PADM298 to complete this project. In lieu of a thesis, a student may complete a thesis quality research project by enrolling in PADM 298 - Special Problems. In PADM 298, the student will complete the substantial research project and report under faculty supervision.
For more information please contact either of the MPA Graduate Co-Advisors.
