DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (MPA)

This program is designed for those seeking a career in public service and those wanting to enhance their current career. The program prepares professionals for work in government at the local, state, or national level, nonprofit organizations, and many areas of business.

The MPA degree requires a total of 42 semester credit hours: 24 hours of core courses taken by all students, a 12 hours concentration selected by the student in consultation with the graduate advisor, and 6 hours of internship. Students will be required to pass a comprehensive examination at the end of the course of study. Students must be enrolled in the University the semester or summer session in which the comprehensive exam is administered.

Core Courses: Twenty-four semester credit hours of required core courses:

PA 581	Dynamics of Public Administration (3 hours)
PA 583	Data Analysis in Public Administration (3 hours)
PA 584	Organizational Theory and Behavior (3 hours)
PA 586	Leadership and Human Resource Management (3 hours)
PA 587	Local Government Budgets and Financial Management (3 hours)
PA 588	Ethics in Government (3 hours)
POL 577	Scope and Methods of Political Science (3 hours)
POL 582	Seminar in Public Administration: Topic, Research in the Public Sector (3 hours). Prerequisite: POL 577 for this topic.
Internship: Students without relevant job experience will be required to take six semester credit hours of an internship of at least twelve months. Students with relevant employment experience in government, non-profit agencies, or universities may substitute six hours of coursework, including directed projects relevant to their employment.
POL 578	Problems and Internships in Political Science (6 hours)
* PA 595	Internships and Work Experience in Public Services

* Subject to action by the Board of Regents, the Texas State University System and/or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

PA 581 DYNAMICS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. Examines the history and theoretical basis of public administration and the basic issues that confront it, including administrative responsibility and ethics, and the formulation and implementation of public policy. Credit 3.

PA 583 DATA ANALYSIS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. Examines techniques for the collection, manipulation, interpretation, and presentation of data and information in public policy/management processes, and demonstrates application of the techniques using computer technology. Credit 3.

PA 584 ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY AND BEHAVIOR. This course covers the major topics, issues, and contributions in the literature on organizations, their structures and functions, and the behavior of people in them, with emphasis on applications to government and nonprofit organizations. Examples and exercises refer to organizations at federal, state, and local levels of government and to a variety of nonprofit organizations, such as hospitals, social service agencies, and faith-based/non-governmental organizations. Credit 3.

PA 586 LEADERSHIP AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. This course provides an understanding of the evolution and context of the public service. The reasons for merit and its unique political and management problems are addressed. Specific topics include: human resources planning, recruitment and selection, performance evaluation, compensation, promotion and benefi ts, staff development, labor relations, discipline, and control structures. Credit 3.

PA 587 LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETS AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. Examination of the public budgetary process and related financial management
techniques. Credit 3.

PA 588 ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT. This course provides a review of classical and contemporary literature on the role and practice of ethics in public administration.
Contemporary empirical research, case studies, and ethical problem solving are also addressed. A primary theme of the course will be fostering and applying “right action” and “good conduct” in public organizations and public policy making. Credit 3.

*PA 595 INTERNSHIP AND WORK EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICES. This course is useful for students who desire substantive work experience in a governmental or nongovernmental organization. This course will allow MPA students to take a 6 hour, 12 month internship. The internship is required for the MPA degree and fulfi ls a requirement by its accrediting agency NASPAA, the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. Enrollment is by permission of the Director of Graduate Studies. Credit 1-3.