Master of Public Administration

Administrative Office - San Francisco

415-422-2592

Program Director: Maurice Penner, Ph.D.

Associate Director For Curriculum and Instruction: Gleb Nikitenko, M.P.A, M.A. International Relations

The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) program provides mid-career and aspiring professionals with an opportunity to obtain advanced education in current developments in the functions and techniques of management applicable to a broad range of public sector, and nonprofit organizations. The program covers all the significant content areas identified by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) in its Standards for Professional Master's Degree Programs in Public Affairs/Policy/Administration.

Program Objectives

• To provide students with knowledge of how to apply management theory and research to common operational, functional, and policy issues in the public and nonprofit sectors
• To improve their managerial skills to enhance to provision of services to the public
• To examine ethical implications and responsibilities of public managers as a foundation for understanding managerial actions
• To learn techniques used in planning, organizing, staffing, and evaluating the work of public and nonprofit agencies and to develop the necessary skills
• To enable students to engage in self-assessment and goal-setting for lifelong learning and continued professional growth

Program Requirements

The M.P.A. curriculum comprises 12 courses (36 units). The M.P.A. program's capstone requirement is achieved by completing and passing a written comprehensive case analysis during the last course of the program (M.P.A. 650, Integrative Seminar). Students who select the health services emphasis(H.S.A.) will apply their 9 units of H.S.A. coursework toward the emphasis. Please see program descriptions for M.P.A. and H.S.A.

Required courses are sequenced as follows:

• PA - 611 Introduction to Public Management
• PA - 613 Organizational Analysis
• PA - 620 Administrative Ethics
• PA - 670 Quantitative Methods
• PA - 698 Independent Study - Public Administration (taught for 3 consecutive semesters)
• PA - 636 Human Resource Planning and Management
• PA - 638 Emerging Technologies for Public Managers
• PA - 644 Strategic Planning and Implementation
• PA - 632 Public Policy Analysis
• PA - 623 Economics and Finance for Public Managers
• PA - 633 Public Sector Budgeting
• PA - 650 Integrative Seminar in Public Management

Public Administration Course Descriptions

Please see Public Administration Course Descriptions.

Degree Requirements

• Completion of all major coursework with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA
• Passing a comprehensive case analysis examination during the last course
• Successful completion of all degree and emphasis requirements

Please see Graduate Student Regulations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Public Administration, a graduate will have acquired:

• Professional level oral and written communication skills, including ability to communicate effectively online.
• Knowledge of techniques to plan, evaluate, and manage programs and related skills.
• Increased knowledge of technology and how it impacts the management of public organizations.
• Knowledge of various areas of and trends in public sector economics and finance.
• Knowledge and skill in various human resource management functions.
• Effective leadership and teamworking skills.
• Ability to analyze public policies and develop suitable alternatives.
• Ability to develop and analyze budgets and to manage performance using a budget.