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The MPA
Syllabi | Service Learning Projects
The Master in Public Administration Program (MPA) is a two-year, 42-credit program consisting of six “core” or required courses, one additional public administration course selected from a list of public administration electives, two elective courses, a two-credit internship and a capstone seminar. Conditionally admitted students, or those with identified skill deficiencies, may be required to complete courses in professional writing, basic computing or administrative systems as prerequisites to further their MPA coursework.
Two courses, PAFF 510 and PAFF 521, are prerequisites for the balance of the MPA program.
Core courses:
- PAFF 510 Logic of Inquiry
- PAFF 521 Public Management/Public Administration
- PAFF 522 The Policy Process
- PAFF 523 Introduction to Policy Analysis
- PAFF 525 Public Ethics and Democratic Government
- PAFF 527 Public and Not-for-Profit Finance
Students must also take one course from the following list of electives:
- PAFF 521 Administrative Law
- PAFF 533 Intergovernmental Relations
- PAFF 534 Personnel Administration in Public and Not-for-Profit Organizations
- PAFF 537 Organizational Behavior
- PAFF 551 Introduction to Management/Leadership in Not-for-Profit Organizations
- PAFF 561 Comparative Public Administration and Policy
Concentrations
Students will be offered two course sequences in several concentrations including:
- public administration
- nonprofit administration
- environmental policy
- health policy
- comparative administration and policy
- urban planning (with the Department of Geography)
- educational policy (with the School of Education)
MPA students will be encouraged to enroll in the three-course Leadership Certification program offered by the School of Management.
The Internship
Upon completion of the 24 MPA credits (or with the approval of the program), students complete a 300-hour, 15-week internship. Internships are usually done within the area of concentration with a governmental, not-for-profit or for-profit organization. In-career students, such as program managers, case workers with supervisory experience or executive directors with significant professional, policy or administration experience may waive the internship with approval from the program.
MPA students have served internships with agencies of the federal, state and local governments; agencies of New York City; various physical and mental health provider organizations; various county governments; and NYSEG. The internship experience provides an excellent opportunity for the student to “network” in preparation for entering the job market.
Internships have included the following organizations:
- City of Elmira
- New York State legislature
- Broome County Department of Health
- City of Binghamton
- Broome County Office of Aging
- Lourdes Hospital
- WSKG Public Radio and TV
- Village of Endicott
- City of New York (various offices)
Capstone Seminar
Students enroll in the Capstone Seminar after completing the program’s core courses and the internship (unless waived). Completion of the capstone project requires the approval of the project paper proposal and an oral defense if the completed project before a three-person committee comprised of two faculty members and the internship supervisor, or an appropriate organizational representative.
Following the student’s satisfactory completion of coursework, including any required prerequisites, and the capstone project, the program recommends to the Graduate School that the candidate be awarded the Master of Public Administration.
