Lead Faculty: Dr. Maryam Davodi-Far
The Master of Public Administration is designed for students who want to pursue the challenging career of government management at the federal, state, or local level and nonprofit management. With an emphasis on the proactive public administrator, it is for those public administrators who aspire to top-level positions.
The degree provides a wide range of skills in financial management, budgeting, quantitative methods, urban planning and redevelopment, personnel policies, politics and grant writing.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
(12 courses, 54 quarter units)
For students in the BS in Criminal Justice Administration/MPA transition program, the University will waive two public administration courses taken as part of the bachelor's degree (see BS in Criminal Justice Administration transition program), but these students must still meet the residency requirements for the MPA.
To receive a Master of Public Administration, students must complete at least 54 quarter units of graduate work. A total of 13.5 quarter units of graduate credit may be granted for equivalent graduate work completed at another institution, as it applies to this degree and provided the units were not used in earning another advanced degree. Students should refer to the section on graduate admission requirements for specific information regarding application and matriculation.
Core Requirements (8 courses, 36 quarter units)
ODV 600 - Theory and Practice of Organizational Development
PAD 620 - Foundations of Public Administration
PAD 622 - Seminar in Urban Affairs
PAD 626 - Public Personnel Policy
PAD 627 - Quantitative Methods in Public Administration
PAD 632 - Financial Management and Grant Administration
PAD 631 - Urban Planning and Redevelopment
PAD 644 - MPA Project
Program Electives (4 courses, 18 quarter units):
For electives, students should select a general set of 600-level courses offered in the School of Business and Management, or those offered in other schools with the approval of the dean of the School of Business and Management.
MPA Areas of Specialization
Specialization in Alternative Dispute Resolution (740-000-898)
Faculty Advisor: Jack Hamlin - (858) 642-8405 - jhamlin@nu.edu
This area of specialization is designed for students who wish to complete an MPA program while focusing their graduate studies in Alternative Dispute Resolution, which is one of the fastest growing fields in the U.S. and the world at large.
The program provides students with a broad knowledge of Alternative Dispute Resolution subjects and will enable students to not only become effective mediators and negotiators but to also use these skills to resolve conflict in the workplace. Expertise in Alternative Dispute Resolution is in high demand in the business community, local, state and federal governments, and neighborhood communities.
Program Requirements (4 courses, 18 quarter units):
ADR 600 - Alternative Dispute Resolution
ADR 605 - Negotiation
ADR 610 - Facilitation
ADR 615 - Mediation
Specialization in Human Resource Management (852)
Faculty Advisor: Bernadette Baum - (858) 642-8404 - bbaum@nu.edu
This area of specialization focuses on managing people, the human resource of the organization. Moving beyond common sense and good interpersonal skills, these courses provide students with the knowledge to recruit, select, train, evaluate and compensate employees.
Students learn how changes in the workplace, such as governmental regulations, global competition, developing technologies and organizational transformations, influence the performance and productivity of workers. Technical knowledge and practical skills for dealing with a multicultural workforce offer students new ideas on leadership and effective tools for managing human resource.
Program Requirements (4 courses, 18 quarter units):
Students electing to specialize in human resource management must select four of the following courses.
HRM 630 - Legal, Ethical, and Safety Issues in Human Resource Management
HRM 633A - Seminar in Employee Relations, Labor Relations and Union Management
ODV 600 - Theory and Practice of Organizational Development
ODV 601 - Integrating Performance Management, Technology, and Organizational Communication
ODV 606 - Seminar in Training and Development
ODV 610 - Advanced Studies in Organizational Behavior in a Diverse Society
HRM 637 - Workforce Planning, Development, and Outsourcing
HRM 667 - Compensation and Benefits
MGT 651 - Managing Safety Issues and Regulations
Specialization in Organizational Leadership (888)
Faculty Advisor: Julia Buchanan - (858) 642-8453 - jbuchanan@nu.edu
The purpose of the Specialization in Organizational Leadership is to provide students with the skills and theoretical concepts that will assist them when seeking promotions or positions in management and supervision. This specialization is designed to prepare diverse adult learners to become effective, change-oriented leaders in an international society by adding distinctive and challenging curricula.
The Specialization in Organizational Leadership is ideal for individuals who desire to understand the technical and reflective processes that often accompany opportunities to exercise leadership in profit and not-for-profit organizations.
Program Requirements (4 courses, 18 quarter units):
LED 602 - Developing and Implementing Groups and Teams
LED 603 - Organizational Leadership
LED 604 - Change and Adaptation within Organizations
LED 605 - Negotiation, Bargaining, Conflict Resolution
Specialization in Public Finance (882)
Faculty Advisor: Kenneth Goldberg - (858) 642-8478 - kgoldber@nu.edu
In lieu of general electives, a student can choose a specialization in public finance. This specialization provides an opportunity for students to acquire specific knowledge and develop practical skills in public finance. It particularly emphasizes the areas of public/private partnerships and contract bargaining and negotiation – critical areas in public administration today. The population served is that of public employees working in the areas of public finance and/or human resource management or those interested in working in these particular areas.
Program Requirements (4 courses, 18 quarter units):
PAD 640 - Public Finance
PAD 641 - Local Government Budgeting
PAD 642 - Seminar in Public-Private Financing
PAD 643 - Contract Negotiation in the Public Sector
This program is available online.
National University is an affiliate of the National University System.