The MPA program is a 36 credit hour program that includes a core curriculum of six courses (18 hours), a capstone seminar (3 hours) and two specializations: public sector and non-profit administration consisting of 15 hours in electives.

(Click individual course numbers below for a description)

Required Courses: 36 hours

Core Curriculum (18 hours)

PA 601: Organizational Behavior, 3 hrs.
PA 606: Public Personnel Administration, 3 hrs.
PA 609: Budgeting, 3 hrs.
PA 618: Research Methods in Public Administration, 3 hrs.
PA 632: Public Administration, 3 hrs.
PA 653: Ethics in Public Administration, 3 hrs.

Capstone Seminar (3 hours)

PA 697: Capstone Seminar, 3 hrs.*

Choose from one of the two specializations (15 hours):

Public Sector Specialization

POLS 427/PA 527: Urban Politics and Governance (cross-listed), 3 hrs.
POLS 464/PA 564: Environmental Policy (cross-listed), 3 hrs.
COMM 602: Qualitative Research Methods in Communication, 3 hrs.
COMM 613: Political Communication, 3 hrs.
COMM 502: Gender, Communication, and Culture, 3 hrs.
PA 603: Technology Issues and E-Governance, 3 hrs.
PA 611: Leadership Skills in Public Administration, 3 hrs.
PA 612: Connect with Southern Indiana, 3 hrs.
PA 614: Interpersonal Communications within Organizations, 3 hrs.
PA 615: Legal Aspects of Public Administration, 3 hrs.
PA 644: Policies and Processes in the Public Sector, 3 hrs.
PA 690: Special Topics in Public Administration, 3 hrs.
PA 695: Internship, 3 hrs.
PA 698: Independent Study in Public Administration, 3 hrs.
PA 699: Thesis in Public Administration, 6 hrs.*

Non-Profit Administration Specialization

COMM 602: Qualitative Research Methods in Communication, 3 hrs.
COMM 613: Political Communication, 3 hrs.
COMM 502: Gender, Communication, and Culture, 3 hrs.
PA 603: Technology Issues and e-Governance, 3 hrs.
PA 605: Foundations of Non-Profit Administration, 3 hrs.
PA 611: Leadership Skills in Public Administration, 3 hrs.
PA 612: Connect with Southern Indiana, 3 hrs.
PA 614: Interpersonal Communications within Organizations, 3 hrs.
PA 615: Legal Aspects of Public Administration, 3 hrs.
PA 631: Fundraising and Volunteer Administration, 3 hrs.
PA 644: Policies and Processes in the Public Sector, 3 hrs.
PA 684: Grant Writing for Non-Profit Organizations, 3 hrs.
PA 690: Special Topics in Public Administration, 3 hrs.
PA 695: Internship in Public Agency, 3 hrs.
PA 698: Independent Study in Public Administration, 3 hrs.
PA 699: Thesis in Public Administration, 6 hrs.*

*Note: Students who decide to complete a thesis project and enroll in PA 699: Thesis in Public Administration are exempt from taking PA 697: Capston in Public Administration, but will be required to take another elective course (3 hours) in one of the two specializations.