Master of Public Policy and Administration
For faculty listing, see Personnel.
The Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA)
The Master of Public Policy and Administration program is designed to meet the educational needs of management professionals in the public and nonprofit sectors. Its faculty, with a service orientation, is dedicated to the education of the whole person. The student body is excellent and diversified, being composed primarily of individuals who are working in various private, public or nonprofit organizations.
The basic purpose of the Graduate Program in Public Policy and Administration is to provide a broad-based education for individuals who wish to pursue careers in administration or policy making in a variety of public service positions. Program emphasis is on state and local policy issues. The program is designed to provide each student with:
- A knowledge and understanding of administrative organizations and legal processes affecting public policy decision-making;
- The ability to identify those human and ethical values that should underlie the work of a public administrator;
- An understanding of the proper relationship between public administration and the citizenry;
- The capability of developing a sound social strategy;
- The ability to perform effectively in a leadership role under a variety of conditions; and
- The competency to conduct and present research relevant to public policy and administration.
International applicants are subject to separate admission procedures. For current admission procedures, international applicants (only) should consult the following: https://www.callutheran.edu/admission/international.html
Candidates for admission to the MPPA program should submit a complete application portfolio at least 45 days prior to the start of the term. Admission decisions for regular graduate standing are based on a review of the following materials in the candidate’s file:
- Completed Admission Application and non-refundable application fee
- Official Transcript(s) from a regionally accredited college or university verifying the applicant’s bachelor’s degree or equivalent with an acceptable GPA
- Two Academic or Professional Recommendations
- Personal statement
- Graduate Program Advisement with an admission counselor
Requirements for the Master of Public Policy and Administration
(39 Credits)
| Public Policy and Administration Core (15 credits) | ||
| PA 550 | Research Methods | 3 |
| PA 568 | Ethics in Public Policy & Adm | 3 |
| PA 593 | Public Administration Theory | 3 |
| PA 595 | Implement & Analysis Public Policy | 3 |
| PA 598 | Law and Public Policy | 3 |
| Elective Courses (21 Credits) | ||
| Select four of the following plus either thesis/capstone project 1 | ||
| Public Administration and Public Policy | ||
| Local Economic Development | ||
| Strategic Planning | ||
| Sacramento Institute | ||
| Leadership | ||
| Communication Skills Public Adm | ||
| Public Budgeting | ||
| Inter-Governmental Relations | ||
| Human Resource Management | ||
| Organizational Theory and Development | ||
| Civic Engagement | ||
| Non-Profit Management | ||
| Selected Topics | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Urban Policy and Planning | ||
| MBA 506 | Information Technology Management | 3 |
| MBA 507 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| MBA 522 | Innovative Business Models | 3 |
| MBA 525 | Sustainable Business Strategies | 3 |
| Thesis or Capstone Project | ||
| PA 599A | Thesis | 3 |
| or PA 599 | Capstone Project | |
- 1
With the approval of the program director.
Note: Students may take up to 6 credits from any other graduate program.
Completion Requirements
- Thesis or Capstone Project (3 credits). Credit will be counted toward 15 credits of elective courses.
- Internship (no credit).
Candidates for the MPPA degree without two or more years of public or nonprofit sector experience are required to complete an internship in public administration. The internship normally involves at least 100 hours of supervised work experience in an approved position. This requirement may be waived under certain circumstances.
Students may, with the approval of the program director, program dean and the university registrar, transfer relevant graduate level courses taken in allied graduate programs (e.g., MBA) at this or other regionally accredited universities.
Courses
PA 5ST. Selected Topics. (3).
PA 5XC. Comprehensive Exam. (0).
PA 5XX. Elective Transfer Credit-MPPA. (1-4).
PA 500. American Foundations. (3).
This course is a prerequisite for foreign students entering the MPPA program. It is designed to prepare students and enhance their knowledge about American policy and administration and their skills for graduate study in the program. Credits for this class do not count towards the required 39 credits for the degree.
PA 501. Public Administration and Public Policy. (3).
Study of theories of administration and public policy to assist students in preparing for the MPPA comprehensive examinations.
PA 505. Local Economic Development. (3).
This seminar examines strategies employed in the pursuit of state and local economic development. It emphasizes practical application and implementation of economic concepts and strategies which address the challenges of competitiveness, growth, sustainability, and community revitalization.
PA 507. Strategic Planning. (3).
This course provides an understanding and application of strategic planning and performance measurements in the public and non-profit sectors. It emphasizes the practical application of economic concepts and planning tools which address the challenges of competitiveness, growth, sustainability, and community revitalization.
PA 508. Sacramento Institute. (3).
The course provides a multi-perspective examination of policy development processes through first hand observation of the policy process. Students travel to Sacramento for a four-day seminar at the State Capital and interact with lawmakers, lobbyists, media, legislative analysts, regulators, political consultants and executive branch officials.
PA 510. Leadership. (3).
The course is designed to develop a set of core competencies and improve leadership practices. Topics covered include the historical development of leadership theories, communication, strategic analysis, leadership styles, organizational structure, and teambuilding.
PA 512. Communication Skills Public Adm. (3).
The course is intended to prepare students to think strategically about communication and to improve writing, presentation and interpersonal communication skills within a managerial setting. Professional and interpersonal dialogue and group communications will be explored. Managerial writing, public speaking, positive self-presentation and techniques for effective meetings will also be covered.
PA 550. Research Methods. (3).
Study of current methods of conducting research in public administration. On-Line Course.
PA 554. Public Budgeting. (3).
Public budget planning, formulation, analysis, and implementation. The fiscal role of government. The problems of revenue and expenditure planning, administration and control.
PA 556. Inter-Governmental Relations. (3).
An analysis of the problems, practices and decisions relating to the management and financing of inter-governmental projects and policies.
PA 562. Human Resource Management. (3).
Governmental personnel systems. Policies for classification, compensation, training and advancement. Public employee unionization. Developing strategies for collective negotiations in public organizations.
PA 565. Organizational Theory and Development. (3).
Organization, leadership and decision theory, and contemporary developments in management and behavioral sciences are emphasized.
PA 568. Ethics in Public Policy & Adm. (3).
An examination of moral issues which arise within a public organization, e.g., privacy, obligation to obey the law, government responsibility, etc.
PA 570. Civic Engagement. (3).
Examination of the forms and processes of civic engagement in contemporary settings of public and government. The class focuses on the organization and expression of public interests, and explores the means by which they are mediated and coped with by governing authorities.
PA 571. Non-Profit Management. (3).
The course is designed to introduce students to both principles and practices of management for nonprofit organizations. In addition to a survey of important issues facing the nonprofit sector and best practices, course topics will include governance, strategic planning, marketing, advocacy, public-private partnerships and fundraising.
PA 582. Selected Topics. (3).
Topics of current and particular interest or concern in public administration, e.g., arbitration and collective bargaining, criminal justice policy, environmental policy and public healthcare policy.
PA 585. Travel Seminar: Ecuador. (3).
This is a travel seminar, meaning that a majority of the time will be spent outside of the classroom and in non-traditional settings. However, there will be classroom led discussion and instruction from both the faculty, in addition to instruction from other experts from our collaborator/ Nonprofit partner based in Quito, Ecuador. This is a three credit course.
PA 590. Independent Study. (1-4).
PA 593. Public Administration Theory. (3).
The primary objective of this course is to introduce students to the evolution of Public Administration (PA) as a field, the current debates/ trends in the field and how thinking in this field has evolved. Students will also get a thorough understanding of the role of PA in a democratic society, the tensions in politics vs administration. On-Line Course.
PA 595. Implement & Analysis Public Policy. (3).
Examines how public policy is implemented and analyzed. Overview of change theory, systems analysis, and decision-making paradigms; concepts such as strategic planning, quality management, benchmarking and team building are addressed. On-Line Course.
PA 596. Urban Policy and Planning. (3).
This course is designed to introduce students to the field of land use planning. It is intended to prepare students to make organizational decisions that will require a base of knowledge in urban planning concepts and policies, yet the course should interest any citizen concerned with how land use decisions impact their quality of life. Appropriately then, the focus of instruction will be on issues currently affecting Ventura County and its local municipalities - a lack of affordable housing, a displaced work force, and attempts to implement policies of smart growth and sustainability.
PA 598. Law and Public Policy. (3).
An analysis of the impact of court and legislative decisions on public policy, with particular emphasis on public institutions; how to conduct legal research; examining how public policy is shaped by law. Emphasis on researching and analyzing legal documents and appellate opinions pertinent to public policy. Topics include: employment discrimination; managerial liability for negligence in hiring, training, supervision, etc.; civil rights violations; employee rights in the workplace; and more.
PA 599. Capstone Project. (3).
The capstone project follows a more practical andhands on model, which would benefit students in two ways : a. Help them work on a real-world problem, while utilizing some of the theories and other concepts that they have used in class b. Help build professional networks in the organizations they will work at, during their capstone projects. The organizations chosen for the capstone projects will be locally based ones - either government or nonprofits - that will work closely with faculty members and help students grapple with a real issue that is confronting the said organization.
PA 599A. Thesis. (3).
PA 599B. Project. (3).
Faculty
Dean - School of Management
Gerhard Apfelthaler
Program Director
Malcolm Oliver
Assistant professors
Linda-Marie Sundstrom
Andrew Pattison