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.
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 and Administration | 3 |
PA 593 | Public Administration Theory | 3 |
PA 595 | Implementation and Analysis of Public Policy | 3 |
PA 598 | Law and Public Policy | 3 |
Elective Courses (24 Credits) | ||
Select eight of the following: 1 | 24 | |
Public Administration and Public Policy | ||
Public Policy Seminar | ||
Public Budgeting | ||
Inter-Governmental Relations | ||
Human Resource Management | ||
Organizational Theory and Development | ||
Civic Engagement | ||
Non-Profit Management | ||
Negotiation and Conflict Management | ||
Selected Topics | ||
Independent Study | ||
Urban Policy and Planning | ||
Thesis and Project | ||
Communication for Management | ||
Organizational Dynamics | ||
Leadership and Managerial Effectivenss | ||
Management Concepts for Information Technology | ||
Total Hours | 39 |
1 | With the approval of the program director. |
Note: Students may take up to 6 credits from any other graduate program.
Completion Requirements
- Comprehensive Examination (no credit) based on the five core courses; or Thesis or Project (3 credits). Credit will be counted toward 24 credits of elective courses.
- Internship (no credit).
All candidates for the MPPA degree 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. The internship should be completed within six months of the first term of enrollment. 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 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 modern theories of administration and
public policy and the analysis of administration
and policy (emphasis on state and local level).
PA 502. Public Policy Seminar. (3).
Small group tutorial experience designed for
in-depth exploration of a topic or problem, or
for in-breadth preparation for 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 550. Research Methods. (3).
Study of current methods of conducting research
in public administration.
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 and Administration. (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 577. Negotiation and Conflict Management. (3).
This course is designed to explore the major
concepts and theories of the negotiation process.
Special emphasis will be given to the dynamics of
interpersonal and intergroup conflict and
resolution. Topics addressed include
interpersonal influence techniques plus tactics
and strategies involved with improved bargaining
and negotiation. Students will learn key
negotiation skills through an interactive
experience that includes case studies, readings,
videos and role-plays. Students will focus on the
development of effective negotiation strategies
and tactics. The course is designed to be
relevant to the broad spectrum of negotiation
challenges traditionally encountered by managers
in business. (cross-listed with BUS 577).
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 590. Independent Study. (1-4).
PA 593. Public Administration Theory. (3).
Systematic analysis of the ideas and ideals which
have influenced the study of public
administration; exploring theories of public
administration. Emphasis on state and local
government.
PA 595. Implementation and Analysis of 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.
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 599A. Thesis. (3).
PA 599B. Project. (3).
Provost
Leanne Neilson | Psy.D. |
Program Director
David Powell | Ph.D. |