Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) focuses on preparing students for administrative positions in governmental and nonprofit organizations. It is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). The MPA degree consists of the following four parts, for a total of 60 credits:
Basic core of 30 credits in administration and public policy, including courses in public administration, administrative ethics and values, administrative theory and behavior, public policy: administrative law and policy implementation, public budgeting, financial management in the public sector, human resource management, and two courses in analytic methods.
Nine credits of skill development courses, including courses in applied techniques and communication.
Six credits of integrative experience, which is available to students under two options after they have completed 42 credits in their master's program.
Option 1 requires the student to complete PA 509 Organizational Experience (6 credits). It is intended for "in-service" students, those who have had limited or no administrative experience, and typically involves supervised field experience for one or two quarters during which time an administrative task that is instructive to the student and of importance to the agency is identified and undertaken.
Option 2 is for students who already have at least three years of full-time administrative or management experience in public, nonprofit, and/or health care organizations and requires the student to complete PA 512 Reflective Practice and Case Analysis plus one elective 3-credit course approved by the student's advisor.
Fifteen credits in an area of specialization selected by the student with the approval of his/her advisor. The specialization may be related to, or support, the student's interests and employment area. It may be chosen from individual disciplines or put together as multidisciplinary endeavors. Examples of areas of specialization are administration of justice, managing nonprofit organizations, human resources management and public sector labor relations, communication, environmental studies, and various public policy fields.
Students may transfer up to 21 credits of coursework taken at another university or at Portland State University prior to admission into the MPA degree program, provided they received at least a B- grade in each course, the course work was taken at an accredited college or university, all the courses were completed less than seven years prior to the student's completion of the MPA degree and the Division agrees that the coursework may be applied to the student's MPA degree program.