Public Administration, MPA

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Master in public administration (MPA) students are able to establish an enduring professionalism by completing course work that blends theory with practical applications and experience. The MPA program includes a core curriculum combining coursework in basic administrative and leadership skill areas with courses emphasizing the institutional, political, and ethical environments of the public and nonprofit sectors.

The instructional philosophy of the MPA program is to promote learning through discussion. Courses feature small seminar-style settings and a diverse enrollment representing a variety of age groups, occupations, and educational backgrounds.

MPA Core Courses (12 Credits)

PA 503 - Public Policy in the American Federal System 3 Credit(s)
PA 504 - Purposeful Leadership 3 Credit(s)
PA 506 - Budgeting and Human Resource Management 3 Credit(s)
PA 508 - Ethical and Legal Environment of Public Service 3 Credit(s)

MPA Elective Courses (21 Credits)

Complete seven elective courses
These courses may include offerings from the MPA program or designated alternatives from other graduate programs at Widener.

MPA Comprehensive Exam (1 Credit)

Students must have completed at least 27 credits of coursework and three of the four core classes prior to registering for PA 698, provided that they are concurrently registered for the final courses in the exam semester.

PA 698 - Capston Comprehensive Examination 1 Credit(s)

Certificate/Specializations

Students may apply elective coursework toward completion of a specialization or graduate certificate in one of the following areas:

Criminal Justice Specialization (4 courses)
Human Sexuality Studies (4 courses)
Local Government Specialization / Urban Studies Certificate (4 courses)
Nonprofit Leadership Specialization / Certificate (4 courses)

Criminal Justice Specialization

CJ 501 - Nature of Crime and Delinquency 3 Credit(s)
Complete three of the following course options:
CJ 504 - Seminar in Law and Criminal Justice 3 Credit(s)
CJ 505 - Organizational Behavior in Criminal Justice 3 Credit(s)
CJ 509 - Research Methods and Quantitative Applications in Criminal Justice 3 Credit(s)
Or any 600 level CJ Elective 3 Credit(s)

Human Sexuality Studies Specialization

HSED 592 - Concepts in Human Sexuality 3 Credit(s)
HSED 594 - History and Ethics of Human Sexuality 3 Credit(s)
Complete two of the following course options:
HSED 501 - Sexuality and Society in Cross-Cultural Perspective 3 Credit(s)
HSED 591 - Improving Intergroup Relations Through Dialogue 3 Credit(s)
HSED 593 - Behavioral Foundations in Human Sexuality 3 Credit(s)
HSED 596 - Foundations of Sexuality and Relationships Across the Lifespan 3 Credit(s)
HSED 644 - Biological Foundations of Human Sexuality 3 Credit(s)
HSED 645 - Sexual Minorities 3 Credit(s)

Local Government Specialization

PA 625 - Local Government Administration 3 Credit(s)
Complete three of the of the following course options:
PA 630 - Urban Management and Politics 3 Credit(s)
PA 640 - Planning and the Public 3 Credit(s)
PA 645 - Economic Development 3 Credit(s)
PA 650 - Advocacy Leadership 3 Credit(s)
PA 655 - Evidence-Informed Decisions in Public and Nonprofit Sectors 3 Credit(s)
PA-688 Promoting Social Change: Applied Anthropology 3 Credit(s)
PA-688 Sustainability Issues in Public Administration 3 Credit(s)

Nonprofit Leadership Specialization

PA 681 - Nonprofit Advancement 3 Credit(s)
Complete three of the following course options:
PA 640 - Planning and the Public 3 Credit(s)
PA 645 - Economic Development 3 Credit(s)
PA 650 - Advocacy Leadership 3 Credit(s)
PA 655 - Evidence-Informed Decisions in Public and Nonprofit Sectors 3 Credit(s)
PA 682 - Financial Management for Nonprofits 3 Credit(s)
PA 684 - Marketing for the Nonprofit Sector 3 Credit(s)
PA 686 - Law and Nonprofit Organizations 3 Credit(s)
PA-688 Organizational & Crisis Communications 3 Credit(s)
PA-688 Promoting Social Change: Applied Anthropology 3 Credit(s)