MPA Academics and Curriculum
Explore the structure of the MPA program, course offerings, and resources that guide your academic journey.
Degree Requirements
36 total units
Students must take ALL of the following courses
POSC 509 Foundations of Public Administration
POSC 521 Capstone Seminar: Public Administration Theory
POSC 523 Administrative Research and Analysis
POSC 526 Public Organizational Theory & Behavior
POSC 571 Public Budgeting and Finance
POSC 572 Human Resources Management for Public Organizations
And at least ONE of the following
POSC 519 State and Local Government
POSC 525 Local Government Management
POSC 528 Seminar in Public Policy
Concentrations
There are four concentrations within the program. All students must choose one. Students must choose a concentration by the time they file their study plan, typically after completion of 12 MPA units.
HUMAN RESOURCES
The human resources concentration is designed to prepare students to work in the field of personnel management. The concentration helps students learn the managerial skills and knowledge needed to manage essential human resource functions in public or non-profit organizations.
Core Course
POSC 572 Human Resources Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations
Electives (take two)
POSC 423: Diversity in Public Management
POSC 475: Administrative Law
POSC 522: Seminar in Public Personnel Administration
POSC 582: Organizational Development and Change
MGMT 441: Labor-Management Relations
LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT
The purpose of the concentration in local government management is to prepare students for a career in local government. This is accomplished by a mix of courses that focus on theoretical and conceptual issues relevant to local government managers and those that impart practical skills.
Core Course
POSC 525: Local Government Management
Take One
POSC 427: Metropolitan Politics and Policymaking
POSC 519: State and Local Government
Electives (take any one)
POSC/GEOG 478: Urban Planning Principles
POSC/GEOG 484: Planning Methods
POSC 427: Metropolitan Politics and Policymaking
POSC 519: State and Local Government
POSC 580: Emergency Management in Public Administration
POSC 588: Collaborative Governance
ENST 595T: Selected Topics in Environmental Problems (note: only certain sections of this course will count. Be sure to check with the MPA advisor in advance)
PUBLIC FINANCE
The purpose of the concentration in public finance is to prepare students for future careers in public financial management. This is accomplished by helping students to become literate in public finance concepts, knowledgeable of best practices in public financial management, and able to interpret financial reports and economic data.
Core Courses
POSC 571: Public Budgeting and Finance (prerequisite for POSC 583)
POSC 583: Public Budgeting and Finance II
Electives (take one)
POSC 421: Government & the Economy
POSC 425: Policy Analysis
ECON 416: Benefit Cost and Microeconomic Policy Analysis
ECON 417: Public Finance
PUBLIC POLICY
The purpose of the concentration in public policy is to prepare students for future careers in the policy process and public policy analysis. This is accomplished by taking a course in the public policy process, a course policy analysis and at least one additional course in a substantive policy area.
Core Courses
POSC 425: Policy Analysis
POSC 528: Seminar in Public Policy
Electives (take one)
POSC 421: Government and the Economy
POSC 426: Education Politics and Policy
POSC 427: Metropolitan Politics and Policymaking
POSC 539: Seminar in Nonprofit Sector Management
CRJU 405: Criminal Justice Policy
CRJU/POSC 491: Applied Policy Research
ECON 416: Benefit Cost and Microeconomic Policy Analysis
PUBH 524 Public Health Administration
MPA Course Rotation
Fall 2026 – Spring 2030
The table below shows the planned course rotation for the MPA Program through Spring 2030. A checkmark (✓) indicates the course is scheduled that semester. Empty cells indicate the course is not offered. Students should use this table to plan their programs of study and consult with the MPA academic advisor before finalizing schedules, as offerings are subject to change. This table will be updated as schedules are finalized.
| Course | Title | Fall 2026 | Spring 2027 | Fall 2027 | Spring 2028 | Fall 2028 | Spring 2029 | Fall 2029 | Spring 2030 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA Core — Required | |||||||||
| POSC 509 | Foundations of Public Administration | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| POSC 521 | Capstone Seminar: Public Administration Theory | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| POSC 523 | Administrative Research and Analysis | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| POSC 526 | Public Organizational Theory & Behavior | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| POSC 571 | Public Budgeting and Finance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| POSC 572 | Human Resources Management for Public Organizations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PA Core — Required (Conditional) | |||||||||
| POSC 497* | Internship in Public Administration | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PA Core — Elective | |||||||||
| POSC 519 | State and Local Government | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| POSC 525 | Local Government Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| POSC 528 | Seminar in Public Policy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| HRM Concentration | |||||||||
| POSC 522 | Seminar in Public Personnel Administration | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| POSC 582 | Organizational Development and Change | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| LGM Concentration | |||||||||
| POSC 580 | Emergency Management in Public Administration | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| PFM Concentration | |||||||||
| POSC 583 | Public Budgeting and Finance II | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| PP Concentration | |||||||||
| POSC 425 | Policy Analysis | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Program Elective | |||||||||
| POSC 421 | Government and the Economy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| POSC 423 | Diversity in Public Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| POSC 426 | Education Politics and Policy | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| POSC 427 | Metropolitan Politics and Policymaking | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| POSC 428 | Environmental Policy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| POSC 430 | Nonprofit Management and Advocacy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| POSC 446 | Corruption, Ethics and Public Policy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| POSC 475 | Administrative Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| POSC 588 | Collaborative Governance | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Last updated 3/12/2026.
*Students without prior public sector managerial experience are required to complete:
POSC 497 – Internship in Public Administration
Students enrolled in POSC 497 are eligible to apply for the Lawson Internship in Public Service, which provides a $2,000 stipend. The award is funded by alumnus Bruce Lawson and supports applied professional experience in public service. Applications are available once a student has enrolled in POSC 497.
The Lawson Internship in Public Service is supported by a $100,000 endowment established by Bruce Lawson in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the MPA Program.