Master of Public Administration
This is an archived copy of the 2018-19 Catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.norwich.edu/.
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Program Director: Rosemarie Pelletier
The Master of Public Administration program is designed for working professionals that seek to become leaders in the field of the administration of public services. The curriculum places a high emphasis on experiential learning with a focus on demonstrating knowledge of the principles and concepts of leadership, implementation of ethical principles in operations, program evaluation, critical analysis of operational practices, policy making and strategic planning, management of groups, workforce development, fostering community relations and identifying stakeholders.
The challenge for the administrator of the public service organization is to find a balance between the needs of society, best practices and the financial constraints of public financing. Only by developing a sense of inquiry, mastering the skills of research of relevant and up-do-date studies and publications and focusing on evidence-based practices will the leader of the public organization achieve organizational success. The Master of Public Administration program requires its students to develop and exhibit superior skills of research, effective communication, excellent integration of relevant concepts and principles appropriate to mission accomplishment and the ability to accomplish operational objectives in an evolving environment of federal and state rules of employment practices, laws of liability, and statutory mandates.
The Master of Public Administration program provides students with the tools to meet these objectives by creating an environment of academic interaction between the students and faculty, all of whom are leaders in the field of public administration. Emphasis is placed on problem-solving, using scenarios that replicate real-world operational and policy-oriented situations. Each student is required to submit a capstone project prior to completion of the program as well as a publishable paper addressing the capstone project.
Curriculum Map/Plan of Study
Term 1 | ||
Foundations of Public Administration and Policy | 6 | |
Term 2 | ||
Public Administration Research and Analysis (or one concentration course) | 6 | |
Term 3 | ||
Public Organization Resources & Processes (or one concentration course) | 6 | |
Term 4 | ||
One concentration course | 6 | |
Term 5 | ||
One concentration course | 6 | |
Term 6 | ||
Concentration capstone course | 6 | |
MPA Portfolio | 0 | |
Residency 1 | 0 | |
Total Cr. | 36 |
1 | Students are required to attend a one-week, on campus Residency Conference the June following or concurrent with their final course. |
Curriculum Requirements
Required Courses
All students are required to begin their program with AD 511, Foundations of Public Administration and Policy, followed by five six-credit concentration courses. All students are also required to complete the exit portfolio, AD 590.
Core Courses | ||
AD 511 | Foundations of Public Administration and Policy | 6 |
AD 521 | Public Administration Research and Analysis | 6 |
AD 531 | Public Organization Resources & Processes | 6 |
AD 561 | Capstone Studies | 6 |
AD 590 | MPA Portfolio | 0 |
Culminating Academic Requirement | ||
AD 595 | Residency | 0 |
Total Cr. | 24 |
Concentrations Courses
Criminal Justice and Public Safety Courses | ||
AD 511 | Foundations of Public Administration and Policy | 6 |
AD 521 | Public Administration Research and Analysis | 6 |
AD 531 | Public Organization Resources & Processes | 6 |
Select two courses from the following: | ||
GJ 551 | Law Enforcement Administration | 6 |
GJ 552 | Corrections Administration | 6 |
GJ 556 | Critical Incident Management for Public Safety | 6 |
Capstone | ||
AD 561 | Capstone Studies | 6 |
Total Cr. | 36 |
Fiscal Management Concentration
This two course concentration explores the legal and regulatory foundation of financial reporting and accountability for public organizations. Topics include development of transactions, enactment of appropriations, and incurrence of obligations or encumbrances. Other topics include financial reporting, analysis of governmental financial performance, costing of government services, and auditing governmental organizations.
Students will be provided with the current study guides published by the Association of Government Accountants' Certified Government Financial Manager, designed specifically to prepare professionals and students for the CGFM certification examination. This concentration also introduces students to four major areas of financial concern: preparation of budgets, creating management strategies for the organization based on the principles of strategic financial management, obtaining financial resources by issuing bonds and levying taxes, and managing cash and employee retirement funds. Students will also examine contemporary perspectives on professional ethics and ethical behavior of leaders in the public sector, particularly in regard to their fiduciary responsibility in investing and managing public funds.
Fiscal Management Courses | ||
AD 511 | Foundations of Public Administration and Policy | 6 |
AD 521 | Public Administration Research and Analysis | 6 |
AD 531 | Public Organization Resources & Processes | 6 |
AD 558 | Fiscal Management Accounting & Contracting | 6 |
AD 559 | Fiscal Management Finance/Tax & Budgeting | 6 |
AD 561 | Capstone Studies | 6 |
Total Cr. | 36 |
International Development and Influence Concentration
This concentration introduces students to the political and historical background of U.S. efforts to foster development in developing countries, and the cultural, economic and legal factors involved in planning and engaging in economic and infrastructural development in these areas. Particular focus is placed on the value and role of analytical research, identifying stakeholders, understanding the role of non-governmental organizations and assessing the social, cultural, and political context of the areas of development. Participants are introduced to the role development as a means of furthering democratic principles and U.S. foreign policy. Particular focus will be placed on the problems and challenges presented by conflicts, corruption and poor governance in areas of development, strategic planning, security analysis, management of information public works and other infrastructural projects, and how the developing organizations should integrate or coordinate their efforts with other actors in the area. Finally, students will be familiarized with the process of an organizational needs assessment as a necessary step in planning international development.
International Development and Influence Courses | ||
AD 511 | Foundations of Public Administration and Policy | 6 |
AD 521 | Public Administration Research and Analysis | 6 |
AD 531 | Public Organization Resources & Processes | 6 |
AD 564 | International Development and Influence I | 6 |
AD 574 | International Development and Influence II | 6 |
AD 561 | Capstone Studies | 6 |
Total Cr. | 36 |
Municipal Governance Concentration
The Municipal Governance concentration focuses on three key areas of study:
- Municipal Governance in general,
- Rural Municipal Governance,
- Urban Municipal Governance.
These three seminars will explore key best practices for municipal leadership, including the challenges of providing direction to a wide scope of departments and agencies necessary to serve the needs of communities. The seminars will also study how to create and maintain intergovernmental relationships, form partnerships with elected officials, staff, and private sector business. Studies in these three seminars will provide a graduate MPA student with a skill set that includes interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary competence, effective leadership skills, and action plan development and implementation.
Municipal Governance Courses | ||
AD 511 | Foundations of Public Administration and Policy | 6 |
AD 521 | Public Administration Research and Analysis | 6 |
AD 531 | Public Organization Resources & Processes | 6 |
AD 543 | Municipal Governance | 6 |
AD 553 | Rural Municipal Governance | 6 |
or AD 563 | Urban Municipal Governance | |
AD 561 | Capstone Studies | 6 |
Total Cr. | 36 |
Nonprofit Management Concentration
The Nonprofit Management concentration focuses on these key areas of study:
- Nonprofit leadership and management,
- Nonprofit Administration,
- Transformational Organizational Culture, Human Resource Development and
- Management,
- Resource Development and Efficiency by Nonprofit Organizations,
- Healthcare Management
These seminars will explore key best practices for nonprofit leadership in areas such as: workforce focus, volunteer staff management, leadership and governance, nonprofit law, ethics, grant writing, accounting and economics, healthcare information technology and knowledge management. Studies in these seminars will provide a graduate MPA student with a skill set that includes interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary competence, effective leadership and management skills, and action plan development and implementation.
Nonprofit Management Courses | ||
AD 511 | Foundations of Public Administration and Policy | 6 |
AD 521 | Public Administration Research and Analysis | 6 |
AD 531 | Public Organization Resources & Processes | 6 |
AD 542 | Leading the Nonprofit Organization | 6 |
AD 552 | Nonprofit Administration | 6 |
or AD 562 | Transformational Organizational Culture, Human Resources Devel and Mngt in NonProfit Organizations | |
or AD 572 | Resource Development, Management & Efficiency by Nonprofit Organizations | |
or AD 582 | Healthcare Management | |
AD 561 | Capstone Studies | 6 |
Total Cr. | 36 |
Policy Analysis and Analytics Concentration
The Public Policy Analysis and Analytics concentration focuses on these key areas of study:
- Policy, Politics, and Planning,
- Methods of Policy Analysis,
- Policy and Policy Implementation,
- Tools for Policy Analysis, and
- Economics and Decision Making.
These seminars will explore key best practices for policy planning, implementation, analysis and analytics. Data mining, data gathering, decision making based upon analysis and analytics all contribute to a growing field of policy analysis and the need for those who understand public administration, public policy AND the process of analysis using up to date tools.
Policy Analysis and Analytics Courses | ||
AD 511 | Foundations of Public Administration and Policy | 6 |
AD 545 | Policy, Politics, and Planning | 6 |
AD 555 | Public Organization Fiscal Management, Part I | 6 |
AD 565 | Public Organization Fiscal Management, Part II | 6 |
AD 575 | Tools for Policy Analysis | 6 |
AD 585 | Economics & Decision Making | 6 |
Total Cr. | 36 |
Public Administration Leadership and Crisis Management Concentration
The Public Administration Leadership and Crisis Management concentration focuses on these key areas of study:
- Foundation of Leadership and Ethical Decision Making,
- Public Leadership, Crisis Management, and Organizational Change.
The concentration seminars will explore key best practices for public administration leadership and management in areas such as: workforce focus, leadership and governance, ethics, information technology, and knowledge management. Studies in these seminars will provide a graduate MPA student with a skill set that includes interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary competence, effective leadership and management skills, and action plan development and implementation.
Public Administration Leadership and Crisis Management Courses | ||
AD 511 | Foundations of Public Administration and Policy | 6 |
AD 521 | Public Administration Research and Analysis | 6 |
AD 531 | Public Organization Resources & Processes | 6 |
AD 576 | Foundations of Leadership and Ethical Decision Making | 6 |
AD 586 | Public Leadership, Crisis Management, and Organizational Change | 6 |
AD 561 | Capstone Studies | 6 |
Total Cr. | 36 |
Public Works and Sustainability Courses | ||
AD 511 | Foundations of Public Administration and Policy | 6 |
AD 521 | Public Administration Research and Analysis | 6 |
AD 531 | Public Organization Resources & Processes | 6 |
Select two courses from the following: | ||
AD 557 | Public Works Administration, Part I | 6 |
AD 567 | Public Works Administration, Part II | 6 |
AD 544 | Strategies and Principles for Sustainability I | 6 |
Capstone | ||
AD 561 | Capstone Studies | 6 |
Total Cr. | 36 |
Procurement and Government Contract Management
After completing this concentration, students will have the ability to analyze data and craft plans to conduct and actively engage public procurement, contracting, and contract management processes from a functional and management vantage.
Procurement and Government Contract Management Courses | ||
AD 511 | Foundations of Public Administration and Policy | 6 |
AD 521 | Public Administration Research and Analysis | 6 |
AD 531 | Public Organization Resources & Processes | 6 |
AD 568 | Government Procurement and Contract Management | 6 |
AD 578 | Government Contract Management | 6 |
AD 561 | Capstone Studies | 6 |
Total Cr. | 36 |
Cyber Law and International Perspectives
This concentration for public administration professionals helps expand the potential number of employees qualified in this field of cyber security and begins to blend the fields of policy, law, technology, international cyber policies and cyber security, much as the “real world” is blended. Public Administration students will study and learn side-by-side with Information Security students.
Because the overwhelming majority of cyber infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector, the course focus is on those laws that affect the interaction between government and the private sector information technology industry, including the privacy rights so often implicated in modern data storage systems. After completing this concentration, students have the ability to better understand these specific fields of laws, policies and regulations that specifically address topics and the impact these have on public administration.
Cyber Law and International Perspectives Courses | ||
GI 557 | Cyber Law | 6 |
GI 567 | International Perspectives on Cyberspace | 6 |
Total Cr. | 12 |
Critical Infrastructure Protection
This concentration examines the security of information critical to national security and the nature of conflict in cyberspace. This concentration strengthens knowledge of supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA) in the flow of resources such as electricity, water, and fuel. The courses in this concentration help information leaders leverage the benefits of Internet technologies while minimizing the risks that such technologies pose to their organizations.
These include the sectors of banking, securities and commodities markets, industrial supply chain, electrical/smart grid, energy, transportation, communications, water supply and health. Special attention is paid to the risk management of information in critical infrastructure environments through an analysis and synthesis of assets, threats, vulnerabilities, impacts, and countermeasures.
Opening this concentration to public administration professionals helps expand the potential number of employees qualified in this field of cyber security and begins to blend the fields of policy, technology, and cyber security, much as the “real world” is blended. Public Administration students will study and learn side-by-side with Information Security students.
After completing this concentration, students have the ability to better understand these specific fields of cyber security and the impact these have on public administration.
Critical Infrastructure Protection Courses | ||
GI 556 | Cyber Crime | 6 |
GI 566 | Critical Infra. Protection | 6 |
Total Cr. | 12 |
Exit Portfolio
The Exit Portfolio is a graduation requirement for students who enter the program on or after December 2014. Upon entering their sixth and final course, students are required to submit to their portfolio the final graded assignment from each of their first five (5) courses. The student's final course instructor will assess the portfolio and assign a grade of Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) and provide an assessment summary for each student, noting the student's strengths, interests, and improvements.
One-Week Residency
All degree candidates of the Master of Public Administration are required to attend a one-week Residency Conference on the Norwich University campus, during which they may attend professional presentations, participate in roundtable discussions with faculty, and present papers. The one-week residency is a degree requirement.
Faculty Member | Institution at which highest degree was earned |
---|---|
Paula Beiser, MBA | College of William and Mary |
George Franks, PhD | Texas A and M University |
Bruce Lindsay, PhD | University of Delaware |
Charles Lorbeer, PhD | Walden University |
William Powers, PhD | Bellevue University |
Deborah Rhyne, EdD | University of Central Florida |
Ruth Stillwell, DPA | University of Baltimore |
Emmanuel Tettah, PhD | Walden University |
Robert Wright, DPA | University of Leverne |