Master of Public Administration

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
AD 511	Foundations of Public Administration and Policy	6
Term 2
AD 521	Public Administration Research and Analysis (or one concentration course)	6
Term 3
AD 531	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
AD 590	MPA Portfolio	0
AD 595	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 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.

College of Graduate and Cont Studies Faculty

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