Public Administration - 2021-22 Graduate Catalog

Chair: Marc Simon
Graduate Coordinator: Justin Rex
Address: 124 Williams Hall
Phone: 419-372-2921
Program Web Page: https://www.bgsu.edu/mpa

Degrees Offered
Master of Public Administration

Program Offered
The Department of Political Science offers a program leading to the degree of Master of Public Administration. The main goal of the master’s program in Public Administration is to provide professional education to students who wish to prepare themselves for administrative careers and leadership positions in government. In accordance with recognized professional standards, the program:

1. prepares students for professional and leadership careers in public service;
2. offers an opportunity to in- and mid- career personnel for additional training and career development; and
3. provides foundations for careers in teaching, consultation, and other professions requiring advanced knowledge of public administration.

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master's degree, students in the Public Administration program are expected to be able to:

Public Governance

• Understand accountability/democratic theory.
• Understand the governance structures of government, nonprofits and for-profits.
• Identify and eventually manage public, private, non-profit collaboration/overcome conflicts.
• Understand and apply administrative authority (top down/bottom up/lateral).
• Apply knowledge of system dynamics and network structure in PA practice.

Policy Process

• Understand political theory and practice.
• Understand and apply policy streams, cycles, systems foci upon past, present and future policy issues.
• Understand how problem identification impacts public administration.
• Understand and carry out effective policy implementation.
• Directly or indirectly undertake policy analysis/evaluation.
• Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions.
• Directly or indirectly employ quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Directly or indirectly undertake program evaluation/action research.
• Engage in and eventually lead strategic planning.
• Understand and apply sound performance measurement and management practices.
• Understand and apply sound financial planning and fiscal management practices.
• Understand and apply organizational learning and development principles into practice.

Public Service Perspective 

• Understand the value of authentic citizen participation and engagement in PA practice.
• Understand the value of social and economic equity in PA practice.
• Understand the value of professional integrity/ethics in PA practice.
• Understand and eventually demonstrate the value of leadership to PA practice.
• Be or become a reflective practitioner.
• Communicate and interact with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.
• Undertake high quality oral and written communication.
• Understand and appreciate the value of pluralism, multiculturalism and cultural diversity.
• Be or become an active listener and responsive practitioner.
• Understand the value of and carry out coalition and team building.
• Understand and carry out effective human resource management.
• Directly or indirectly utilize information systems/technology in PA practice. 
• Understand the role of media and public relations in PA practice.

Accreditation
The Bowling Green State University Master of Public Administration is nationally accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

Prerequisites to Graduate Work
Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. In cases where an applicant is deficient in background, the appropriate graduate coordinator will recommend additional course work.

Admission Procedure
Applicants seeking admission to graduate programs in political science should follow the instructions in the Graduate Admission webpage. Please note the GMAT or GRE are accepted for admission to the Master in Public Administration. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher, or an earned graduate degree are waived from the GRE or GMAT requirement. 

Degree Requirements

Master of Public Administration
The M.P.A. program consists of four educational components:

Candidates must complete a total of 36 semester hours of graduate credit, which includes 33 hours of course work. The remaining three hours include completing either a written thesis or an internship and capstone experience. Mid- and in career students have the opportunity to be waived from the internship component.

The 15-hour core curriculum requirement is met by completing POLS 6210, Administrative Theory and Behavior, POLS 6750, Research Methods, POLS 6260 Personnel Management, POLS 6280 Budgeting, POLS 6200 Public Policy. In addition a minimum of 9 credit hours of 6000-level courses must be chosen from the Political Science Department. The other 9 credit hours of public administration coursework may be taken from outside the department.

Students with specialized interests may create a specialization in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator.

Students also take 6 hours of electives. In addition, all students must receive at least a “B” grade in all core classes before undertaking a thesis or capstone.

In addition to these program requirements, all graduates must meet the general degree requirements set by the Graduate College.

Graduate Courses
Please access graduate courses online at http://www.bgsu.edu/registration-records/courses-and-classes/class-course-information.html. Graduate courses offered by the Department of Political Science use the prefix: POLS.