Master of Public Administration Courses and Degree Requirements

For information about our certificate programs:
Arts Management Certificate Degree Requirements
Urban Planning Certificate Degree Requirements

M.P.A. Plan of Study

After being admitted, new students should meet with the M.P.A. director to outline a tentative plan of study. Initially, the M.P.A. director acts as the student’s advisor. After they become familiar with the M.P.A. faculty, students may wish to choose an advisor with a specialization in their area of professional interest. In the initial meeting with the M.P.A. director, a plan of study is developed based on the student’s background, interest, training, experience and career objectives. These factors play a significant role in the elective courses chosen and eventual internship placement. Students should begin exploring internship opportunities early in their program of study and contact the internship coordinator. The initial plan of study will be reviewed as necessary on a semester-by-semester basis during the student’s enrollment in the M.P.A. program. Before registering each semester, students should carefully select appropriate courses in order to fulfill degree requirements. The M.P.A. program provides the flexibility for students to develop a focus in a variety of areas through careful selection of elective courses and internship arrangements.

M.P.A. Degree Requirements

The M.P.A. is a professional degree requiring:
39 semester hours, including the following:
a. 21 hours of core courses.
b. 15 hours of electives (18 if the internship requirement is waived for previous -experience).
c. A three-hour credit internship. Internships are graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

A minimum grade point average of 3.0.

M.P.A. Course Descriptions

Core Courses
PUBA 600 Perspectives on Public Administration
PUBA 601 Research and Quantitative Methods for Public Administration
PUBA 602Public Policy
PUBA 603 Administrative Ethics and Accountability
PUBA 604 Personnel Administration
PUBA 605 Financial Administration
PUBA 701 Capstone Seminar
PUBA 777 Internship

Nonprofit Administration
PUBA 650 Essential Elements of Non-Profit Administration
PUBA 654 Human Resource Management for Non-Profit Organizations
PUBA 502 Special Topics: Legal Aspects of Non-Profits
PUBA 502 Special Topics: Fundraising and Marketing for Non-Profits
PUBA 502 Special Topics: Finance and Accounting for Non-Profits


Arts Management
PUBA 650 Essential Elements of non-Profit Administration
PUBA 654 Human Resource management for Non-Profit Organizations
PUBA 660 Contemporary Perspectives on Arts Management
PUBA 661 Advanced Arts Management
PUBA 662 Cultural Administration and Applied Research at the Avery
PUBA 663 Arts and Technology
PUBA 664 Arts Education
PUBA 502 Special Topics: Fundraising and Marketing for Non-Profits
PUBA 502: Special Topics: Finance and Accounting for Non-Profits
PUBA 502: Special Topics: Legal Aspects of Non Profits

Environmental Policy and Administration
PUBA 632 Environmental Policy
PUBA 634 Environmental Law and Regulatory Policy
PUBA 636 Coastal Resource Management
PUBA 637 Wetlands Protection

Municipal Government and Urban Planning
PUBA 611 Urban Policy
PUBA 612 Urban Planning
PUBA 620 Local Government Politics and Administration
PUBA 622 Intergovernmental Relations
PUBA 635 Land Use Law
PUBA 502: Special Topics: Program Evaluation

Electives
PUBA 512 Females/Minorities in Public Administration
PUBA 623 South Carolina Government and Policy
PUBA 631 Administrative Law
PUBA 640 Leadership and Decision Making
PUBA 706 Economic Theory for Policy Analysis
PUBA 712 Organizational Behavior
PUBA 720 The Practice of Public Administration
PUBA 722 Information Systems and Public Administration
PUBA 723 Contemporary Administrative Organizations
PUBA 730 Politics and the Budgetary Process
PUBA 502 Special Topics: Program Evaluation