Public Administration Courses Online (MPA)

Curriculum Details

36 total credits required

The Direct Track for Anna Maria College’s Master of Public Administration is a total of 36 credit hours. For those who qualify, a mid-career option is available in which only 30 credit hours are required to complete the MPA master’s degree.

There are eight MPA core courses. Your remaining four courses will depend which specialization you choose – explore the specialization options and courses below.

MPA Core Courses

Credits

MPA 501 Strategic Management of Human Capital Credit Hours: 3

Provides an overview of how a leader can address current and emerging human capital challenges to drive organizational transformation.

MPA 502 Organizational Theories and The Public Sector Credit Hours: 3

The study of the fundamental theory of the management development process and the analysis of employee behavior patterns.

PSA 503 Executive Leadership Credit Hours: 3

This course focuses on the study and analysis of human behavior patterns. Special consideration is given to the role of the emergency services department management team member as a leader and motivator of people.

MPA 504 Management Policies in Government Finance Credit Hours: 3

This course explores various aspects of local financial management including developing new revenue sources, designing a budget that includes performance reporting, conducting strategic economic development, understanding debt management and bond sales, use of modern information systems to improve financial decision, and meeting the day-to-day challenges of financial management from procurement to labor negotiations.

PSA 600 Ethics in Public Service Credit Hours: 3

Examines ethical principles as they apply to the many practical problems that confront criminal justice professionals in the performance of their duties and responsibilities. Uses case studies to illustrate ethical reasoning and examine issues of social justice.

PSA 602 Managerial Statistics for Public Managers Credit Hours: 3

Focuses on probability and statistics with an emphasis on data analysis, including univariate and multivariate techniques. Statistical problem solving is engaged using various data sources.

MPA 603 Public Policy Credit Hours: 3

This course uses case studies and other materials to help students to develop excellence in oral and written skills in the formation of public policy at the senior management level. Drawing on previous course work in ethics, quantitative analysis and management students will develop models for solving significant problems in the public arena coupled with the planning strategy for implementing these policies.

MPA 604 Strategic Planning for Public Managers Credit Hours: 3

Through the utilization and application of risk assessment and master planning concepts, this program will guide the student through the process of problem identification and comparative analysis. This course will focus upon identifying the benefits and the development of a long term planning effort within the student’s local jurisdiction.

Targeted Toward Your Interests

Anna Maria’s online Public Administration Master’s degree is customized to your specific interests and expertise.

The curriculum for all five of our specializations is designed to maximize your online learning experience – you’ll gain the specialized knowledge you seek to further your career in public administration.

You’ll learn how to:

Categorize and outline strategies utilized to effectively manage human capital in the context of a public sector organization
Appraise and prioritize theories of organizational design, while explaining the correlation of complex systems, and the achievement of SMART goals in a public sector organization
Develop, outline, and prioritize strategies for effective leadership at the executive level in a public sector organization, including addressing complex issues
Assess and summarize the fundamentals of fiscal management in public sector organizations
Integrate and apply theories and best practices required to build a solid ethical foundation for decision making in public sector organizations
Point out and demonstrate how research methodologies and procedures–including statistics–are used as a leadership tool in public sector endeavors
Analyze and simplify the historical, theoretical, and contemporary implications of policy making in the public sector
Outline how strategic planning methods are used in the public sector, then apply to theoretical and practical issues
Compile, present, and apply innovative solutions to issues in the public sector

Mid-Career Track Available

Our online Master’s in Public Administration program features two separate tracks designed for recent college graduates or established professionals. For approved students who have graduated from a qualified police or fire academy, two courses could be waived from the traditional 12-course MPA curriculum. General Track MPA applicants may qualify for the Mid-Career Track if they have 4+ years of applicable field experience.

Five Specializations

Click on the links below to see the specific courses for each MPA specialization. Four specialization courses will complete the MPA curriculum:

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