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Dec 13, 2024
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2015-2016 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Public Administration, MPA (Municipal Managers track)
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The Municipal Managers track of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program focuses on the following broad goals: to provide crucial analytical, managerial, and political skills and knowledge necessary for effective local and municipal government management; to provide an opportunity to apply theories and skills learned in the classroom through a capstone research project designed to advance the understanding of local public administration; to provide individualized mentoring from our award-winning faculty, as well as from practitioners and alumni positioned throughout Massachusetts government.
Students are sought who are currently employed and who have had several years’ experience in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, although students who have just completed an undergraduate degree are also considered.
As most students are employed full-time, the program operates on an evening and weekend schedule. In addition to the faculty members in the Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs, the program draws on faculty from other academic departments throughout the university and career professionals who are strongly committed to sharing their knowledge and skills with those entering the field.
Courses in the Municipal Managers track are grouped into the following areas:
- Public Management: Theories and Principles
- Information Management and Technology for Municipal Managers
- Human Resources Management
- Public Budgeting and Financial Management
- Analytical Skills for Policy Analysis
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Degree Requirements
Students in the Municipal Managers track will complete thirty-six total credits broken down as follows: twelve credit hours of core courses from the traditional MPA, a twelve credit hour Municipal Managers track, six one-credit weekend intensive workshops (six credit hours) and a final six credit hour capstone.
The Municipal Managers track is composed of two required courses and two elective courses. The two required courses in the municipal manager track are Human Resources Management for Municipal Managers and Information Management and Technology for Municipal Managers. In addition to the two required courses, students will select two three-credit hour electives from an approved list of courses. One of the two electives students choose must be designated as MPA G in the course catalog.
Three existing courses are also available as electives for the Municipal Managers track. They include PUBADM 612 Organizational Behavior and Geographic Information Systems for Public Policy (PUBADM 746) courses in the existing MPA degree plus UPCD 631 Land Use Controls, a course in the Urban Planning & Community Development Masters program. Three courses from Conflict Resolution are also included as potential electives for the Municipal Managers track: CONRES 621 Negotiation (M), CONRES 623 Introductory Theory, and CONRES 625 Conflict Resolution Systems for Organizations. Students may select other courses with the permission of their advisor and the Academic Affairs Committee.
Admission Requirements
Please see the general statement of admission requirements for all graduate studies programs in the “Admissions” section of this publication and the sections on “Graduate Admissions Application Instructions” and “Special Instructions for Applicants to Individual Programs” in the graduate application.
Each student must submit:
- a completed application form
- two letters of recommendation
- a résumé
- a current Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score
- essays
- all undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
The application deadline is April 15th for fall admission only.
Students applying to the MPA program can express a specific interest in the Municipal Managers track at the time of application or can declare their track during their first semester.
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