|
|
|
||
| Note: This Catalog was published in July 2007 and supersedes the 2006-2007 Catalog. | ||
| ||||||
| ||||||
department web page: www.uta.edu/supa
department contact: www.uta.edu/supa/content/category/2/31/61/
graduate web page:
graduate contact:
Public Administration
M.P.A.
Non-Thesis
David W. Tees
501B University Hall, 817.272.3304
Barrett, Cole, Cornehls, Wyman
Arvidson, Hissong, Rodriguez, Tees, Wegner
Vicino
Whelan
Taebel
Clark, Farrar-Myers, Gutierrez, Knerr
Public Administration is concerned with the formulation, analysis and implementation of public policy in urban institutions. With an interdisciplinary focus, this program gives special emphasis to the urban community and the special challenges of public managers who serve in urban areas. The curriculum is designed to develop leadership capacity, understanding of the political, social, and economic characteristics of today's urban environment and the ability to apply current theories of management and analysis to difficult management issues. The program is meant as preparation for those entering management careers in government for the first time or as career development for those already employed who are seeking upward mobility in public management. The Master of Public Administration is a joint program of the School of Urban and Public Affairs and the Department of Political Science.
The MPA degree at the School of Urban and Public Affairs is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), and the curriculum conforms to NASPAA standards.
Those seeking admission to the MPA program can choose between two program options: 1) courses taught on campus primarily during evening hours; and 2) SUPA MPA courses taught online through The University of Texas System TeleCampus. Applicants who choose the on-campus option may plan their courses to include the requirements of certificate program such as Urban Nonprofit Management or Public Budgeting and Financial Management. A description of the various certificate offerings can be found in the Urban and Public Affairs section of the catalog. Applicants who choose the online option may find it more convenient at times and are welcome to take some of the scheduled online courses on campus instead.
A hallmark of the MPA program is its distinguished faculty that combines extensive academic and field experience in public administration with a wide range of related backgrounds. Augmenting the permanent faculty are several adjunct professors with impressive credentials in the public management field, including James Kunde, a member of the National Academy of Public Administration and former city manager of Dayton, Ohio; Richard Greene, regional director of EPA and former mayor of Arlington, Texas; and David Gattis, Deputy City Manager of Ben brook, Texas, and past president of the Texas Chapter, American Planning Association.
The MPA program is guided by two educational objectives. The first is to create the conditions for students to acquire extensive knowledge of public policy, political systems, administrative practices and research methods as preparation for significant professional careers in the public and/or nonprofit sectors. The second is to prepare students to apply current theories of management and analysis, thereby helping them to master their current work responsibilities as administrators and preparing them for exemplary leadership and management in the increasingly complex urban environment of future years.
The total number of semester credit hours will range from a minimum of 39 to a maximum of 42 as follows: (See departmental listings for course descriptions in other sections of the catalog as follows: URPA: Urban and Public Affairs; POLS: Political Science; CRCJ: Criminal Justice; SOCI: Sociology; ECON: Economics; HIST: History; ACCT: Accounting. PAD is the course rubric used by the University of Texas at El Paso; PAD courses listed below are available online through UT TeleCampus.)
Students who choose the MPA Online option will complete the following course work.
Students in public administration may participate in one of five dual degree programs whereby they can earn a Master of Public Administration and 1) Master of Arts in Urban Affair 2) a Master of City and Regional Planning, 3) a Master of Science in Social Work, 4) a Master of Science in Nursing, 5) a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, or 6) a Master's of Sociology. By participating in a dual degree program, students can apply a number of semester hours jointly to meet the requirements of both degrees, thus reducing the total number of hours which would be required to earn both degrees separately. The number of hours which may be jointly applied ranges from nine to 18 hours, subject to the approval of Graduate Advisors from both programs. To participate in the dual degree program, students must make separate application to each program and must submit a separate Program of Work for each degree. Those interested in the dual degree program should consult the appropriate Graduate Advisor(s) for further information on course requirements. See also the statement of Dual Degree Programs in the general information section of this catalog.
The Certified Public Management (CPM) Program is a nationally accredited program of seven courses offered over a 12-month period. Each course meets two days a month for two months. Courses cover such topics as personnel administration, quality management, organizational communication, public finance and budgeting, productivity, and information systems. The program has been endorsed by the American Society for Public Administration and has been approved for continuing education credit by the County Commissioners Education Committee, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education, and the Texas State Board of Accountancy. Students completing the program may apply to have up to 6 hours of transfer credit applied to the Master of Public Administration.
The Urban Nonprofit Management Certificate provides in-depth management training to nonprofit managers, staff, board members and volunteers to strengthen their management skills, administrative systems, and service delivery programs.
Students from any department or discipline may elect to complete the certificate program. Upon completion, students will be prepared to assume key roles in any nonprofit institution.
The certificate requires completion of URPA 5354 (Management of Nonprofit Organizations) and URPA 5355 (Nonprofit Institutions) as well as three additional courses to be selected by the student with approval of the Urban Nonprofit Management certificate program advisor. Examples of courses that would be approved include: URPA 5304 The Metroplex; URPA 5329 Financial Management in the Public and Nonprofit Sector; URPA 5351 Personnel and Human Resources in the Public Sector; URPA 5392 Entrepreneurial Management; CIRP 5319 Agencies of Planning and Administration or CIRP 5312 Strategic Planning and Management; CIRP 5324 Community Development or CIRP 5306 Urban Development; SOCW 5307 Introduction to Human Services Administration; SOCW 5303 Foundations of Social Policy and Services; MARK 5311 Marketing; MARK 5345 Creative Problem Solving.
Students who are already enrolled in a graduate degree program at U.T. Arlington need only declare their intent to enroll by submitting the appropriate application form to the Urban Nonprofit Management Graduate Advisor. No prerequisite requirements are essential for these students.
Students who desire only to enroll in the Urban Nonprofit Management Certificate program but NOT in a graduate degree program may apply for admission to U.T. Arlington as a special student or "non-degree seeking" student. An undergraduate degree and grade point average of 3.0 shall be required. A GRE (graduate record examination) score and letters of recommendation are not necessary for admission to the Urban Nonprofit Management Certificate program. Any student that later seeks a graduate degree in a U.T. Arlington college or school may apply nine hours of coursework toward that degreewithin six years of completion and award of the Urban Nonprofit Management Certificate and by petition to the Graduate School through her or his prospective academic department. The acceptance or waiver of the remaining six hours taken as part of the requirements for the award of the Urban Nonprofit Management Certificate is at the discretion of each department.
Graduate students in any degree program at U.T. Arlington may register for Urban Nonprofit Management courses using standard registration procedures. It should be noted that class slots in the two core courses would be reserved for all of those Urban Nonprofit Management Certificate program participants who are accepted. Urban Nonprofit Management program students who are enrolled in other academic schools or colleges must obtain written course approval from their respective graduate advisors.
Professionals who desire to enroll in any or both of the core courses for continuing education hours may do so as special students. If at a later date these students decide to apply for the Urban Nonprofit Management Certificate program, the hours already taken as continuing education will be applied (within six years of completion of the courses) to the certificate program requirements.
Sound fiscal management at all levels of government is essential for meeting the demands of an increasingly expensive and complex service-delivery need. The purpose of this graduate certificate is provide students interested in public sector affairs and local government officials (budgeters, planners, finance analysts, and elected officials) with the skills to enable them to effectively support local government financial decision-making. Participants should expect to attain a comprehensive understanding of public budgeting and financial management practices and theories including knowledge of the various government revenue sources, major expenditures, and borrowing mechanisms used to finance long-life capital assets.
Students wishing to enroll only in the Graduate Certificate in Public Budgeting and Financial Management (certificate) but NOT to a graduate degree program may apply for admission to UT Arlington as a non-degree seeking student. A bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.8 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework is required for admission through the Graduate School. Students with GPAs lower than 2.8 may be recommended for admission by Alejandro Rodriguez, Ph.D., the Certificate Advisor, based on the following admission enhancing factors: (1) the applicant’s work experience and level of responsibility; (2) undergraduate degree in economics, financial management, accounting, or other closely related field; and (3) two letters of recommendation.
Students already enrolled in a master’s degree program at UT Arlington may enroll by submitting the appropriate application form to the program manager and his or her academic graduate advisor. Students who have completed a master’s degree may apply for admission to UT Arlington as a non-degree seeking student. In either case, a minimum GPA of 3.0 in master’s degree work is required.
Participants must satisfactorily complete three required core courses and two elective courses from an approved list of elective courses, or by permission of the program advisor. Students shall be awarded the Graduate Certificate for Public Budgeting and Financial Management by the School of Urban and Public Affairs and the Graduate School upon satisfactory completion of the certificate requirements and a grade point average of 3.0.
URPA 5326. Public Budgeting*
URPA 5332. Public Capital Budgeting and Planning*
URPA 5329. Financial Management in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors
SUPA 5302. Fundamentals of Urban Research and Analysis*
URPA 5345. Evaluation Research*
URPA 5310. Urban Policy and the Law*
URPA 5312. Economic Policy*
URPA 5324. Urban Public Finance
URPA 5306. The Urban Economy
URPA 5392. Governmental and Non-for-Profit Accounting
CIRP 5322. Economic Development Planning and Policy
CIRP 5306. Urban Revitalization
* Courses also offered online
Students who later seek graduate degrees at UT Arlington may apply 12 hours of certificate coursework within six years of completion and award of the certificate, with approval of the appropriate Graduate Studies Committee and the Dean of the Graduate School. Non-degree seeking students in the certificate program desiring to seek a degree must meet all admission requirements of the degree program.