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Note: This Catalog was published in July 2009 and supersedes the 2008-2009 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
Alejandro Rodriguez
551 University Hall, aro@uta.edu (preferred) or 817.272.3304
Barrett, Cole, Cornehls, Wyman
Arvidson, Hissong, Rodriguez, Tees, Wegner
Casey, Wang, Paulson, Bezboruah
Whelan
Taebel
Clark, Farrar-Myers, Gutierrez, Knerr
Public Administration is concerned with the formulation, analysis, negotiation, and implementation of democratically responsible collective action. 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.
Mission
The mission of the Master's of Public Administration program is to stregthen public decision making and the delivery of public services in a globalized and diverse society by educating students to lead and manage organizations at all levels of government and nonprofit institutions ethically, democratically, and effectively.
Goals
The MPA program is guided by three educational goals. The first is to create the conditions for students to acquire extensive knowledge of public policy, administrative practices, research methods, and analytical tools as preparation for significant professional careers in the public and/or nonprofit sectors. The second is to educate students to apply current theories of public administration and decision making, 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. Third is to educate students in the effective use of information technology resources and Internet collaboration tools so that they apply those skills to stregthen public service and public decision-making capabilities.
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 Charles Boswell, former City Manager of Fort Worth, Texas; Bob Hart, City Manager of Kennedale, Texas; Richard Greene, Regional Director of EPA and former Mayor of Arlington, Texas; and David Gattis, Deputy City Manager of Benbrook, 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.
Admission Changes effective August 2010
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; CIRP: City and Regional Planning. PAD POLS are the course rubrics used by the University of Texas at El Paso; PAD and POLS courses listed below are available online through UT TeleCampus.)
I. Core Courses (30 hours)
- SUPA 5302 Foundations of Urban Research and Analysis
- URPA 5309 Intergovernmental Relations
- URPA 5320 Public Organization Theory
- URPA 5326 Public Budgeting
- URPA 5329 Financial Management in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors
- URPA 5345 Evaluation Research
- URPA 5350 Public Administration
- URPA 5351 Public Human Resources
- URPA 5358 Ethics in the Public Service
- URPA 5399 Public Administration Capstone
II. Emphasis Areas (9 hours)
Students select an emphasis area and take a total of three courses: two required courses plus one elective from the respective list or any other course with the approval of the MPA advisor.
Emphasis Area 1: International Administration and Development
Objectives-upon completion of this emphasis track, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate comprehension of the multidisciplinary concepts and theories of comparative administration, urbanism and politics with emphasis on globalization, urban and regional development, public bureaucracy, traditional and economic elites, modernization, and analyze the role, policies and organization of regional and multinational organizations.
- Prepare and present a major comparative, scholarly study on a prominent policy or topical issue.
Required courses:
- CIRP 5307. Urbanization in the Developing World
- URPA 5327. Comparative Administration and Development
Elective courses (select one):
- PAD 5361. Political Economy of Borders
- POLS 5331. Seminar in International Organizations and Law
- URPA 5341. Professional Report Writing
- URPA 5342 (CIRP 5317). Strategies for Urban Research
- URPA 5391. Comparative Public Policy-Study Abroad
- URPA 5392. Urbanization and Development-Study Abroad
- URPA 6349. Decision Making and Public Policy Analysis
Emphasis Area 2: Public Budgeting and Financial Management
Objectives-upon completion of this emphasis track, students should be able to:
1.Review, recommend, and interpret operating and capital budget requests taking political, economic, and decision-making processes into account; and
2.Assist the budget officer and other higher-level public officials in performing comprehensive financial analyses and developing financial and budgetary recommendations.
Required courses:
- URPA 5332. Public Capital Budgeting and Planning
- URPA 5348. Cost-Benefit Analysis
Elective courses (select one):
- URPA 5312. Economic Policy
- URPA 5321. Urban Management
- URPA 5324. Urban Public Finance
- URPA 5341. Professional Report Writing
- URPA 5342 (CIRP 5317). Strategies for Urban Research
- URPA 5357 (CIRP 5312). Strategic Planning and Performance Management
- URPA 5333. Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting
- URPA 6349. Decision Making and Public Policy Analysis (NEW)
Emphasis Area 3: Urban Management
Objectives-upon completion of this emphasis track, students should be able to:
1.Demonstrate proficiency in the use of applied analytic tools such as program evaluation, policy analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and other management decision-making tools to aid the public manager make more informed decisions;
2.Assist public managers and other higher-level public officials to understand, analyze, and recommend appropriate solutions to complex public policy issues.
Required courses:
- URPA 5321. Urban Management
- URPA 5357 (CIRP 5312) Strategic Planning and Performance Management
Elective courses (select one):
- URPA 5304. Urban Politics
- URPA 5312. Economic Policy
- URPA 5323. Public Organizational Change
- URPA 5324. Urban Public Finance
- URPA 5341. Professional Report Writing
- URPA 5342 (CIRP 5317). Strategies for Urban Research
- URPA 5348. Cost-Benefit Analysis
- URPA 6349. Decision Making and Public Policy Analysis
Emphasis Area 4: Urban Nonprofit Agency Management
Objectives-upon completion of this emphasis track, students should be able to:
1.Understand the different management areas and techniques within the nonprofit organization, including institutional management, leadership, fund-raising, financial administration, human resources coordination, and planning and performance measurements.
2.Understand the role of nonprofits as community institutions with an outward focus, including the political, economic, and inter-organizational environment, as well as marketing, legal, and government policy issues.
Required courses:
- URPA 5354. Management of Nonprofit Organizations
- URPA 5355. Nonprofit Institutions
Elective courses (select one):
- URPA 5313. Community Development
- URPA 5318. Social Welfare Policy
- URPA 5321. Urban Management
- URPA 5330. Community and Neighborhood Organization
- URPA 5341. Professional Report Writing
- URPA 5342 (CIRP 5317). Strategies for Urban Research
- URPA (CIRP 5312). Strategic Planning and Performance Management
- URPA 5348. Cost-Benefit Analysis
- URPA 6349. Decision Making and Public Policy Analysis
Emphasis Area 5: Strategic Human Resources Management
Objectives-upon completion of this emphasis track, students should be able to:
1.Demonstrate an understanding of public human resource policies, programs, procedures, and legal issues relevant to the field; and
2. Demonstrate knowledge of techniques employed in designing performance appraisals, recruiting and selecting employees, and developing rewards systems.
Required courses:
- URPA 5352. Personnel Management and Conflict Resolution in the Public Sector
- URPA 5367. Strategic Public Human Resources Management
Elective courses: (select one)
- URPA 5321. Urban Management
- URPA 5323. Public Organizational Change
- URPA 5341. Professional Report Writing
- URPA 5342 (CIRP 5317). Strategies for Urban Research
- URPA 5357 (CIRP 5312). Strategic Planning and Performance Management
- URPA 5368. Public Human Resource Law
- URPA 6349. Decision Making and Public Policy Analysis
Emphasis Area 6: Economic Development and Planning
Objectives-upon completion of this emphasis track, students should be able to:
3.Demonstrate a general comprehension of the politics, organization, policy issues and legal and financial dimensions of local economic development; and
4. Demonstrate knowledge of techniques employed in location and impact analysis, strategic planning, revenue generation, marketing, cluster development, site planning, and business recruitment, development and retention.
Required courses:
- URPA 5334. Managing Economic Development
- URPA 5357 (CIRP 5312). Strategic Planning and Performance Management
Elective courses (select one):
- URPA 5306. The Urban Economy
- URPA 5312. Economic Policy
- URPA 5321. Urban Management
- CIRP 5322. Economic Development Planning and Policy
- URPA 5341. Professional Report Writing
- URPA 5342 (CIRP 5317). Strategies for Urban Research
- URPA 5348. Cost-Benefit Analysis
- URPA 6349. Decision Making and Public Policy Analysis
III. Internship (3 hours)
URPA 5360. Urban Management/Planning Internship for students with less than one year of appropriate work experience.
Online MPA Curriculum
Students who choose the online MPA option will complete the following course work.
I. Core Course (30 hours)
- SUPA 5302. Foundations of Urban Research and Analysis
- URPA 5309. Intergovernmental Relations
- URPA 5320. Public Organization Theory
- URPA 5322. Politics, Policy, and Public Administration
- URPA 5326. Public Budgeting
- URPA 5332. Public Capital Budgeting
- URPA 5345. Evaluation Research
- URPA 5351. Public Human Resources
- URPA 5358. Ethics in the Public Service
- URPA 5399. Public Administration Capstone
II. Emphasis Area (9 hours)
Students will design an emphasis to meet their personal and professional needs by choosing three courses from the list below.
- PAD 5355. Comparative Public Administration
- PAD 5361. Political Economy of Borders
- POLS 5331. Seminar in International Organizations and Law
- POLS 5344. Seminar in Border Theory
- SUPA 5300. Foundations of Urban Planning and Sociology
- SUPA 5301. Foundations of Urban Politics and Economics
- URPA 5304. Urban Politics
- URPA 5310. Urban Policy and the Law
- URPA 5312. Economic Policy
III. Internship (3 hours)
URPA 5360. Urban Management/Planning Internship for students with less than one year of appropriate work experience.
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 5303 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 Dr. Edith Barrett, the Urban Nonprofit Management Certificate 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 UT 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 UT 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 UT 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 5333. Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting
* 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.
© 2009 The University of Texas at Arlington