What Sets UM-Flint's Public Administration (MPA) Program Apart?
Focus:
• UM-Flint’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree, offered through the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, is designed to prepare administrators to analyze problems and solve them effectively.
• The MPA program is interdisciplinary, aimed to meet the educational needs of students who have earned specialized, technical, or liberal arts degrees and who are seeking to expand or update their knowledge of administration.
• In addition to the General Program, four concentrations are available:
- Administration of Nonprofit Agencies
- Criminal Justice Administration
- Educational Administration – WebPlus Program
- Healthcare Administration
Flexibility:
• The part-time program requires 39-42 credits, and is ideally suited to the schedule of working professionals.
• Classes are offered primarily on-campus in the evenings with some mixed-mode courses.
• UM-Flint faculty make themselves available to students outside the normal class schedule, with flexible office hours and online availability.
Resources:
• UM-Flint’s interdisciplinary MPA program is comprised of faculty and courses from political science, economics, health care, education, criminal justice, sociology, and psychology, offering a rich and varied knowledge base.
• Through shared courses, students interact with and learn from classmates across all of the program’s concentrations.
• UM-Flint is part of the world-renowned University of Michigan system. Students are able to tap into resources from our sister campuses in Dearborn and Ann Arbor.
Results:
• The MPA program at UM-Flint will provide you with conceptual knowledge, helping you to develop the analytical skills necessary to implement policy.
• Whether currently employed in a public organization or interested in starting a graduate degree before obtaining concurrent work experience, you will receive the balanced, advanced education necessary to become a capable, decisive leader.
Admission Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Knowledge Base
Applicants should have completed:
• A course in government or public sector administration or relevant experience
• A course in microeconomic principles
• A course in statistics
It is preferred that applicants lacking any of the knowledge base courses fulfill the requirement(s) with MPA classes as part of their degree.
Application Process
To be considered for admission, submit the following to the Office of Graduate Programs, 251 Thompson Library:
• Application for Graduate Admission
• $55 application fee (non-refundable)
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• Statement of Purpose describing your reasons for pursuing the degree
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals knowledgeable of your potential for advanced academic study
• International students must submit additional documentation. Visit www.umflint.edu/graduateprograms/admissions/international-students.page for details.
Application Deadlines
The program has rolling admissions and reviews completed applications each month.
Application deadlines are as follows:
- Fall (early deadline*) – May 1
- Fall (final deadline) – August 1
- Winter – November 15
- Spring – March 15
- Summer – May 15
* You must apply by the early deadline to be eligible for scholarships, grants, and research assistantships.
International students are required to apply earlier than the deadlines posted here. The final deadlines for international students are May 1 for the fall semester, September 1 for the winter semester, and January 1 for the spring term.
Catalog Description:
-
Public Administration (Master of Public Administration)
Read MoreThe MPA program consists of 39-42 credit hours. In addition to the general MPA, students may specialize in one of four concentrations:
- Administration of Nonprofit Agencies
- Criminal Justice Administration
- Educational Administration
- Health Care Administration
MPA General Program
Knowledge Base.
- A course in government or public sector administration or relevant experience.
- PUB 571 / ECN 571 or a course in microeconomic principles taken within the last five years.
- PUB 580 / ECN 580 or a course in statistics taken within the last five years.
Requirements. Thirty-nine credits (forty-two credits for students requiring an internship), as follows:
- Core Courses (12 credits).
PUB 500 - Politics, Policy, and Public Administration.
PUB 501 - Administrative Organization and Behavior.
PUB 502 - Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations.
PUB 504 - Ethical Issues in Public Administration.
- Administrative Functions and Processes (12 credits).
1. PUB 519 / POL 520 - Law and Administrative Processes.
PUB 596 - Intergovernmental Relations.
2. Two from:
PUB 503 - Personnel Issues in Public Service.
PUB 518 / HCR 518 - Budgeting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations.
PUB 520 - Resource Development and Administration.
PUB 521 - Entitlement Programs Public Policy.
PUB 522 / POL 522 - Environmental Law and Public Policy.
PUB 524 / HCR 524 - Employment, Law and Public Policy.
PUB 525 - Legal and Regulatory Issues in Nonprofit Administration.
PUB 526 - Staffing Public Sector Organizations.
PUB 540 - Volunteerism and the Independent Sector.
PUB 547 - Grants Administration and Implementation.
PUB 548 - Urban Renewal.
PUB 549 - Green Community Development.
PUB 572 / SOC 566 - Work, Occupations and Professions.
PUB 578 - State and Local Public Finance.
- Analytical Methods (9 credits).
1. PUB 571 / ECN 571 - Public Economics.
2. Two from:
PUB 506 - Research Methods.
PUB 508 / HCR 508 - Evaluation of Services and Programs.
PUB 523 - Accounting in Government and Non-Profit Organizations.
PUB 527 / HCR 527 / PSY 527 - Personnel Selection and Evaluation.
PUB 575 / ECN 575 - Cost-Benefit Analysis.
PUB 580 / ECN 580 - Quantitative Methods for Public Administration.
PUB 594 - Grantwriting and Administration in Public and Nonprofit Agency Settings.
- Applied Research (6 credits).
1. PUB 593 / HCR 593 - Practicum in Research Design.
2. One from:
PUB 502 - Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations.*
PUB 504 - Ethical Issues in Public Administration.*
PUB 594 - Grantwriting and Administration in Public and Nonprofit Agency Settings.*
PUB 595 / HCR 595 - Practicum in Applied Research.
PUB 596 / POL 596 - Intergovernmental Relations.*
- Internship (0-3 credits).
PUB 590. The internship is not required of those students who are practicing administrators or who have had two years or more experience in an administrative capacity.
*Each of these courses requires a substantial research project similar in scope to PUB 595 and cannot be double counted to meet requirements in any other section of the MPA program.
Transfer of Credit
Up to six (6) credit hours of graduate credit completed at an accredited institution may be accepted for transfer. Transfers of credit are subject to the approval of the program director. Transfers are made in accordance with the policies of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies.
Catalog Description:
-
Administration of Nonprofit Agencies Concentration (Master of Public Administration)
Read MoreThe concentration in Administration of Nonprofit Agencies is designed to serve principally those who seek advancement in careers in the not-for-profit sector. The concentration also will serve, and is appropriate for, those with bachelor’s degrees but no current or previous relevant employment. The Nonprofit Administration option might be of particular interest to those with undergraduate degrees in social work, sociology, economics, health care, political science, business, psychology, or communications.
Knowledge Base. Same as for the General Program.
In the Master of Public Administration Program, Administration of Nonprofit Agencies Concentration, Requirements. Thirty-nine credits (forty-two credits for students requiring an internship), as follows:
- Core courses (12 credits).
PUB 500 - Politics, Policy, and Public Administration.
PUB 501 - Administrative Organization and Behavior.
PUB 502 - Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations.
PUB 504 - Ethical Issues in Public Administration.
- Administrative Functions and Processes (12 credits).
1. PUB 520 - Resource Development and Administration.
PUB 525 - Legal and Regulatory Issues in Nonprofit Administration.
PUB 540 - Volunteerism and the Independent Sector.
2. One from:
PUB 503 - Personnel Issues in Public Service.
PUB 518 / HCR 518 - Budgeting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations.
PUB 519 / POL 520 - Law and Administrative Processes.
PUB 521 - Entitlement Programs Public Policy.
PUB 522 / POL 522 - Environmental Law and Public Policy.
PUB 524 / HCR 524 - Employment, Law and Public Policy.
PUB 526 - Staffing Public Sector Organizations.
PUB 547 - Grants Administration and Implementation.
PUB 548 - Urban Renewal.
PUB 549 - Green Community Development.
PUB 572 / SOC 566 - Work, Occupations and Professions.
PUB 578 - State and Local Public Finance.
PUB 596 / POL 596 - Intergovernmental Relations.
- Analytical Methods (9 credits).
1. PUB 594 - Grantwriting and Administration in Public and Nonprofit Agency Settings.
2. Two from:
PUB 506 / HCR 506 - Research Methods.
PUB 508 / HCR 508 - Evaluation of Services and Programs.
PUB 523 - Accounting in Government and Non-Profit Organizations.
PUB 527 / HCR 527 / PSY 527 - Personnel Selection and Evaluation.
PUB 571 / ECN 571 - Public Economics.
PUB 575 / ECN 575 - Cost-Benefit Analysis.
PUB 580 / ECN 580 - Quantitative Methods for Public Administration.
- Applied Research (6 credits).
1. PUB 593 / HCR 593 - Practicum in Research Design.
2. One from:
PUB 502 - Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations.*
PUB 504 - Ethical Issues in Public Administration.*
PUB 594 - Grantwriting and Administration in Public and Nonprofit Agency Settings.*
PUB 595 / HCR 595 - Practicum in Applied Research.
PUB 596 / POL 596 - Intergovernmental Relations.*
- Internship (0-3 credits).
PUB 590. The internship is not required of those students who are practicing administrators or who have had two or more years of experience in an administrative capacity.
*Each of these courses requires a substantial research project similar in scope to PUB 595 and cannot be double counted to meet requirements in any other section of the MPA program.
- Core courses (12 credits).
Catalog Description:
-
Criminal Justice Administration Concentration (Master of Public Administration)
Read MoreThe primary objective of the concentration in Criminal Justice Administration is to provide advanced education in administration and policy analysis to persons already employed in agencies in the criminal justice system. The educational needs of those with specialized, technical, or liberal arts degrees, and others with limited or outdated training in administration are addressed. Designed to serve those seeking to update knowledge to deal with the more complex and numerous tasks facing professionals in the criminal justice system, the concentration includes study of contemporary developments in criminal justice administration, most notably the interdependence between preprosecutorial and post-prosecutorial agencies and functions and the close relationship between administration and policy.
Knowledge Base. Same as for the General Program.
In the Master of Public Administraiton Program, Criminal Justice Concentration, Requirements. Thirty-nine credits (forty-two credits for students requiring an internship), as follows:
- Core Courses (12 credits).
PUB 500 - Politics, Policy, and Public Administration.
PUB 501 - Administrative Organization and Behavior.
PUB 502 - Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations.
PUB 504 - Ethical Issues in Public Administration.
- Administrative Functions and Processes (12 credits).
1. PUB 530 / POL 530 - The Administration of Justice.
PUB 533 - Incarceration, Community Corrections, and Public Policy.
PUB 534 - Administration of Trial Courts.
2. One from:
PUB 503 - Personnel Issues in Public Service.
PUB 518 / HCR 518 - Budgeting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations.
PUB 519 / POL 520 - Law and Administrative Processes. (recommended)
PUB 520 - Resource Development and Administration.
PUB 521 - Entitlement Programs Public Policy.
PUB 522 / POL 522 - Environmental Law and Public Policy.
PUB 524 / HCR 524 - Employment, Law and Public Policy.
PUB 525 - Legal and Regulatory Issues in Nonprofit Administration.
PUB 526 - Staffing Public Sector Organizations.
PUB 540 - Volunteerism and the Independent Sector.
PUB 547 - Grants Administration and Implementation.
PUB 548 - Urban Renewal.
PUB 549 - Green Community Development.
PUB 572 / SOC 566 - Work, Occupations and Professions.
PUB 578 - State and Local Public Finance.
PUB 596 / POL 596 - Intergovernmental Relations.
- Analytical Methods (9 credits).
Three from:
PUB 506 - Research Methods.
PUB 508 / HCR 508 - Evaluation of Services and Programs.
PUB 523 - Accounting in Government and Non-Profit Organizations.
PUB 527 / HCR 527 / PSY 527 - Personnel Selection and Evaluation.
PUB 571 / ECN 571 - Public Economics.
ECN 575 / PUB 575 - Cost-Benefit Analysis.
PUB 580 / ECN 580 - Quantitative Methods for Public Administration.
PUB 594 - Grantwriting and Administration in Public and Nonprofit Agency Settings.
- Applied Research (6 credits).
1. PUB 593 - Practicum in Research Design.
2. One From:
PUB 502 - Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations.*
PUB 504 - Ethical Issues in Public Administration.*
PUB 594 - Grantwriting and Administration in Public and Nonprofit Agency Settings.
PUB 595 / HCR 595 - Practicum in Applied Research.
PUB 596 / POL 596 - Intergovernmental Relations.*
- Internship (0-3 credits).
PUB 590. The internship is not required of those students who are practicing administrators or who have had two years or more experience in an administrative capacity.
*Each of these courses requires a substantial research project similar in scope to PUB 595 and cannot be double counted to meet requirements in any other section of the MPA program.
- Core Courses (12 credits).
Catalog Description:
-
Health Care Administration Concentration (Master of Public Administration)
Read MoreThe program concentration in Health Care Administration offered in collaboration with the Department of Health Sciences and Administration provides advanced education in administration and policy analysis primarily to persons employed within the health care field. It addresses the educational needs of those with specialized, technical, or liberal arts degrees, as well as others with limited or outdated education or training in administration. Focusing on contemporary developments in health care administration, the program concentration prepares students to deal with the complex tasks and challenges of today’s health care system.
Knowledge Base. Same as for the General Program.
In the Master of Public Administration Program, Health Care Administration Concentration, Requirements. Thirty-nine credits (forty-two credits for students requiring an internship), as follows:
- Core courses (12 credits).
PUB 500 - Politics, Policy, and Public Administration.
PUB 501 - Administrative Organization and Behavior.
PUB 502 - Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations.
PUB 504 - Ethical Issues in Public Administration.
- Administrative Functions and Processes (12 credits).
HCR 500 - Epidemiology. (not required of students who have taken an epidemiology course or have equivalent experience)
HCR 505 / PUB 505 / ANE 605 - Health Policy.
PUB 577 - Financial Management in Health Care.
PUB 587 - Legal Issues In Health Care.
Possibly one from:
PUB 503 - Personnel Issues in Public Service.
PUB 518 - Budgeting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations.
PUB 519 / POL 520 - Law and Administrative Processes.
PUB 520 - Resource Development and Administration.
PUB 521 - Entitlement Programs Public Policy.
PUB 522 / POL 522 - Environmental Law and Public Policy.
PUB 525 - Legal and Regulatory Issues in Nonprofit Administration.
PUB 526 - Staffing Public Sector Organizations.
PUB 540 - Volunteerism and the Independent Sector.
PUB 547 - Grants Administration and Implementation.
PUB 548 - Urban Renewal.
PUB 549 - Green Community Development.
PUB 572 / SOC 566 - Work, Occupations and Professions.
PUB 578 - State and Local Public Finance.
PUB 596 / POL 596 - Intergovernmental Relations.
- Analytical Methods (9 credits).
Three from:
PUB 506 / HCR 506 - Research Methods.
PUB 508 / HCR 508 - Evaluation of Services and Programs.
PUB 523 - Accounting in Government and Non-Profit Organizations.
PUB 527 / HCR 527 / PSY 527 - Personnel Selection and Evaluation.
PUB 571 / ECN 571 - Public Economics.
PUB 575 / ECN 575 - Cost-Benefit Analysis.
PUB 580 / ECN 580 - Quantitative Methods for Public Administration.
PUB 594 - Grantwriting and Administration in Public and Nonprofit Agency Settings.
- Applied Research (6 credits).
1. HCR 593 / PUB 593 - Practicum in Research Design.
2. One from:
PUB 502 - Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations.*
PUB 504 - Ethical Issues in Public Administration.*
PUB 594 - Grantwriting and Administration in Public and Nonprofit Agency Settings.*
PUB 595 / HCR 595 - Practicum in Applied Research.
PUB 596 / POL 596 - Intergovernmental Relations.*
- Internship (0-3 credits).
PUB 590. The internship is not required of those students who are practicing administrators or who have had two years or more experience in an administrative capacity.
*Each of these courses requires a substantial research project similar in scope to PUB 595 and cannot be double counted to meet requirements in any other section of the MPA program.
- Core courses (12 credits).
Alaa Alfandi
Graduation Year: 2012
Hometown: Grand Blanc, MI
The courses in the MPA program are offered in the evening which accommodates my work schedule and family commitments. The instructors are very helpful and understanding of personal commitments; I am able to be a full-time student without jeopardizing my individual responsibilities. I selected UM-Flint because of its excellent reputation and the intellectual atmosphere. I also wanted to broaden the scope of my academic sphere and receive distinctive education without moving away. With an MPA degree, I will be able to achieve my goals by obtaining the skills necessary to design and manage a non-profit organization where people’s lives are changed.