To access the SPAA E-Catalog, visit:

http://catalogs.rutgers.edu/generated/spaa_current/index.html

Candidates for the MPA degree complete 42 credits of coursework, including a required curriculum of 30 credits and 12 credits of electives. Each course represents three credits; There are 14 courses in the degree. Those with substantial professional or managerial experience that includes evidence of increasing responsibility (promotion) may earn up to 12 credits of professional experience. Candidates should provide a statement to the MPA Program Director who evaluates and assigns professional credits where warrented.

The Core Curriculum refers to the ten 3-credit core courses (30 credits) that students complete for the MPA degree. Specialization courses (12 credits) are chosen from a variety of options offered by SPAA, in other Schools across the campus and throughout Rutgers University, or in partner Schools such as NJIT and UMDNJ. For two programs there are some core courses for which comparable courses have been developed to fit the requirements of the program. These course comparables are described in the description of the Urban Education Leadership Program, the Nonprofit Management Specialization, and the Executive MPA.

Core Curriculum Cluster One: Foundations of Public Administration

The Foundations Cluster provides understanding of the field of public administration, its breadth, depth, and complex issues.  It also explores the political economy in which public administrators and nonprofit managers operate, the technologies that enable and enhance citizen participation, advocacy, and compliance with law and regulation, and the ethical values and decision processes by which public administrators and nonprofit managers lead effectively.

Core Curriculum Cluster Two: Analysis

The Analysis Cluster enables MPA students to understand and evaluate scholarly evidence that will come before them in their careers as public administrators and nonprofit managers. The courses in the cluster examine quantitative and qualitative data analysis and the construction of scholarly inquiries.They provide students with the opportunity to learn and apply forms of data analysis for various purposes, as well as to apply research design concepts to real world problems.The purpose is to enable students to evaluate the various analytical materials that come to their attention as public and nonprofit sector leaders and managers.

Core Curriculum Cluster Three: Management

The Management Cluster contains courses deemed by the faculty to be fundamental to public and nonprofit sector organization management. The course on Public Organizations addresses the elements of organizations and the differences in different types of organizations, notably differences between businesses and mission-based organizations found in public and nonprofit sectors. The course also examines elements of organization as they affect manager and subordinate behavior and organization performance and results. Human Resources Administration examines the roles of workers in organizations, the methods by which organizations can ensure fairness in the treatment of workers, the rights and remedies available to employees. Salient issues of human resources management and diversity are featured.

Core Curriculum Cluster Four: Public Budgeting

The Public Budgeting Cluster provides students with an understanding of the role of money and its management in public and nonprofit sector organizations. The course addresses what managers need to understand to be effective in management levels of the organization, for example, how to negotiate effectively for resources needed to accomplish goals.

Core Curriculum Cluster Five: Capstone

The Capstone Project provides students with an opportunity to integrate learning from various courses in analysis of real world issues. Making use of the classroom setting and encouraging teamwork, the capstone project consists of a project design, action plan, and implementation.  Students, under guidance of a faculty member, carry out data collection and analysis, evaluate their findings, and provide conclusions and recommendations. The outputs are a project report and PowerPoint presentation before fellow students, faculty members, and invited guests.

A specialization consists of four 3-credit courses (12 credits) in an area of the student’s interest. Specializations provide greater breadth of knowledge or depth of knowledge in a specific area of public administration. Frequently selected specialization areas have been clustered and are shown below. With permission, other specializations may also be developed from courses offered in other Schools on the Newark or New Brunswick campuses, and at partner Universities (NJIT and UMDNJ). Students with appropriate experience may receive professional credits toward their specialization by submitting a resume and statement to the program director for evaluation and decision regarding number of credits.

Courses for All Specializations

The following courses may be used for any specialization. Topics courses introduce new areas of knowledge or cover current issues. Internships may be arranged to provide experience for pre-careerists or career changers. Students may complete three or six credits of internships in their program. Internships are arranged with the program director.

Administration and Management of Public Organizations (Select 4)

Animals, Community, and Law (All 4 Required)
(Students can receive a certificate upon completion of all 4 courses.
See Animals, Communtiy, and Law Certificate for more information.) 

• Animal Law in Disasters, Estates, and Litigation
• Animal Cruelty and the Law
• The Companion Animal and the Law
• Animals Certificate Practicum

Budgeting and Financial Management (Select 4)

Nonprofit Management (Select 4)

Performance Improvement (Select 4)

Public Health Administration (Select 4)

Urban Educational Administration and Leadership (Complete 30* or Select 4**)

(* For those preparing for the Principal’s Certificate of Eligibility, all 30 credits are required by N.J. Department of Education. ** Students specializing in Urban Education select four courses)

The MPA Program tracks student progress on an advising worksheet which provides a plan of study to guide semester by semester registration.

DOWNLOAD: MPA Advising Worksheet (pdf)