will be terminated. A non-degree student wishing to pursue the MPA degree may be admitted to the program at the discretion of the dean and faculty. No more than six non-degree hours may be transferred into the program.
The Master of Public Administration program is designed to serve both in-service students (those with work experience) and pre-service students (those without work experience), and focuses on problem-solving methods. The academic component is supported by a variety of applied research activities. Each of the research activities is designed to provide the student with research skills, as well as a body of knowledge and information needed by practicing public administrators. Master of Public Administration degree requirements may be completed with 42 semester credit hours of graduate-level coursework. A 3 credit hour internship is a requirement for all pre-service Master of Public Administration students.
A professional core of knowledge is expected of each Master of Public Administration candidate. It includes perspectives on public administration, quantitative methods, research methods and policy analysis, public sector economics, organization theory, computer applications, public personnel management, public sector economics, and budgeting in government agencies. Upon completion of these core courses, the student must choose a specialty area for advanced coursework. Students newly admitted to the Master of Public Administration program must take PUA 500 (Perspectives on Public Administration) during their first semester of enrollment.
The Master of Public Administration program offers three specialty areas in response to the various needs for public sector expertise. These specialty areas include: Management Information Systems, Human Resource Management, and International Administration and Development.
Students may select their final 9 semester credit hours from two different graduation options: thesis or coursework. All students must take a comprehensive examination over the core and specialty areas. An oral defense of the thesis is required of those students who elect to undertake that option.
A 3 semester credit hour background course, PUA 600 (Seminar on American Political Institutions and Public Policies), is required of international students and others with limited academic backgrounds in American public administration.
Core Courses (24 semester credit hours):
PUA 500 Perspectives on Public Administration PUA 501 Quantitative Methods PUA 503 Research Methods and Policy Analysis PUA 504 Organization Theory PUA 505 Managerial Computer Applications PUA 506 Human Resource Management in the Public Sector PUA 605 Public Sector Economics PUA 607 Budgeting in Government Agencies
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PUA 503 Research Methods and Policy Analysis PUA 504 Organization Theory PUA 505 Managerial Computer Applications PUA 506 Human Resource Management in the Public Sector PUA 605 Public Sector Economics PUA 607 Budgeting in Government Agencies
PUA 607 Budgeting in Government Agencies
The student must select and complete three specialty area courses at the 600 level in Public Administration (9 semester credit hours) in consultation with the student's advisor.
Internship (required for pre-service students, 3 semester credit hours): PUA 699 Internship in Public Administration
A thesis is a formal paper reflecting systematic research on a significant problem. It should represent a student's independent research, carried out under the supervision of the Public Administration faculty. A thesis may use primary data collected by the student and/or secondary data collected by governmental and non-governmental organizations. It must, however, provide evidence of originality, appropriate organization, clarity of purpose, critical analysis, and accuracy. Mere descriptions, cataloguing, compilation, and bibliographic reviews are not adequate. Approval of the Dean of the School of Public Administration is required prior to registration for the thesis option.
Students who select the coursework option must complete their final 9 semester credit hours from any 600 level courses. Approval of the student's advisor is required prior to registration for the coursework option.
The specialty areas in the Master of Public Administration program offered by Kentucky State University reflect the human-resource needs in the public sector and the student's career objectives. The Master of Public Administration program currently offers three specialty areas, each of which is briefly described below. Within each specialty area, one advanced course is required. The student may, in consultation with his/her advisor, select two other
specialty area courses to meet the student's educational needs.