“The skills and experiences I gained during my time in the program are proving invaluable here at the Ohio Department of Health. Not a day goes by that I don't utilize some aspect of what I gained at BU!”

Jeffrey Wynnyk, Fall 2009 Graduate
Training and Family Support Supervisor
Ohio Department of Health | Bureau of Early Intervention Services

The MPA

The MPA Program is a 42 credit hour program, comprised of:

• a core of seven courses (25 credits) where students are introduced to the knowledge and skills they need for professional public service
• a three-course (9 credits) specialization or set of electives
• two courses (3 credits) to practice application of learning
• a culminating experience consisting of two courses (5 credits) to demonstrate competencies. 

It typically takes full-time students 2 years to complete our MPA Program.

COURSES

Core Courses              

1. Research Design & Methods (4 credits)
2. Foundations of Public Service (4 credits)
3. 21st Century Governance (4 credits)
4. Budgeting & Financial Management (4 credits)
5. Evidence-Based Decision Making (4 credits)
   • Students will complete one of the following courses: Policy Analysis, Program Evaluation, Survey Research, or Performance Analysis                            
6. Managing People in Organization (3 credits)
   • Students will complete one of the following courses: Human Resource Management, Organization Theory, Organization Behavior, or Managing Networks                  
7. Managing Information and Technology (2 credits)

SPECIALIZATION OR ELECTIVES

(3 courses = 9 credits)

Two specializations are available within the Department of Public Administration: 

•          Nonprofit Management & Leadership
•          Local Government Management & Leadership

The Department also has relations with the School of Nursing for students interested in Health Policy Administration, and with the Department of Geography for students interested in Environmental Policy. Dual degree students complete specialization/elective courses in the discipline of their other degree. Additionally, students are offered the opportunity to choose elective courses suited to their specialized academic interests from various other graduate academic departments.  

APPLICATION OF LEARNING                      

1. Internship (2 credits)
2. Problem Definition (1 credit)

CULMINATING EXPERIENCES/DEMONSTRATION OF COMPETENCIES

1. Capstone Project (3 credits)
2. Praxis through Cases (2 credits)