Department of Political Science
418 Varner Hall
(248) 370-2352 • Fax (248) 370-4299
www.oakland.edu/mpa

MPA program director:
Douglas Carr
419 Varner Hall
(248) 370-2972
carr@oakland.edu

Director of internships:
Diane Hartmus

Program coordinator:
Jim Bilinski

(248) 370-4117

jrbilins@oakland.edu

Program Description

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program at Oakland University provides a challenging education for individuals seeking professional careers and for those already employed in governmental or other public agencies. The need for professionals holding MPA degrees is recognized due to the complexity of agencies at the state and local levels and the continued concerns for responsive and effective public service at all levels. The MPA program offers a generalist foundation through a set of core courses that is bolstered with opportunities for specialization through its electives and the directed capstone project/internship option.

Accreditation

The Oakland University MPA program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

Admission Terms and Application Deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Oakland University Graduate School by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

February 15 (early) April 15 (regular) and July 15 (late) for fall semester
October 1 (early) and November 15 (regular) for winter semester
March 1 (regular) for summer semester
International applicants

Application Requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

Graduate application requirements
Additional department application requirements

Recommendation for Graduate Admission form:
One recommendation must be from faculty members or professionals in the field who can evaluate the scholarly achievement and potential of the applicant
MPA essay (Instructions are downloadable from (https://www.oakland.edu/mpa.)
Applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater in their undergraduate degree.

Admission Review and Assessment

Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Oakland University Graduate School, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses, and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

The program welcomes students with a wide variety of undergraduate preparations. Applicants must meet the university’s general requirements for admission to graduate studies. Limited standing admission status may be granted to students who need minor improvements to their records, subject to approval by Oakland University Graduate School. Detailed application information can be found at https://www.oakland.edu/mpa.

Undergraduate Preparation for the MPA

Degrees in a wide variety of majors will prepare the student for admission, providing that the record includes the minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Students lacking in this area may be admitted to OU as a post-bachelor student for graduate prerequisites with the requirement that the deficiency be corrected by completing appropriate coursework. A departmental adviser will plan with the student an appropriate way of addressing the deficiency. Credits earned to meet these standards will not be counted toward the total credits needed for the degree.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Public Administration degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 36 credits in an approved program of study.

Course Requirements

a. Core Requirements (20 credits)

All M.P.A. students must take these seven courses:

course Introduction to Government and Nonprofit Accounting (2 credits)
course Foundations of Public Administration (3 credits)
course Public Budgeting and Finance (3 credits)
course Human Resources Management for the Public Sector (3 credits)
course Quantitative Methods in Public Administration (3 credits)
course Public Sector Information Systems Management (3 credits)
course Program and Policy Evaluation (3 credits)

b. Concentration or Electives (12 credits)

In addition to the 20 credits in the core curriculum, a student may take all 12 elective credits in one of five concentrations: court administration, health care administration, non-profit organization and management, local government management, or criminal justice leadership. Each concentration has one required “core” course which the student must complete. Students who pursue a concentration may need an additional semester to complete elective requirements. Students may also choose not to concentrate in one area, and may take 12 electives from among any the program offers.

1. Court Administration Concentration

Core for Concentration (3 credits)

course Court Administration (3 credits)

Electives (additional 9 credits)

course Intergovernmental Relations (3 credits)
course Administrative Ethics (2 credits)
coursePA 5060 - Strategic Planning (3 credits)
course Risk Management (2 credits)
course Law and Public Policy (3 credits)
course Public Service Accountability and the Law (3 credits)
course Law and Administration: Local Perspectives (2 credits)
course Law and Administration: State Perspectives (2 credits)
course Contemporary Public Management Techniques (3 credits)
course Workshop in Budgeting (2 credits)
course Public Sector Employee Relations (2 or 3 credits)
course Current Issues in Public Sector Human Resources Management (2 or 3 credits)
course Advanced Court Administration (3 credits)

2. Criminal Justice Leadership Concentration

Core for concentration (3 credits)

course Organization and Management of Criminal Justice Agencies (3 credits)

Electives (additional 9 credits)

course Intergovernmental Relations (3 credits)
course Administrative Ethics (2 credits)
course Strategic Planning (3 credits)
course Risk Management (2 credits)
course Law and Public Policy (3 credits)
course Public Service Accountability and the Law (3 credits)
course Contemporary Public Management Techniques (3 credits)
course Workshop in Budgeting (2 credits)
course Public Sector Employee Relations (2 or 3 credits)
course Current Issues in Public Sector Human Resources Management (2 or 3 credits)
course Court Administration (3 credits)
course Law Enforcement Leadership (3 credits)
course Security Leadership (3 credits)
course Corrections Leadership (3 credits)

3. Health Care Administration Concentration

Core for Concentration (3 credits)

course Organization and Administration of Health and Medical Care Programs (3 credits)

Electives (additional 9 credits)

4. Local Government Management Concentration

Core for Concentration (3 credits)

course Local Government Management (3 credits)

Electives (additional 9 credits)

course Government and the Economy (4 credits)
course Intergovernmental Relations (3 credits)
course Administrative Ethics (2 credits)
course Strategic Planning (3 credits)
course Risk Management (2 credits)
course Law and Public Policy (3 credits)
course Public Service Accountability and the Law (3 credits)
course Law and Administration: Local Perspectives (2 credits)
course Law and Administration: State Perspectives (2 credits)
course Contemporary Public Management Techniques (3 credits)
course Workshop in Budgeting (2 credits)
course Public Sector Employee Relations (2 or 3 credits)
course Current Issues in Public Sector Human Resources Management (2 or 3 credits)
course Economic Development Theory and Practice (3 credits)
course Community Planning and Zoning (3 credits)
course Grants: Politics and Administration (2 or 3 credits)

5. Nonprofit Organization and Management Concentration

Core for Concentration (3 credits)

course Nonprofit Organization and Management (3 credits)

Electives (additional 9 credits)

course Intergovernmental Relations (3 credits)
course Administrative Ethics (2 credits)
course Strategic Planning (3 credits)
course Risk Management (2 credits)
course Public Service Accountability and the Law (3 credits)
course Contemporary Public Management Techniques (3 credits)
course Workshop in Budgeting (2 credits)
course Current Issues in Public Sector Human Resources Management (2 or 3 credits)
course Economic Development Theory and Practice (3 credits)
course Fundraising and Philanthropy (3 credits)
course Grants: Politics and Administration (2 or 3 credits)

6. Electives Option

MPA students do not need to choose a concentration. Any 12 credits from the list below will serve toward degree completion.

course Government and the Economy (4 credits)
course Intergovernmental Relations (3 credits)
course Administrative Ethics (2 credits)
course Strategic Planning (3 credits)
course Risk Management (2 credits)
course Law and Public Policy (3 credits)
course Public Service Accountability and the Law (3 credits)
course Law and Administration: Local Perspectives (2 credits)
course Law and Administration: State Perspectives (2 credits)
course Public Administration: Issues and Problems (4 credits)
course Contemporary Public Management Techniques (3 credits)
course Public Administration Workshop (2 or 3 credits)
course Workshop in Budgeting (2 credits)
course Public Sector Employee Relations (2 or 3 credits)
course Current Issues in Public Sector Human Resources Management (2 or 3 credits)
course Local Government Management (3 credits)
course Nonprofit Organization and Management (3 credits)
course Organization and Administration of Health and Medical Care Programs (3 credits)
course Organization and Management of Criminal Justice Agencies (3 credits)
course Court Administration (3 credits)
course Economic Development Theory and Practice (3 credits)
course Community Planning and Zoning (3 credits)
course Fundraising and Philanthropy (3 credits)
course Grants: Politics and Administration (2 or 3 credits)
course Public Policy and Health Care (3 credits)
course Health Planning: Policies and Processes (3 credits)
course Law Enforcement Leadership (3 credits)
course Security Leadership (3 credits)
course Corrections Leadership (3 credits)
course Advanced Court Administration (3 credits)
course Special Topics in Public Administration (2 or 3 credits)
course Directed Readings (2 or 3 credits)

c. Exit (4 credits)

Students must complete either an internship or a master’s project. A student who has not had significant public service experience may choose to do an internship; others will be expected to complete a project.

course Internship (4 credits)
or
course Master’s Project (4 credits)

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good Academic Standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good Academic Standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Department requirements: Although credit for completion of a course in the MPA. program will be given for grades of C or above, the minimum satisfactory grade for graduate work is B. A student’s academic progress is monitored by the MPA program director. If a student receives a grade for any MPA course below C, an academic warning letter is sent to the student. With a second grade below a B, the student receives written notification that he or she is on academic probation. A student placed on probation may be required to meet new standards to remain in the MPA program. With a third grade below a B, the student is notified in writing that he or she is subject to dismissal pending a review of the student’s entire record by the MPA director and the assistant dean of the Oakland University Graduate School. Regardless of their standing, all MPA students are encouraged to consult with their individual instructors and the MPA program coordinator concerning their academic progress.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related Program Information

Plan of Study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with the program coordinator, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Oakland University Graduate School.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework. (See the Graduate Student Responsibility section of this catalog.)

Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.

Public Administration

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Requirements

Major Dependent Concentration(s)

Major Dependent Concentration Declaration

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