Mar 28, 2024  
ARCHIVED 2008-2009 Graduate Catalog 
    
ARCHIVED 2008-2009 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Public Affairs Degree Program (M.P.A.)


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The Master of Public Affairs degree program is designed for students who possess professional experience and seek additional education to prepare for career advancement (in-service students) and also for students planning careers in the public service area (preservice students). The program requires each student to complete the Public Affairs core requirements (18 hours), select and complete the requirements for a concentration (9 or 12 hours), and up to 9 hours of guided electives for in-service students or 6 hours of guided electives and 3 hours of internship (PA 685) for preservice students.

Criminal Justice Concentration


Students who complete this concentration will have the requisite 18 hours in Criminal Justice to teach Criminal Justice at the community college level.  The Criminal Justice concentration requires 18 hours in the Public Affairs core as well as the following:

CJ Electives (6 hours)


  •  6 hours of CJ courses apart from CJ 600 and CJ 650.

PA / PSC Electives (6 hours)


  • 6 hours of PA or PSC courses approved by the MPA Director
    • For preservice students this must include 3 hours of internship

Public Policy Concentration


Students who wish a concentration in Public Policy must take 18 hours in the Public Affairs core as well as the following:

Guided Electives (9 hours)


9 hours of guided electives for in-service students.  For preservice students this must include 3 hours of internship.

Human Resources Administration Concentration


The Human Resources (HR) Administration concentration requires 18 hours in the Public Affairs core as well as the following:

Note:


PA 677 is offered only in Asheville each fall.  All of the HR classes are offered on-line.  The following classes are also concurrently offered in Asheville, assuming minimum enrollment numbers are met: PA  677, HR 602, HR 605, HR 675, and HR 693.  If minimum enrollment numbers are not met, enrolled students will be transferred to on-line sections.

Guided Electives (9 hours)


9 hours of guided electives for in-service students.  For preservice students this must include 3 hours of internship.

General Administration Concentration


The General Administration concentration is intended for students with special needs and interests who would like more flexibility in the courses they choose.  In addition to the required 18 hours in the Public Affairs core, students choose 9 hours of graduate courses within Public Affairs or Political Science for the General Administration concentration, and an additional 9 hours of guided electives for in-service students.  For preservice students this must include 3 hours of internship.

Requirements


Students without public service experience will be required to complete a 3 hour internship (PA 685) and submit an internship report based on faculty guidelines. Students with public service experience will be required to take an additional 3 hours of coursework selected from program electives and professional electives instead of an internship.

Students will be required to take a written examination covering all core coursework prior to graduation. The written examination will be taken toward the end of the program after all core courses have been completed. It may be taken during the last semester of coursework, if the student is not in the process of taking a core course. The written examination will be divided into two areas as follows:

Budgeting, Statistics, and Metropolitan Government


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