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Master of Public Administration


Dr. Hamner Hill, Chairperson

(573) 651-2183, E-mail: c787hup@semo.edu

Program Objectives

The purpose of this graduate degree in public affairs and administration is to prepare individuals for positions of leadership in public and not-for-profit organizations in the Southeast Missouri State University service area. 

 Admission Requirements

  Program Requirements

A.          Total credits required for graduation: (36 hours)

These are composed of 21 hours in the Master of Public Administration core, 12 hours in an option, and 3 hours of thesis or internship.

B.          Residency Requirements if any: none

      All required courses will be completed on campus at Southeast Missouri State University or via web-based instruction.  Up to nine hours of transfer graduate credit will be accepted if approved by the student’s major advisor.  The student’s advisor will determine application of the transfer credit hours to core courses or elective courses.

C.          General education: Total credits: 0

D.         Major Requirements:   Total credits:  36 hours

E.          Requirements for thesis, internship or other capstone experience:   (3 hours)

Core Course Requirements

Courses
Title
Hours
PS602 Fundamentals of Public Administration
3
PS603 Public Personnel Administration
3
PS615 Government Budgeting Process (Public Budgeting)
3
PS618 Public Policy Analysis
3
PS6xx* Federalism, State and Local Government
3
PS6xx* Organizational Theory and Behavior
3
PS6xx* Research Methods (or equivalent)
3
Total     21
(*courses have yet to be proposed)

In addition to the Master of Public Administration core, the degree requires completion of 12  hours in a chosen option, either Public Administration or Community Wellness and Leisure Services (see section F below).  The student and his/her academic advisor will select courses which best reflect the career goals and objectives of the student.

 Public Administration Option (12 hours)

Select from the following list:

Courses
Title
Hours
AC548 Government/Not-for-Profit Accounting 3
EC525 Public Policy Economics 3
GR526 Management Not-for-Profit 3
PS625 Administrative Law 3
PS687 Independent Study in Political Science 3
PS6xx* Administration, Ethics, and Public Policy 3
PS6xx* Comparative Public Administration 3
PS6xx* Intergovernmental Relations 3
PS6xx* Program Evaluation 3
PS6xx* Topics for Public Service 3
PY571 Behavioral Statistics 3
PY650 Organizations as Open Systems 3
SC560 Organizational Communication 3

Thesis or Internship  (3 hours)

Internship in Political Science (PS697)

Each student will obtain an approved internship in a public or not-for-profit agency.   The student will write a scholarly internship paper, and present and defend it during an oral examination.

                                                or

Thesis Option

In place of the internship, and with the approval of the faculty advisor, a student may choose to do scholarly research on a specified topic. The student will write a master’s thesis, and present and defend it during an oral examination.

Any unique features such as interdepartmental cooperation:

The proposed program represents a joint effort between the Department of Political Science and the Department of Health and Leisure. The Department of Health and Leisure will offer a 12 hour option in Community Wellness and Leisure Services.  This option is designed for students interested in careers in public administration within local, regional, or state recreational organizations, community wellness facilities, or other leisure services facilities.

 Community Wellness Option (12 hours)  

Those students interested in the Community Wellness and Leisure Services Option will complete 21 hours in the Master of Public Administration Required Core, 12 hours in the Community Wellness and Leisure Services Option, and 3 hours of thesis or internship.

Master of Public Administration Required Core Courses:     (21 hours) 

 

Community Wellness and Leisure Services Option:   (12 hours)

A 12 credit hour option in community wellness and leisure services will be offered as an option on the Master of Public Administration degree.  This option will be offered in cooperation with the Department of Health and Leisure and designed for students who wish to pursue a career with local, regional, or state recreational organizations or park facilities.  Those students interested in the Community Wellness and Leisure Services Option courses will complete the 21 semester hour core courses, the 12 hour option courses in Community Wellness and Leisure Services, and 3 hours of thesis or internship.

A.                Total Hours in the option:               12  

B.                Total Required hours in the option:         9

C.                Free Electives in the option:                  3

D.               Requirement for Thesis, internship or capstone:  3 hrs.

Either an internship or a thesis will be completed as part of the Community Wellness and Leisure Services Option.

Required Courses in Community Wellness and Leisure Services Option:   (9 hours)

Students must take 3 of the 4 following classes (selected according to the individual student's primary area of interest):

Courses
Title
Hours
HL671 Implementation and Organization of Fitness Programs for Healthy and Diseased Populations 3
HL672 Health Promotion Programs 3
RC5xx* Recreation in Community Development 3
RC5xx* Program Delivery in Parks and Recreation 3

(*courses have yet to be proposed) 

 Elective Courses in Community Wellness and Leisure Services Option:   (3 hours)

Courses
Title
Hours
CP614 Skills for the Helping Professions 3
FN605 Nutrition in the Family Life Cycle 3
GR526 Management Not-for-Profit 3
HL510 Health Aspects of Aging 3
HL601 Physiology of Exercise 3
HL690 Seminar in Nutrition and Exercise Science 3
HL691 Applied Research 3
PY553 Perspectives on Stress 3
PY555 Health Psychology 3

All four classes in the first section could be selected to fulfill the 12 hour Community Wellness and Leisure Services Option requirement.

 Thesis or Internship  (3 hours)

Internship in Health and Leisure  (HL/RC 6xx)

Each student will obtain an approved internship in a public or not-for-profit agency.   The student will write a scholarly internship paper, and present and defend it during an oral examination.

                                                or

Thesis Option

In place of the internship, and with the approval of the faculty advisor, a student may choose to do scholarly research on a specified topic. The student will write a master’s thesis, and present and defend it during an oral examination.

 Accreditation

The Master of Public Administration program will seek accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).  NASPAA is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as a specialized accrediting agency for masters degree programs in public administration, public affairs, and public policy.

Core Course Descriptions

AC548: Governmental and Not-For-Profit Accounting

An introduction to the accounting principles and reporting practices of governments and not-for-profit organizations. Prerequisites: Senior status Accounting major or Graduate standing in MBA Program. (3 credit hours)

CP614: Counseling Skills

Provides an understanding of the philosophic bases of the counseling processes.  It focuses on the application of counseling theories and skills, emphasizing the analysis of the student’s own counseling style and performance.  The student will explore self as performing the role of counselor, counselee and observer of the counseling process. The student will learn facilitating skills to bring about change for counselees, honoring diversity and multiculturalism. Prerequisite(s):  CP-610 Counseling Orientation and Ethics, and CP-612 Counseling Theories or Permission of the instructor.  (3 credit hours)

EC525: Public Policy Economics

Economic analysis of the functions of government in a market economy. Prerequisites: EC215, EC225. (3 credit hours)

FN605: Nutrition in the Family Life Cycle

Study of recent scientific findings and developments as they affect the nutrition of all individuals in the family unit. Prerequisite: An introductory nutrition course. (3 credit hours)

GR526: Management in Not-for-Profit Organizations

A study of the concepts of management as applied to public and private not-for-profit organizations. This course is not available for students seeking credit toward any degree through the College of Business Administration. (3 credit hours)

HL510: Health Concerns of Aging

This course is designed to consider the health concerns of individuals and groups as they relate to the aging process. Emphasis will be on working
with the aged population. (3 credit hours)

HL601: Physiology of Exercise

Physiological responses to exercise, the recovery process, and systematic training regimens. Emphasis on bioenergetics, training and health. (3 credit hours)

HL671: Implementation and Organization of Fitness Programs for Healthy and Diseased Populations

Organizational structure, exercise programming, facility administration, and testing/screening procedures for programs serving apparently healthy, symptomatic, and diseased populations. Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. (3 credit hours)

HL672: Health Promotion Programs

Principles of planning, implementing, and evaluating health promotion programs in various settings. Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. (3 credit hours)

HL690/FN690: Seminar in Nutrition and Exercise Science

Discussion and presentations on current issues involving the disciplines of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Exercise Science. May be repeated for credit. (3 credit hours)

HL691: Applied Research

An applied research project, guided by a faculty committee within the fields of Health Promotion, Exercise Science, and Athletic Training. Prerequisites: GR691-Methods of Research:  Qualitative and Quantitative Designs or equivalent, PY571-Introductory Behavioral Statistics or equivalent, and permission of department chair. (3 credit hours)

PS602: Fundamentals of Public Administration

A contemporary view of public agencies from an internal and external perspective. To introduce graduate students to the concepts and functions of administrative organizations. (3 credit hours)

PS603: Public Personnel Administration

An analysis of public agency personnel practices, procedures, and issues. Exposes students to the history, concepts, research and operation of government personnel administration. (3 credit hours)

PS615: Government Budgeting

Procedures and decision-making strategies involved in the preparation, authorization, and expenditure of the Federal Budget. (3 credit hours)

PS618: Public Policy Analysis

This course is a systematic introduction to the conduct of policy analysis. It is designed for practitioners and for those seriously interested in how policy analysts do their work. (3 credit hours)

PS625: Administrative Law and Procedure

An analysis of rules, procedures and decision-making practices of public agencies at the state and federal level. (3 credit hours)

PS687: Independent Study for Political Science

Directed individual study of special topics of particular interest to the student. On demand. (1 credit hour)

PY553: Perspectives on Stress

Applications of stress principles in the practice of psychology and management pertaining to organizational behavior. Emphasis is given to sources of stress in the workplace and the management of organizational stress. Critical examination of theory and research on ways to reduce stress. (3 credit hours)

PY555: Health Psychology

Applications of psychology which contribute to the promotion of health and the prevention of disease through behavior change in health and the prevention of disease through behavior change in health enhancing directions. Topics to be covered include health promotion and wellness, psychosomatic illness, risk factor identification, and disease prevention, career opportunities in health psychology for administrators, service providers, and consultants. (3 credit hours)

PY571: Introductory Behavioral Statistics

An introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics used in the reporting of educational and psychological research. (3 credit hours)

PY650: Organizations as Open Systems

Organizations and organizational behavior are studied from an open system theory orientation. Social psychological principles are applied to problems of morale, motivation, productivity, effectiveness, communication, power, leadership, and change processes in organizations. (3 credit hours)

SC560: Organizational Communication

Study of communication functions and networks in organizations. Emphasis on leadership functions and principles needed for effective management of organizational communication processes. (3 credit hours)

 

 

See "Graduate Course Listings" for a complete list of graduate courses and descriptions


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