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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
PS605 Organizational Theory and Behavior
3
PS645 Research Methods (or equivalent)
3
Total     21
(*course has 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
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
PS691-696 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, Philosophy and Religion and the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation. 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, Human Performance and Recreation 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
RC630 Program Delivery in Leisure Services 3

(*course has 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.

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


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