The Master in Public Administration degree is an inter-university cooperative graduate program offered jointly by Boise State University, Idaho State University and the University of Idaho. The purpose of the program is to provide present and prospective public administrators with the basic intellectual preparation necessary to understand and to adjust to a changing and challenging environment, through an introduction to the theories and practices of administration, management and social science research as these relate to effective performance in public organizations. The MPA program is coordinated through an inter-university committee comprised of the Chair of the department of political science at the cooperating universities, a representative of the Office of the State Board of Education, and a representative of cooperating government agencies. The essential features of this inter-university cooperative program are:
Admission to the MPA Program
Students may enroll in the MPA program by applying to one of the participating universities. Acceptance by any one of the three universities admits a student into the MPA program. A matriculated student should complete graduate studies at the institution which offers the area of specialization which s/he wishes to emphasize. Each student's program will be established by an advisory committee consisting of three faculty members, one of whom will be from a university other than that of the Chair of the student's advisory committee. It is anticipated that students will come from widely differing academic preparations, since no specific undergraduate program is required in preparation for the MPA program. However, some course work in humanities and social sciences is essential to the foundation of the MPA program for all students. A student also must provide evidence of proficiency in the skills of statistics, data processing, or accounting, either through undergraduate preparation or previous work experience. A student may be required to remove other deficiencies related to specified areas of emphasis in the MPA program, as determined by the inter-university committee.
In addition to the general requirements of each graduate school, students seeking admission must have completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, demonstrate satisfactory academic competency by attaining an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75, achieve an average score placing them at or above the 35th percentile (current norms) on the aptitude section of the GRE, and submit three letters from individuals who are qualified to evaluate the applicant's academic potential. Students must also submit to the Department a personal statement of their goals.
The MPA degree may be achieved through the successful completion of at least 30 semester credit hours of approved course work plus 6 credits of public service internship. Eighteen credit hours must be completed in courses selected from prescribed "core areas" with 12 additional credit hours completed in designated optional areas of emphasis. Students may follow a thesis or non-thesis option in pursuing the MPA. The thesis counts as 6 credits toward completion of the degree in lieu of course work selected from the student's area of emphasis. All MPA candidates must complete final examinations. Those following the thesis option will complete an oral examination covering the thesis and program course work. The non-thesis option requires a written and an oral examination over program course work. The academic program of each student must be approved by the advisory committee and must satisfy the general requirements of an integrated program designed to meet career objectives of the student in public administration.
Core and Optional Area Requirements
The specific course requirements of the MPA program are set forth in a list of courses which has been approved by the inter-university committee. This list is available through each of the cooperating universities. Courses are available at each institution in the "core areas." The optional "areas of emphasis" may vary among the universities according to the resources and competence which exist in the respective departments. A description of those areas of emphasis which are presently operational at each institution and admission forms to the MPA program are available through the Political Science Department at Idaho State University or the departments of Political Science at Boise State University or the University of Idaho.
Core Area Requirements
All students must take 15 credit hours of core area courses. One course must be taken from each of the four areas listed below. An additional course from one core area completes the core requirement. 1. Organizational Theory:
POLS 551 Organizational Theory &
Bureaucratic Structure
2. Management, Administration, Finance and Legal Process:
POLS 505 The Administrative Process POLS 554 Public Personnel Administration POLS 541 Administrative Law POLS 552 Financial Administration & Budgeting POLS 556 Labor Organization
3. Methods:
POLS 519 Political Research Methods POLS 553 Public Policy Analysis
4. Political Institutions and Environment:
POLS 506 Intergovernmental Relations POLS 503 The Presidency POLS 504 The Legislative Process POLS 542 Constitutional Law POLS 555 Politics of Environmental Problems POLS 612 Seminar: State and Local Politics POLS 614 Seminar: American Politics - Institutions
Specialized Areas
All students must take 15 credit hours from one of the specialized areas listed below. Courses taken to fulfill core area requirements cannot be used to fulfill the specialized area requirement. Please note specific specialized area requirements. 1. General Administration:
POLS 505 The Administrative Process POLS 506 Intergovernmental Relations POLS 508 Metropolitan and Urban Studies POLS 509 Community and Regional Planning POLS 519 Political Research Methods ECON 538 Public Finance ECON 539 State and Local Finance POLS 541 Administrative Law POLS 552 Financial Administration and Budgeting POLS 553 Public Policy Analysis POLS 554 Public Personnel Administration POLS 555 Politics of Environmental Problems POLS 556 Labor Organization POLS 612 Seminar: State and Local Politics POLS 614 Seminar: American Politics - Institutions POLS 669 Independent Problems POLS 650 Thesis (optional)
2. Criminal Justice Administration:
POLS 505 The Administrative Process
POLS 506 Intergovernmental Relations
POLS 519 Political Research Methods
SOC 531 Criminology
POLS 541 Administrative Law
POLS 542 Constitutional Law
POLS 543 Constitutional Law
POLS 552 Financial Administration and Budgeting
POLS 553 Public Policy Analysis
POLS 554 Public Personnel Administration
PSYC 554 Clinical Psychology and the Law
POLS 612 Seminar: State and Local Politics
POLS 614 Seminar: American Politics -
Institutions
POLS 669 Independent Problems
POLS 650 Thesis (optional)
3. Public Health Services Administration:
Must include at least three classes from Group I, two from Group II. Twelve credit hours in total are required
Group I
POLS 505 The Administrative Process POLS 506 Intergovernmental Relations POLS 519 Political Research Methods POLS 553 Public Policy Analysis POLS 554 Public Personnel Administration POLS 669 Independent Problems POLS 650 Thesis (optional)
Group II
HCA 575 Health Care Law
HCA 582 Health Services Organization and
Delivery
HCA 583 Epidemiology
Psychology and CESE courses by permission:
Examples:
PSYC 555-556 Behavioral Assessment
PSYC 601 Family Assessment I
PSYC 635 Marital and Family Therapy (4)
CESE 601 Family Assessment
CESE 608 Family and
Chemical Dependency (2)
CESE 609 The Family and the Aged (2)
CESE 636 Medical & Health Problems in Special Education (2)
4. Environmental Administration:
Must include at least two courses from Group I:
Group I
POLS 555 Politics of Environmental Problems
(required)
POLS 505 The Administrative Process
POLS 506 Intergovernmental Relations
POLS 519 Political Research Methods
POLS 553 Public Policy Analysis
POLS 669 Independent Problems
POLS 650 Thesis (optional)
Group II: ***
GEOL 506 Environmental Geology
HIST 530 Environmental History
BIOS 521 Ecological Concepts
BIOS 552 Population Ecology
BIOS 587 Environmental Science &
Pollutants (PREREQ: BIOS 521)
ENGR 570 Survey of Hazardous Waste
Management Problems
ENGR 606 Environmental Law and Regulations
***Numerous programs offer graduate courses on environmental issues on a specific topics basis which may be added to Group II.
POLS 559 MPA Internship 6 credit hours
Internships are arranged in consultation with MPA Director, Dr. Neal Gilbertsen.