Master of Public Administration

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:

  1. General coordination and policy control by the inter-university committee
  2. Unrestricted transferability of credits earned at any of the participating universities to apply to the MPA degree awarded by any one of the participating universities
  3. Coordination among universities in scheduling and offering courses in the MPA program
  4. The establishment of a basic core of courses at all three cooperating institutions plus optional areas of emphasis which may vary among the universities (reflecting the particular areas of specialization available at the respective universities)
The inter-university MPA program has been designed in accordance with the Guidelines and Standards for Professional Master's Degree Programs in Public Affairs and Public Administration prescribed through the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

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. 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.

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. Fifteen credit hours must be completed in courses selected from prescribed "core areas" with 15 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.

I. 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 and 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	Environmental Politics and Policy
POLS 612	Seminar: State and Local Politics
POLS 614	Seminar: American Politics - Institutions


II. 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	Environmental Politics and Policy
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. Fifteen 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	Environmental Politics and Policy (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.


III. M.P.A. Internship -6 credit hours


POLS 559	MPA Internship
 
Internships are arranged in consultation with MPA Director, Dr. Mark McBeth.