Master of Public Administration Coursework and Concentrations

Core program (15 credit hours)

Students in the M.P.A. program at the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Western Michigan University complete each of the following five courses:

  • PADM 6000-Foundations and Ethics of Public Service (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6010-Economic Principles of Public Service (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6020-Public Policy and Politics (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6060-Applied Research Methods (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6070-Quantitative Data Analysis (Credits: 3 hours)

Area of Concentration (12 credit hours)

In addition to the Core Program, each M.P.A. student must select and complete one of the following five 12-credit hour Areas of Concentration.

Health Care Administration

  • PADM 6500-Management of Health Care Organizations (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6520-Health Care Economics and Finance (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6530-Health Care Policies and Practices (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6270-Human Resources Administration (Credits: 3 hours)

OR

  • PADM 6290-Leadership and Supervision (Credits: 3 hours)

Human Resources Administration

  • PADM 6110-Legal and Regulatory Environment of Public Service (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6120-Public Budgeting and Accounting (Credits: 3 hours)

OR

  • PADM 6420-Nonprofit Accounting and Finance (Credits: 3 hours)

OR

  • PADM 6520-Health Care Economics and Finance (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6270-Human Resources Administration (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6290-Leadership and Supervision (Credits: 3 hours)

Nonprofit Leadership and Administration

  • PADM 6400-Managing Nonprofit Organization (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6435-Marketing and Community Engagement (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6420-Nonprofit Accounting and Finance (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6270-Human Resources Administration (Credits: 3 hours)

OR

  • PADM 6290-Leadership and Supervision (Credits: 3 hours)

Public Management

  • PADM 6100-Public Service Management (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6120-Public Budgeting and Accounting (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6270-Human Resources Administration (Credits: 3 hours)

OR

  • PADM 6290-Leadership and Supervision (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6780-Program Evaluation (Credits: 3 hours)

Public Policy

  • PADM 6650-Public Policy: Theory and Research (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6620-Finance in the Public Sector (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6780-Program Evaluation (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6920-Quantitative Data Analysis II (Credits: 3 hours)

Capstone Portfolio (3 credit hours)

The following two course-sequence of the Capstone Portfolio is required of each MPA student.

  • PADM 6001-Capstone Portfolio I (Credits: 1 hour)
  • PADM 6800-Capstone Portfolio II (Credits: 2 hours)

Elective Stream (6 credit hours)

M.P.A. students must complete 6 credit hours from the following course.

  • PADM 5810-Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 5820-International Public Financial Management (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 5825-Managing Community Growth and Development (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 5830-Grant Writing (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 5860-Social Policy Administration (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 5870-Fund Raising for Nonprofit Organizations (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 5880-Culture, Diversity, and Social Equity (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 5890-Strategic Planning and Performance Measurement (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6555-Managerial Epidemiology (Credits: 3 hours)
  • PADM 6890-Third Party Governance and Contracts (Credits: 3 hours)

Internship (3 credit hours)

Required for Pre-career students.

  • PADM 7120-Professional Field experience