Public Administration (MPA)

Program Director: Soomi Lee

Locations: La Verne, Remote/Hybrid

The mission of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is to offer an innovative and practical curriculum that stresses intellectual and theoretical foundations to professionals preparing to take on socially responsible roles in public leadership and service. The mission is achieved through a curriculum that emphasizes:

• The effective use of public resources;
• The changing context (contextual nature) of public administration;
• Analytic and decision-making capacity;
• The practice of public administration in diverse public organizations;
• The ethical dimensions of public service.

The MPA program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) and is focused on the following NASPAA competencies:

• To lead and manage in public governance;
• To participate in and contribute to the public policy process;
• To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions;
• To articulate and apply a public service perspective; and
• To communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.

Evaluation of the applicant’s qualifications to pursue graduate studies is based on the applicant’s statement of purpose, professional experience, college transcripts, and academic and professional references.

Applicants are evaluated by a Faculty Admissions Committee that considers all these measures, including commitment to public and/or nonprofit service.

Admission Requirements

1. Official transcripts from every undergraduate and graduate institution attended.
2. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
3. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8 and a GPA of 3.0 for any graduate study. Applicants with lower GPAs who have substantial public service experience may be considered. Applicants without previous related coursework and/or lower GPAs may be admitted conditionally with stipulations and/or prerequisite courses.
4. A 1-2-page statement of purpose that demonstrates:
   1. the ability to write at an acceptable level for graduate study,
   2. experience and interest in public and/or non-profit administration, and
   3. how the La Verne MPA program compliments the student’s interests in public service and its values.
5. Two positive letters of recommendation discussing academic and/or professional qualifications from work supervisors, college professors, and/or public service professionals.
6. A current résumé

Additional Requirements

Additional requirements for applicants with lower GPAs may include but are not limited to a personal interview with the MPA program Director.

Total Program: 39 semester hours

Core Courses

24 semester hours

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
PADM 501	Public Service & Society 1	3
PADM 510	Public Management and Leadership	3
PADM 531	Organizational Theory and Development	3
PADM 533	Policy Formation	3
PADM 534	Budgeting and Fiscal Management	3
PADM 555	Ethics in Administration	3
PADM 582	Quantitative Methods for Public Management	3
PADM 596	Graduate Seminar	3
Total Semester Hours		24

¹

PADM 501 Public Service & Society is to be completed the first session of study. If not offered the first session, then it must be taken as soon as it is offered.

Concentration and Elective Courses

15 semester hours

Concentrations require a minimum of 9 semester hours (three courses) and are listed on final transcripts upon completion of the MPA degree. Students may complete a set of electives instead with advance approval by the program director.

Eligible elective courses are non-core 500 level PADM courses, HSM courses in the Public Health Concentration, and non-cross listed nonprofit MGMT courses. Other graduate courses are not eligible as concentration or elective courses without advance approval by the program director.

Students without previous public or nonprofit experience are required to take PADM 598 Public Service Internship within the first year of study or 18 units (whichever comes first). This course is classified as an elective. Other students may take the internship course as an elective with advance approval by the program director.

Students cannot double dip in counting concentration and elective units to reduce the number of units required for the degree. A total of 39 units is required for all students.

Urban Management and Affairs Concentration

This concentration focuses on developing skills in managing in urban metropolitan environment.

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
PADM 570	Urban and Community Politics	3
Select a minimum of two of the following:		6
PADM 504	Organizational Communication
PADM 538	Collaborative Public Mgmt
PADM 587	Managing Sustainable Communities
Electives Approved by Program Director		6
Total Semester Hours		15

Nonprofit Management and Governance Concentration

This concentration focuses on developing skills in leading and managing nonprofit organizations.

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
PADM 520	Nonprofit Governance	3
Select a minimum of two of the following:		6
PADM 504	Organizational Communication
PADM 522	Grant Management
PADM 524	Nonprofit Finance and Fundraising
Electives Approved by Program Director		6
Total Semester Hours		15

Public Health Concentration

This concentration focuses on measures to prevent disease, promote health and prolong life. Public health activities aim to provide conditions in which people can be healthy. The focus is on populations and systems, not on individual patients or diseases.

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
HSM 545	Foundations of Public Health	3
Select a minimum of two of the following:		6
HSM 546	Epidemiology
HSM 548	Applied Research for Public Health Professionals
HSM 549	Public Health and the Urban Context
Electives Approved by Program Director		6
Total Semester Hours		15

Electives

Students can choose any of the concentration courses listed if not already taken for a concentration (no double dip). Additional elective courses may include:

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
PADM 561	Legal Environment of Public Administration	3
PADM 580	Applied Research	3
PADM 581	Comparative Public Administration	3
PADM 590	Selected Topics in Public Administration	3
PADM 598	Public Service Internship	3

Accelerated Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Qualifying University of La Verne undergraduate students may apply to participate in the accelerated Master of Public Administration (MPA) program once they have completed 90 semester units of undergraduate courses. Eligible MPA courses are determined by the MPA program.

Participants will need advance approval from their undergraduate advisor for shared credit courses. The MPA courses may not exceed 15 units prior to undergraduate degree completion.

Applicants must have public service experience or have completed the equivalent of PADM 598 Public Service Internship. Applicants must meet all MPA admission requirements, including a minimum GPA of 2.8 for undergraduate work and 3.0 for any graduate work. Applications are evaluated by the MPA Faculty Admissions Committee. Admission to the MPA program is provisional prior to undergraduate degree completion and contingent on applicants continuing to meet MPA admission and program requirements.

JD students may apply for admission to the MPA program to earn a second degree.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

• 8 MPA core courses (24 semester hours)
• MPA electives/LAW courses: 4 courses (15 semester hours)

Law courses are reviewed for acceptance; students may request to transfer up to 12 law semester hours toward the MPA degree.