2011-2012 Archived Catalog Information

GRADUATE PROGRAM IN PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

The MPA Degree offered by the Institute for Public Service provides a pragmatic approach to education in public management and service. The program emphasizes development of knowledge and expertise enabling students to perform managerial and administrative work at all levels of government or in public service institutions.

Accreditation

Established in 1974, the Suffolk MPA is one of only five MPA Programs in New England to be fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).  For more information on NASPAA go to http://www.naspaa.org.

Advising

Students in the MPA program are assigned an individual full-time public management faculty member as an academic advisor. All students are encouraged to discuss their interests, goals, and concerns with faculty advisors and should make appointments or drop in during posted faculty office hours.

Mission Statement:
The mission of the MPA program is to prepare students to function as leaders in enhancing the responsiveness, efficiency, and effectiveness of government, health and non-profit organizations, while adhering to the democratic values of inclusion, egalitarianism, and respect for diversity.

Objectives

The curriculum has been designed to meet the needs of students:

• Who have no previous training for a career in public service;
• Who are working in public service or not-for-profit management agencies interested in further study and advancement.

The MPA consists of 8 required courses and 6 electives. The major objective is to foster each student’s potential.

Building your Public Service Career
The MPA degree gives students endless career opportunities. It is imperative that part of your education at Suffolk University include career planning. The faculty at the Institute for Public Service have extensive knowledge of the public service field and can help students tailor their MPA to include coursework and experiences that will foster career planning and growth. Below are a few guidelines that will help you manage your career planning.

1. Contact your advisor and develop a relationship that goes beyond picking courses.
2. Contact our internship advisor, Nicole Rivers, if needed, to help you gain the experience you need to start a career, or to change careers.
3. Select courses about topics where you lack expertise or knowledge.
4. Participate in networking events and the mentor program. Meet as many alumni as you can to build your networking base.

Career Track Options¹:
The MPA allows students to follow numerous career tracks. Working with faculty advisors, students can tailor their elective choices to focus their study in areas of career choice, including, but not limited to:

Health Policy
Nonprofit Management
State, Local or Federal Government
Human Resource Management

¹ please note, career tracks are not specialized degrees or concentrations. They will not appear on your degree or transcript.

Continuing and Professional Studies Program (CAPS)
The MPA program offers an opportunity for students intending to pursue a graduate degree to take a maximum of two graduate courses before applying for degree status.