The core program combines the theory and practice of public administration, public finance, human resource management, quantitative and qualitative research, and a thorough grounding in intergovernmental relations. The program offers three tracks: Public Administration (government), Nonprofit Management, and International Public Management.
Tracks
Public Administration
The Public Administration Track includes courses in administrative law, comparative public administration, public policy, and other topical courses designed to prepare students for a career in public service.
Nonprofit Administration
The Nonprofit Administration Track prepares students to effectively plan, develop, manage, evaluate and lead nonprofit programs.
International Public Management
The International Public Management Track is designed to prepare student for careers with international non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and government agencies working in the international arena.
Core
THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR STUDENTS ADMITTED FOR FALL 2017 (students admitted earlier should refer to their Degree Works worksheet or this webpage)
NO SUBSTITUTIONS IN THE CORE PERMITTED*
21 credit hours (7 courses-sections offered each fall and spring semester)
PAD 500 Public Administration and Policy MUST BE TAKEN IN THE STUDENT'S FIRST SEMESTER
PAD 601 Public Budgeting
PAD 640 Human Resource Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
PAD 646 Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations
PAD 680 (formerly 689) Research Methods in Public Administration
PAD 681 (formerly 699) Data Analysis and Presentation
PAD 735 Public Organizations (former title, Administrative Practices in Public and Nonprofit Sectors) MUST BE TAKEN IN THE FIRST NINE CREDIT HOURS
*While Buffalo State's MPA program is a member of NASPAA, the MPA is not NASPAA-accredited. However, because the MPA program maintains membership in NASPAA, the core is designed to meet NASPAA's Standard 5.1 Universal Required Competencies. Therefore, courses in the core may not be substituted for any other courses without the express permission of Buffalo State's MPA Program Director. In order to transfer courses into the core, students should contact the MPA Program Director.
Tracks (Select One)
12 credit hours (4 courses by advisement)
Public Administration
PAD 607 City and County Management or PAD 608 Intergovernmental Relations or PAD 515 New York State Government & Budget (REQUIRED)
PAD 501 Comparative Public Administration
PAD 502 Administrative Law
PAD 540 U.S. Public Policy
PAD 560 The Aging Network
PAD 587 Special Topics
PAD 588 Public Administration Graduate Internship
PAD 590 Independent Study
PAD 602 Comparative Public Policy
PAD 643 Supervision in the Human Services
PAD 650 Introduction to Health Policy & Management
PAD 685 Performance-based Management in the Public Sector (previously, PAD 587 Performance-based Measurement in the Public Sector)
PAD 688 Leadership in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
PAD 700 Migration Policy
PAD 701 Administrative Ethics
PAD 704 Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy
PAD 712 Managing Program Evaluation
PAD 715 Survey Methods & Design
Nonprofit Administration
PAD 604 Nonprofit Management and Governance (REQUIRED)
PAD 515 NYS Government & Budget
PAD 540 U.S. Public Policy
PAD 560 The Aging Network
PAD 588 Public Administration Graduate Internship
PAD 590 Independent Study
PAD 587 Special Topics
PAD 648 Nonprofit Grants Management and Fund Development
PAD 650 Introduction to Health Policy & Management
PAD 603 NGO Management & International Development
PAD 643 Supervision in the Human Services
PAD 647 The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector
PAD 688 Leadership in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
PAD 700 Migration Policy
PAD 701 Administrative Ethics
PAD 712 Managing Program Evaluation
PAD 715 Survey Methods & Design
International Public Management
PAD 605 International Public Management and Service (REQUIRED)
PAD 501 Comparative Public Administration
PAD 587 Topics Course
PAD 588 Graduate Internship
PAD 590 Independent Study
PAD 602 Comparative Public Policy
PAD 603 NGO Management & International Development (taught at part of the India NGO Study Mission)
PAD 700 Migration Policy
PAD 704 Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy
PAD 712 Managing Program Evaluation
PAD 715 Survey Methods & Design
Master's Project
All tracks include a capstone Master’s Project (PAD 690).
- 3 credit hours
- PAD 690 Master’s Project (typically students register for the PAD 690 course in their last semester). PAD 680 & 681 are prerequisite courses.
- PAD 690 MUST be taken at Buffalo State for this course to apply to the MPA
(no transfer credit accepted to satisfy this requirement)