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.
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.
The Nonprofit Administration Track prepares students to effectively plan, develop, manage, evaluate and lead nonprofit programs.
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.
All tracks include a capstone Master’s Project (PAD 690).
The program, totaling 36 credit hours includes seven required core courses (21 credit hours); four track courses (12 credit hours); and 3 credit hours of the MPA project. Students may earn up to three credit hours for PAD 588 Graduate Internship. This is designed as local internship experience for those students lacking professional experience in a public or nonprofit agency and who seek to gain experience in the public or nonprofit sectors prior to embarking on the MPA project. Students should visit the MPA Internships webpage to learn more about opportunities and requirements.
Graduate School requirements are:
1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B grade) in all graduate-level coursework. No grade lower than a C grade (2.0) is acceptable to meet degree requirements.
2. See policy under Transfer Credit on page 16 of the Graduate Catalog.
3. A minimum of 15 credit hours of coursework at the 600- or 700-level is required in all degree programs.
4. A maximum of 6 credit hours of independent study (XXX 590) may be included in a degree program.
5. A maximum of 6 credit hours of special topics (XXX 587), workshops (XXX 594), conferences (XXX 596), and microcourses (XXX 598) may be included in a master's degree program.
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 MUST BE TAKEN IN THE STUDENT'S FIRST SEMESTER
PAD 681 (formerly 699) Data Analysis and Presentation (must be taken at Buffalo State to satisfy MPA degree requirements; no transfer credit accepted)
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.
12 credit hours (4 courses by advisement)
Public Administration
Coordinator: Dr. Jason Rivera
PAD 607 City and County Management OR PAD 608 Intergovernmental Relations (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
Coordinator: Dr. Atta Cessay
PAD 604 Nonprofit Management and Governance (REQUIRED)
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
Coordinator: Dr. Suparna Soni
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
3 credit hours
PAD 690 Master’s Project (typically students register for the PAD 690 course in his/her last semester).
PAD 681 (formerly 699) is a prerequisite.
PAD 690 MUST be taken at Buffalo State for this course to apply to the MPA
(no transfer credit accepted to satisfy this requirement)
Political Science and Public Administration
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