Dear MPA Students:
Welcome to the Masters in Public Administration (MPA) Degree Program and the Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration (GCPPA). Our MPA Program has been in operation over 30 years, and more than 2,000 students have graduated with the MPA Degree. We have a strong presence and vibrant professional network in the public sector in the Southern California region.
The MPA Program at CSULB offers you the training necessary for a career in the public service. The majority of our graduates work in the public sector, but many also work in the non-profit sector, while more are expected to work in the private sector at some point. Our MPA also offers you the opportunity for advancement in the field. Over half of our graduates work at the managerial or executive level, while others work in professional and technical positions. The MPA is also a flexible degree that you can shape to further your own career interests. Our graduates work in a wide variety of fields, including general administration, finance and budgeting, personnel, public works, social services, criminal justice, parks and recreation, community development, housing, and urban affairs.
The Center’s interest is in making your educational program an opportunity for professional growth and development. Our mutual interest is in fostering and promoting professional career development in public administration and the formulation of good public policy in the best interests of citizens and government. We are also proud of our MPA program’s national accreditation through the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).
This Student Handbook has been designed to help you meet the requirements for the MPA Degree offered by the GCPPA at California State University, Long Beach. The Center wants you to be fully aware of the various University rules and Center policies that are important in successfully completing your MPA degree. Each requirement is explained so that forms and processes are as manageable as possible.
You may find additional information on the Center’s website If you have any questions about the procedures included in the handbook, do not hesitate to call the Center at (562) 985-4178, come by to visit Center faculty in the SPA building (2nd floor), or consult the Center website.
Edward J. Martin, Director
Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90840
(562) 985-5748
Table of Contents
Graduate Public Administration Program 4
Application Process 4
CSULB Application
MPA Program Application
Advising 5
Program Components for the MPA Degree 5
Program Layout 5
MPA Options 6
Unit Requirements 6
Transfer of Credit 6
Core Required Courses in the MPA Program 7
Capstone Course 7
Student Learning Portfolio 7
Elective Fields 7
Internship 8
Prerequisites for PPA 555/PPA 696 8
Paperwork Requirements 8
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) 8
Advancement to Candidacy 9
Program Changes 9
Student Learning Portfolio 9
Maintaining Enrollment 10
Educational Leave 10
Readmission to University 10
Graduate Studies - (GS 700) 10
Time Limit 10
GeneralRegulationsand Procedures 10
Course Withdrawals, Adds, Drops 10
Incomplete Course Work 11
Academic Probation 11
Cheating and Plagiarism 11
Graduation Procedures 11
Request to Graduate 11
Degree Clearing 11
Receiving Your Degree 11
University Student Services 12
Financial Resources 12
Student Services 13
University Library 13
University Computing Resources 13
Academic Computing Services 13
Beachboard, CSULB’s E-Learning Environment 13
CSULB Internet Accounts 13
Development Lab 14
People You Need to Know at the
Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration
Director...... Edward Martin
Graduate Advisor...... Linda-Marie Sundstrom
Administrative Support Coordinator...... Kathy Allan
Administrative Support Coordinator Distance Learning...... Sheryl Caito
Center Faculty
Frank Baber,
Edward Martin,
William Moore, Ph.D.
John Ostrowski,
David Powell,
Michelle Saint-Germain,
Linda-Marie Sundstrom,
Center Adjunct Faculty
Edward Caprielian, Ph.D
Dave Edwards, Ed.D.
Robert Dominguez, MS
Jeffrey Klaus, Ph.D.
Duane Lowe, MPA
Elizabeth Martin, MPA
Robert Quirk, MPA
Graduate Public Administration Program
The Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration offers an innovative graduate program of study leading to the degree of Master of Public Administration (MPA). The general MPA program is designed with a professional emphasis and provides graduate students with broad knowledge of as well as specific competencies. The program also develops the student’s ability to apply acquired knowledge and skills to the solution of public problems. Along with the general MPA degree, the Center offers the MPA with options in Public Works andin Urban Affairs, as well as a number of Certificates. More information can be found online at
Application Process
The application process consists of two separate applications forms: One for CSULB and the other for the MPA program. Both applications should be submitted at the same time. You must be formally admitted both to the University and to the program before you may enroll in MPA courses.
CSULB Application
All students must apply to the University for admission as a graduate student. You must be admitted by the University before you can take graduate courses. University requirements for admission as a graduate student are listed in the CSULB Catalog To apply go to this web site: and complete the application and pay the application fee. One official transcript from all colleges and universities you attended must be mailed to Enrollment Services 1250 Bellflower Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90804.
MPA Program Application
As noted above, at the same time that you apply to the University, you also must apply to the Department. The requirements for consideration for admission to the MPA Program may be more stringent than those of the University. The MPA program application must be mailed or hand delivered to the offices of the Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration, in building SPA 228.
For consideration for admission to the MPA, you must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, and have maintained an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of not less than 3.0, or 3.0 in the last 60 semester units. Your application will be evaluated in terms of your previous academic and employment performance, promise as a graduate student and as a leader in some field of public administration, and commitment to develop, pursue, and perform effectively in a career in public service. To be considered for admission to the MPA, you must submit the following documents to the Center (in addition to any documents you submit to the University):
- MPA application
- Two letters of recommendation from former professors and/or from job supervisors
- A one- or two-page statement concerning your reasons for wanting to obtain the MPA degree and for pursuing a career in the public sector.
Your application file must be complete before you will be considered for admission to the MPA Program. You also must be approved by the University for admission as a graduate student before you can begin the MPA Program. To apply for the MPA with one of the options, be sure to check the “options” box on the MPA application form.
Advising
If you are considering applying to the MPA program, we encourage you to meet with the MPA program’s Graduate Advisor. This will give you an opportunity to ask about the program, what is involved, and how it will be of value to you. It will allow us to better explain how, given your career interests, goals, and skills, the program can respond to your needs, and to select the most effective course of study for your particular career needs.
As soon as you are accepted, or during your first semester in the program, you should select one of the full-time faculty to become your Faculty Advisor. The Faculty Advisor is a valuable resource available for you to draw upon throughout your entire academic program. Your Faculty Advisor can help you formulate your academic program; counsel you as needed about your program while in progress; help you to select the appropriate elective courses according to your interests; and assist in identifying career opportunities. This is an informal process, and you may change faculty advisors at any time.
After you have satisfactorily completed six units in the program, you must see a Faculty Advisor to advance to candidacy. To arrange for advising, or to schedule an appointment with a Faculty Advisor, contact the faculty member directly.
Program Components for the MPA Degree
The MPA Degree Program has several components which are discussed in this section. The following chart shows the requirements for the general MPA Program, as well as the MPA with options in Public Works and Urban Affairs.
Program Layout
General MPA / Public Works Option / Urban AffairsPPA 500 Foundations / PPA 500 Foundations / PPA 500 Foundations
PPA 555 Budget & Finance / PPA 555 Budget & Finance / PPA 555 Budget & Finance
PPA 577 Human Resources / PPA 577 Human Resources / PPA 577 Human Resources
PPA 660 Organizations / PPA 660 Organizations / PPA 660 Organizations
PPA 670 Policy / PPA 670 Policy / PPA 670 Policy
PPA 696 Research / PPA 696 Research / PPA 696 Research
PPA 554 Public Works / PPA 610 Urban
5 Electives / 3 Electives / 4 Electives
PPA 697 (6 units) Capstone & Student Learning Portfolio / PPA 697 (6 units) Capstone & Student Learning Portfolio / PPA 697 (6 units) Capstone & Student Learning Portfolio)
Internship Optional / Internship Optional / Internship Optional
Total 39 units / Total 39 units / Total 39 units
MPA Options
Public Works Administration, one additional core course is required, PPA 554 and one fewer elective course is required. All other requirements for the MPA are the same.
Urban Affairs, one additional core course is required, PPA 610, and one fewer elective course is required. All other requirements for the MPA are the same.
Unit Requirements
A minimum of 39 course units are required for the MPA Degree. At least 24 units must be in graduate level courses offered by the Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration (courses with a PPA prefix). The remaining 15 units may be selected from graduate level courses offered by the Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration or from graduate-only courses (classes at the 500 or 600 level) offered by other departments and schools of the University. Consult the CSULB Catalog and your Faculty Advisor for information on graduate level course listings in other departments.
When formulating your plans for the MPA Program with your Faculty Advisor, consider your work schedule and your course load. Students employed full-time should not exceed six units (2 courses) per semester, which is considered appropriate for part-time students. A normal academic load for a full-time student is 9-15 units per semester (three to five courses). A maximum load of 16 units is permitted by the University, with permission of the Center.
Transfer of Credit
Subject to the approval of the Center’s Director and the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, up to nine units of credit for graduate courses taken through the California State University, Long Beach, College of Continuing and Professional Education (CCPE) programs may be applied to the 39-unit requirement of the MPA program. To be acceptable for transfer, CCPE courses must be graduate-only courses either offered by the Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration, or by other colleges or departments of the University, which are approved by the student’s Faculty Advisor. Graduate courses also may be transferred for credit from any of the Center’s Certificate Programs. Up to 15 units (5 courses) may be transferred from a Certificate Program into the MPA Program, upon approval of the Faculty Advisor.
For graduate courses taken at other universities or colleges, a maximum of six units (2 courses) may be applied to the MPA Program. Acceptance of graduate courses to be transferred from other universities normally depends upon sufficient information being provided to permit evaluation of the course, such as the course syllabus and required text. It also is contingent on the acceptance of the course work in the MPA degree program, or equivalent graduate degree program, on the campus where the course was taught. Courses taken at another institution generally are not accepted as substitutes for any of the required core courses.
Core Required Courses in the MPA Program
These courses must be completed to obtain the MPA degree. They also must be completed before the student can enroll in PPA 697. You should take PPA 500 in your first semester. The remaining courses may be taken in any sequence but should be completed early in your program.
PPA 500 Foundations of Public Policy and Administration
PPA 555*Government Budgeting and Finance
PPA 577 Public Sector Human Resources Management
PPA 660 Seminar in Organization Theory and Behavior
PPA 670 Policy Issue Analysis
PPA 696*Research Methods in Public Administration
*Note that the PPA 555 course has a prerequisite of a course in Microeconomics.
**Note that the PPA 696 course has a prerequisite of a course in Statistics.
Capstone Course
PPA 697 Directed Research (6 units)
You must complete all the required core courses before you may enroll in PPA 697. You may complete this course over two semesters (3 units each semester) or take all 6 units in one semester.
Directed Research Course Guidelines
Scheduling of Basic Steps to Enroll in PPA 697 Directed Research
- A student must be advanced to candidacy and have completed all core courses, including PPA 500, prior to enrolling in PPA 697.
- In the semester prior to that in which the student will enroll in PPA 697, the student should submit the PPA 697 Declaration of Intent form to Department office and obtain a permit to register.
Student Learning Portfolio
The Student Learning Portfolio is designed to monitor and to document students’ educational progress over their tenure in the program. Guidelines for the Student Learning Portfolio are in the Student Learning Portfolio Handbook. Students collect course work throughout the MPA program and present the completed Portfolio to the PPA 697 Instructor for final approval. The Portfolio must be approved as a requirement for graduation.
Elective Fields
You may select your elective courses from among those offered by the Center, as well as from graduate level courses (numbered 500 or 600) offered by other Colleges and departments of the University. In consultation with your Faculty Advisor, select the elective courses which are of most value to your career goals. For example, you may be interested in electives in the following areas:
General Program in Public AdministrationPublic Personnel Management
Financial AdministrationSystems Analysis
Urban and Regional PlanningPublic Policy Analysis
Community Development AdministrationPublic Works Administration
Educational AdministrationRecreational Administration
Social Services AdministrationCriminal Justice Administration
Public Health AdministrationUrban Administration
Arts AdministrationHealth Care Administration
Internship
The Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration offers pre-career students a first-hand opportunity for observation of and participation in policy-making and administration in the public sector through an internship seminar, PPA 585 - Public Policy and Administration Internship Seminar.
Enrollment in PPA 585 is required for all students who do not have threeyears significant experience in the public sector. Students who are employed currently, or who have previous work experience in the public sector, may request a waiver of the Internship from their Faculty Advisor when the Advancement to Candidacy is submitted.
You may benefit from an internship if you:
- Are entering the MPA Program directly after completing your undergraduate degree;
- Are changing careers;
- Have no public sector or non-profit sector experience;
- Want to gain experience which will help you in obtaining a job.
Students may enroll in the internship course under the “Credit/No Credit” grade reporting option. Please note, however, that the internship course, whether required or optional in the student's academic program, does not count toward fulfillment of the minimum 39 course units required for the MPA degree. The hours of the internship are determined on an ad hoc basis, in concert with the Internship Coordinator and the sponsoring organization. Generally, a minimum of 300 hours, per NASPAA standards,are required to complete the internship. To complete the internship in one semester, 20 hours per week on-site would be required.
At the conclusion of the internship, the student must write a report describing the academic aspects of the internship as a learning experience. In addition, the on-site supervisor will make a written report of the student’s performance, and the Internship Coordinator will review the student's performance as well as the internship arrangement.
Prerequisites for PPA 555/PPA696
Acceptable prerequisites for PPA 555 at CSULB: ECON 101-Principles of Microeconomics, ECON 300-Fundamentals of Economics, and PPA 518-Microeconomics for Public Administrators.
Acceptable prerequisites for PPA 696 at CSULB: STAT 108-Statistics for Everyday Life and PPA 517-Analytical Skills Development.
Paperwork Requirements
This section summarizes the basic steps to completing your degree.
Writing Proficiency Exam Form
Advancement to Candidacy Form
Program Change Form
Student Learning Portfolio Form
Request to Graduate form
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)
University policy requires graduate students to fulfill the GWAR requirement by passing the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPR) prior to being advanced to candidacy. If you have previously passed the WPE, you need not take it again. If you have not previously passed the WPE, you should take this examination in your first or second semester in the MPA Program.
The WPE is scheduled twice each semester and once during the Summer Session. Visit the Testing, Evaluation & Assessment website at