January 29, 2007
TO:Robert Mrtek, Chair
Senate Committee on Educational Policy
FROM:Margaret Grosch
Director, Programs and Academic Assessment
I am submitting for review and action by the Senate Committee on Educational Policy the attached Revision of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program.
The revision was approved by the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs Educational Policy Committee on November 30, 2006 and by the Graduate College Executive Committee on January 12, 1007.
Attachment
Cc:A. Schorsch
K. Mossberger
S. Kennelly
Title:Revision of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) Curriculum – Fall 2007
Sponsor:Graduate Program in Public Administration (GPPA), College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs
Specific Description and Justifications:
Description: Establishment of a new concentration in Local Government Administration and two new courses: PA 537 Local Government Management and PA 538: Nonprofit Management.Students must select three4-hour courses (12 credit hours total) from the following to complete the Local Government Management concentration:
PA 537Local Government Management (new)[recommended]
PA 523Intergovernmental Management
PA 538Nonprofit Management (new)
PA 550Financial Management of Government (possible substitutes – PA 552 – Capital Budgeting and Infrastructure or PA 553 – State and Local Public Finance)
UPP 530Economic Development I: Analysis
POLS 551Seminar inUrban Politics
POLS 553 Urban Public Policy
The addition of this concentration does not affect the total credit hours required for the program.
Justification: The Graduate Program in Public Administration at UIC is ranked as 6th in the nation for city management and urban affairs, according to the latest US News & World Report rankings released in 2004. Faculty research, the program’s relationships with the Great Cities Institute, several urban research centers in the college, and the college’s position as the editorial home of Urban Affairs Review have attracted students seeking experience in local government, particularly in a dynamic urban setting. Recent faculty hires have made it possible to create a new concentration highlightingthe existing strengths in the program. The new courses PA 537 (Local Government Management) and PA 538 (Nonprofit Management) were previously taught as special topic seminars. The concentration will otherwise tap current courses taught in Public Administration, Urban Planning, and Political Science. This will allow the concentration to draw on faculty deeply engaged in local and urban issues from across the UIC campus. The new concentration also responds to requests from MPA students, many of whom work in municipal or county governments throughout the metropolitan area. The nonprofit course being added also reflects student demand for nonprofit management expertise and reflects the intersectoral environment of local service delivery, with local policy and local administration increasingly involving partnerships with nonprofit organizations.
PA 537: Local Government Management will address issues in the management of local government, including the metropolitan and regional context, the evolving role of managers, and special considerations in finance, reform, service delivery, economic development, and democracy at the local level. This course will have a specifically administrative focus, whereas other courses in the concentration will introduce students to the political context, the intergovernmental context, and topics in municipal finance and local economic development. Municipal finance is one of the strengths in the department, and it will be an important option for local government administration students.Because nonprofit organizations have become important partners in local governance, students will also have the option of taking the new course PA 538: Nonprofit Management as part of the local government administration concentration.
Catalog Statement:
See attached catalog statement.
Minority Impact Statement:
No impact
Budgetary and Staff Implications:
The new PA courses were previously taught as PA 494 Special Topics courses, therefore no budget or staff impact is expected. The political science and urban planning courses are currently being offered as well, therefore no budget or staff impact is expected.
Library Resource Implications:
The proposed changes can be accommodated within current programmatic funding levels. The current collection of books and journals at the university library is adequate to support the program as changed.
Space Implications:
No impact
Unit (e.g. department) approval date: 11/08/06
College (educational policy committee, faculty) approval dates: CUPPA Educational Policy Committee – 11/30/06
Contact Person:
Sean Kennelly, Assistant Director ()
Proposed Effective Date:
Fall, 2007
Public AdministrationMailing Address: Public Administration Program (MC 278), 412 S. Peoria Street, Chicago, Illinois60607-7064
Campus Location: 130 CUPPAH
Curriculum Code: 5176
Admission Codes: 20FS0339MPA (MPA); 20FS0339PHD (Ph.D.)
Telephone: (312) 996-3109
E-mail:
Director of Graduate Studies: James Thompson / Same
Director of Graduate Studies: Karen Mossberger
The graduate program in public administration is part of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. The unit offers course work leading to the Master of Public Administration (PA) and the Doctor of Philosophy in public administration.
MPA is a professional program fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. Its broad goal is to train both preservice and working professionals for productive careers in the public service.
The doctoral program is designed to produce graduates with demonstrated analytic abilities and the creativity and potential for making significant, original contributions to the profession, whether as scholars, practitioners, or both. The program builds on a core of ideas and issues, with strong emphasis on theory construction and empirical research in the areas of Public Management, Financial Management, Science, Technology and Information Policy, and Survey Methods. / Same
Same
Same
Admissions Requirements
Applicants are considered on an individual basis. In addition to the GraduateCollege minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:
Master of Public Administration
Baccalaureate Field No restrictions.
Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate study.
Tests Required GRE or GMAT scores are required from applicants who are requesting program-administered financial assistance. GRE or GMAT scores are recommended but not required from applicants who are not requesting program-administered financial assistance.
Minimum TOEFL Score 550 (paper-based); 213 (computer-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (new Internet-based TOEFL).
UIC
Letters of Recommendation Three required frominstructors familiar with the applicant’s academic training or supervisors familiar withthe applicant’s professional experiences.
Personal Statement Required. Applicants mustsubmit a brief statement of their professionalgoals and academic interests.
Additional Materials Applicants must submit aresume and a 5–10 page writing sample. / Same
Degree Requirements
In addition to the GraduateCollege minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:
Master of Public Administration
Minimum Semester Hours Required: 52 / Same
Course Work Required Core Courses: PA 400, 407, 410, 415, 502, 503, 504, 506, and 590. In addition to the core courses, students must select one of four areas of concentration: Public Management; Financial Management; Management of Information Technology; or Survey Methods. At least 12 semester hours must be taken in the area of concentration. One additional course of the student’s choosing is to be selected in consultation with the student’s adviser.PA 490—Field Experience in Public Administration may be used to substitute for this additional course.
The courses included in each area of concentration are as follows:
Public Management—PA 521, 522, 523,
524, 526, 529, 532, 533, and 534.
Financial Management—PA 521, 523, 550,
551, 552, and 553; and UPP 533.
Management of Information Technology—
PA 460, 461, 463, and 567.
Survey Methods—BSTT 440; CHSC 447 (required), 577; PA 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, and 588. / Course Work
Required Core Courses: Same
In addition to the core courses, students must select one of five areas of concentration: public management, financial management, local government administration, management of information technology, or survey methods. At least twelve credit hoursmust be taken in the area of concentration. One additional course of the student’s choosing is to be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor. PA 490, Field Experience in Public Administration may be used to substitute for this additional course.
The courses included in each area of concentration are as follows:
Public Management—PA 521, 522, 523,
524, 526, 529, 532, 533, and 534.
Financial Management—PA 521, 523, 550,
551, 552, and 553; and UPP 533.
Local Government Administration—PA 523, 537 (recommended), 538, 550 or 552 or 553, UPP 530, POLS 551, and POLS 553.
Management of Information Technology—
PA 460, 461, 463, and 567.
Survey Methods—BSTT 440; CHSC 447 (required), 577; PA 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, and 588.
Comprehensive Examination
None / Same
Thesis, Project, or Course-work only Options
Course Work only. No other options available. / Same
Course Descriptions:
New Courses
PA 537 Local Government Management, 4 hours
Issues in the management of local government, including the metropolitan and regional context, the evolving role of managers and special considerations in finance, reform, service delivery, economic development, and democracy at the local level. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.
PA 538 Nonprofit Management, 4 hours
Examines management in nonprofit organizations:volunteer management, membership, fundraising, faith-based organizations, grant management, service delivery, philanthropies and missions, finance and reporting requirements, and performance. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.
Existing Courses
PA 523 Intergovernmental Management, 4 hoursRelationships between federal, state and local governments focusing on management of overlapping programmatic, regulatory and fiscal responsibilities. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.
PA 550 Financial Management of Government, 4 hoursOverview of issues and concepts important for administration and management of government’s financialaffairs: governmental accounting, purchasing, cash management and investment, risk management, pension and benefits administration, debt management and capital financing. Prerequisite(s): PA 504; and admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor. (possible substitutes – PA 552 – Capital Budgeting and Infrastructure or PA 553 – State and Local Public Finance in place of PA 550)
PA 552Public Capital Budgeting and Finance
4 hours. Examines governmental capital budgeting processes, linkages between the capital budget and capital improvement plan, and methods and techniques of financing capital projects including debt financing. Prerequisite(s): PA 504; and admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.
PA 553State and Local Public Finance
4 hours. Analyzes expenditures and revenues of state and local governmentsand public sector responses to market failures. Examines state and local revenue sources and discusses governmental provision of services. Prerequisite(s): PA 504; and admission in the MPA program or consent of the instructor.
POLS 551 Seminar In Urban Politics, 4 hours
Explores the literature in urban political economy; globalization and cities; the causes of urban decline and uneven development; urban policies and urban redevelopment. Prerequisite(s): POLS 500; and consent of the instructor.
POLS 553 Urban Public Policy, 4 hours
Explores the problems of poverty, race, education, transportation policy, and housing in America's cities, with a special emphasis on Chicago.
UPP 530Economic Development I: Analysis
4 hours. Theoretical perspectives, data, data sources and research techniques for analysis of regional, metropolitan and neighborhood economies. Prerequisite(s): UPP 504.
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