MPA Concentration Options

The MPA program currently offers four emphasis tracks, which were developed in order to:

1) further enhance the career prospects of students who want to develop additional expertise in these areas,

2) ensure prospective employers, including Advisory Board members, are supplied with a workforce that can meet the unique needs of their respective organizations, and

3) offer a broader range of educational opportunities to attract new students to the program. The Mission-specific elective competencies for our three concentration options are as follows:

State and Local Government Emphasis

• Identify and apply relevant legal issues and regulations for state and local governments

• Demonstrate ability to manage state and local government resources and programs in an effective and ethical manner

• Communicate and coordinate between different levels of government, the private sector, and the general public

Higher Education Administration Emphasis

• Manage and administer student services in higher education in an ethical and effective manner

• Demonstrate knowledge of the developmental stages of students in higher education environments.

• Navigate organizational structures of higher education and prioritize competing interests.

Criminal Justice Emphasis

• Exhibit extensive knowledge of the U.S. Criminal Justice System comprised of law enforcement, courts and corrections.

• Demonstrate ability to manage local, state and federal law enforcement resources and programs in an effective and ethical manner.

• Navigate organizational structures within the criminal justice system.

• Communicate and coordinate between different levels of law enforcement in the United States.

Nonprofit Management Emphasis

• Identify and apply the concepts, strategies, and techniques required for managing and leading a nonprofit organization.
• Develop critical thinking skills in order to analyze problem situations and propose solutions for effective nonprofit leadership.
• Understand the stakeholders and relationships involved in nonprofit management in order to effectively communicate, listen, coordinate and facilitate groups of people from different backgrounds united in their dedication to the nonprofit organization.
• Learn how to successfully secure funding and other resources in support of programs through fundraising and/or grant proposals and implement these strategies within the larger budgetary context of an organization.