May 11, 2026

2026-2027 Graduate and Professional Programs Catalog

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2026-2027 Graduate and Professional Programs Catalog

Master of Public Policy and Administration, MPPA

The Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) prepares students by enhancing their knowledge of public policy and administrative structures in local, state, and federal government. The MPPA also provides students with hands-on learning opportunities to further develop their analytical and communication skills.

Undergraduate students who apply for “early entrance” to the MPPA Program are limited to earning 12 credits of MPPA courses while working towards their bachelor’s degree. In addition, “early entrance” MPPA students are limited to taking a maximum of 2 MPPA courses per semester.

Master of Public Policy and Administration, MPPA Learning Outcomes

Degree Requirements (36 credits)

Required Courses (36 credits)

MPA 501 Public Policy Process and Issues 3 credit hours
MPA 505 Law and Public Policy 3 credit hours
MPA 510 Quantitative Analysis for Policy and Administration 3 credit hours
MPA 511 Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation 3 credit hours
MPA 514 Nonprofits and Public Policy 3 credit hours
MPA 515 Strategic Planning and Leadership 3 credit hours
MPA 517 Governmental Budgeting 3 credit hours
MPA 518 Public Sector Organizations 3 credit hours
MPA 520 Policy Communications 3 credit hours
MPA 521 Microeconomics for Policymakers 3 credit hours
MPA 590 Capstone Research Design 3 credit hours
MPA 591 Capstone Research Project 3 credit hours
Note: Students may be permitted to “substitute” no more than six credits (two courses) from other graduate program course offerings at the College (though other graduate programs reserve the right to limit course access solely to students enrolled in those programs) and MPA 580 Special Topics when offered. Permission to do so must be granted by the MPPA Program Director in consultation with the student, their Academic Advisor, and the Director and instructor from the other graduate program. The following courses are not eligible for substitution: MPA 501 , MPA 510 , MPA 590 , and MPA 591 .

Suggested Course Sequence

Early Entrance 4+1

Junior Year: Spring Semester

MPA 518 Public Sector Organizations 3 credit hours

Senior Year: Fall Semester

MPA 501 Public Policy Process and Issues 3 credit hours
MPA 510 Quantitative Analysis for Policy and Administration 3 credit hours

Senior Year: Spring Semester

MPA 505 Law and Public Policy 3 credit hours

Graduate: Summer Semester

MPA 517 Governmental Budgeting 3 credit hours
MPA 521 Microeconomics for Policymakers 3 credit hours

Graduate: Fall Semester

MPA 515 Strategic Planning and Leadership 3 credit hours
MPA 520 Policy Communications 3 credit hours
MPA 590 Capstone Research Design 3 credit hours

Graduate: Spring Semester

MPA 511 Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation 3 credit hours
MPA 514 Nonprofits and Public Policy 3 credit hours
MPA 591 Capstone Research Project 3 credit hours

One-Year Plan

Fall Semester

MPA 501 Public Policy Process and Issues 3 credit hours
MPA 510 Quantitative Analysis for Policy and Administration 3 credit hours
MPA 515 Strategic Planning and Leadership 3 credit hours
MPA 590 Capstone Research Design 3 credit hours

Spring Semester

MPA 505 Law and Public Policy 3 credit hours
MPA 511 Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation 3 credit hours
MPA 514 Nonprofits and Public Policy 3 credit hours
MPA 518 Public Sector Organizations 3 credit hours

Summer Semester

MPA 517 Governmental Budgeting 3 credit hours
MPA 521 Microeconomics for Policymakers 3 credit hours
MPA 591 Capstone Research Project 3 credit hours
Graduate Program Course Elective 3 credit hours *

*substituted for MPA 520 not taken in fall semester

Two-Year Plan

Year One: Fall Semester

MPA 501 Public Policy Process and Issues 3 credit hours
MPA 510 Quantitative Analysis for Policy and Administration 3 credit hours
MPA 515 Strategic Planning and Leadership 3 credit hours

Year One: Spring Semester

MPA 505 Law and Public Policy 3 credit hours
MPA 511 Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation 3 credit hours
MPA 514 Nonprofits and Public Policy 3 credit hours

Year One: Summer Semester

MPA 517 Governmental Budgeting 3 credit hours
MPA 521 Microeconomics for Policymakers 3 credit hours

Year Two: Fall Semester

MPA 520 Policy Communications 3 credit hours
MPA 590 Capstone Research Design 3 credit hours

Year Two: Spring Semester

MPA 511 Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation 3 credit hours
MPA 591 Capstone Research Project 3 credit hours

Three-Year Plan

Year One: Fall Semester

MPA 501 Public Policy Process and Issues 3 credit hours
MPA 510 Quantitative Analysis for Policy and Administration 3 credit hours

Year One: Spring Semester

MPA 505 Law and Public Policy 3 credit hours
MPA 511 Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation 3 credit hours

Year One: Summer Semester

MPA 517 Governmental Budgeting 3 credit hours

Year Two: Fall Semester

MPA 515 Strategic Planning and Leadership 3 credit hours
MPA 520 Policy Communications 3 credit hours

Year Two: Spring Semester

MPA 514 Nonprofits and Public Policy 3 credit hours
MPA 518 Public Sector Organizations 3 credit hours

Year Two: Summer Semester

MPA 521 Microeconomics for Policymakers 3 credit hours

Year Three: Fall Semester

MPA 590 Capstone Research Design 3 credit hours

Year Three: Spring Semester

MPA 591 Capstone Research Project 3 credit hours

Four-Year Plan

Year One: Fall Semester

MPA 501 Public Policy Process and Issues 3 credit hours

Year One: Spring Semester

MPA 505 Law and Public Policy 3 credit hours

Year One: Summer Semester

MPA 517 Governmental Budgeting 3 credit hours

Year Two: Fall Semester

MPA 510 Quantitative Analysis for Policy and Administration 3 credit hours

Year Two: Spring Semester

MPA 511 Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation 3 credit hours

Year Two: Summer Semester

MPA 521 Microeconomics for Policymakers 3 credit hours

Year Three: Fall Semester

MPA 515 Strategic Planning and Leadership 3 credit hours

Year Three: Spring Semester

MPA 514 Nonprofits and Public Policy 3 credit hours

Year Three: Summer Semester

Graduate Program Course Elective 3 credit hours *

*substituted for MPA 520 not taken in Year Four’s fall semester.

Year Four: Fall Semester

MPA 590 Capstone Research Design 3 credit hours

Year Four: Spring Semester

MPA 518 Public Sector Organizations 3 credit hours

Year Four: Summer Semester

MPA 591 Capstone Research Project 3 credit hours