Curriculum

This is a stock photo. The United States Capitol Building in Washington D.C. This is a stock photo. The United States Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
Under the guidance of our award-winning, student-oriented faculty, students will obtain the “professional edge” necessary for a successful career in public service.

Your Path To Success

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a 36-credit hour program. Our exceptional faculty provide a highly engaged, rigorous, and skill focused academic experience for our graduate students. Our curricular focus is tailored to developing a career in public service through government or nonprofit organizations.

The program strives to achieve local, state and national prominence through our contemporary curriculum, innovative instruction, scholarly and applied research, and service to key stakeholders. The university of Miami provides numerous opportunities for students to be involved and grow in their professional development including a practicum tailored to career skill building, participation in our ICMA student chapter, networking within local, regional, and national conferences, as well as engaging in competitive programming on campus to demonstrate their policy problem solving skills.

Our program activities are designed to develop and enhance management skills essential to public and nonprofit organizations oriented towards a diverse metropolitan environment. Through small, stimulating seminars, convenient evening courses, and modern facilities, our students will acquire the essential skills necessary for public service professionalism—excellence in technique, ethics and leadership—to help meet the challenges in the years ahead.

Our students will be able to demonstrate critical analytical and writing skills related to public policy and administration by the time they graduate. They will be able to demonstrate oral communication skills, and students will be able to demonstrate analytical competencies acquired through internships. We invite you to browse our curriculum and contact our office with any questions you may have about our program.

Curriculum

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  • Core Courses - 24 Credits

    Students must complete, and obtain a passing grade, in all of the courses list below:

    • POL 601 – Budget and Financial Management and Administration
    • POL 606 – Organizational Dynamics
    • POL 608 – Equity and Diversity in Public Administration
    • POL 610 – Political Analysis
    • POL 622 – Introduction to Graduate Public Administration
    • POL 647 – Human Resource Management in Public Service
    • POL 657 – Ethical and Managerial Issues in Government, Business, and
      Non-profit organizations
    • POL 699 – Public Affairs Practicum Or POL 656 – Public Service Internship

  • Specialized Courses - 12 Credits

    • POL 637 – Public Sector Economics
    • POL 646 – Public Policy Process and Implementation
    • POL 660 – Public Program Evaluation
    • Elective

    Specializations can be personalized with the consultation and approval of POL Department. These specializations will need to align with student’s career goals and interests.

    Examples of possible specializations are listed below.

    Organization Management and Leadership:

    • POL 619 – Game Theory
    • POL 624 – Non-Profit Organizations: Law, Policy and Management
    • POL 660 – Public Program Evaluation
    • Elective

    Local Government:

    • POL 667 – Collaborative Governance
    • POL 674 – Urban Politics
    • POL 696 – MuniMod: Civic Innovation Competition
    • Elective

    International Public Administration:

    • POL 691 – International Security
    • POL 692 – International Political Economy
    • POL 625 – Public Policy and Administration
    • Elective

  • Internship - 3 Credits

    Students must complete a 3-credit internship experience (200 hours). Students with prior managerial work experience may substitute a relevant POL course for the internship with the prior approval of the MPA Director. In a case where a student is unable to obtain an internship, a relevant POL course may be substituted with the prior written approval of the MPA Director.

  • Electives - 9 Credits

    The remaining 9 credit hours may include a mixture of elective courses, or independent study courses taken either through the POL department or in other University of Miami Departments. Independent study and courses taken through other University of Miami Departments require the approval of the MPA Program Director to count toward the MPA credit hour requirements. A maximum of an additional 3 credit hours of internship may count toward the MPA as an elective.

*36 to 48 credit hours may be completed at the graduate level, depending on government management experience and academic preparation. Please contact our office with questions you may have regarding the credit hours for this program.

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