Distance Learning

Distance Programs

Master of Public Administration


Listed below are descriptions for the core courses, electives, and capstone course in the master of public administration.


  CORE COURSES
 

PA 601 Seminar in Public Administration (3 hours)
Description: An analytical overview of public administration as a field of study and as a profession in the United States and other countries.
Delivery: Web (Internet)

PA 605 Organizational Behavior in Public Agencies (3 hours)
Description: Conceptual and empirical analysis of organizational and personal relationships in public agencies. Professional socialization, interpersonal relationships, conflict management, and informal influence will be emphasized.
Delivery: Web (Internet)

PA 606 Public Personnel Administration (3 hours)
Description: Analysis of managerial philosophies and techniques utilized in public and non-profit agencies. Topics covered will include manpower analysis, recruitment, affirmative action, and job analysis.
Delivery: Web (Internet)

PA 607 Budgeting in Governmental Agencies (3 hours)
Description: Financial administration in public agencies, emphasizing budgetary techniques and political aspects of financial decision making. Budget preparation for state and local agencies will be emphasized.
Delivery: Web (Internet)

PSCI 621 Seminar in American Government (3 hours)
Description: A comprehensive survey of major perspectives on American government in literature and research. Voting behavior, presidential-congressional relationships, the decision-making process, and the public interest.
Delivery: Desktop Videoconferencing and Internet

PSCI 655 Scope and Methods of Political Science (3 hours)
Description: Introduction to the graduate study of political science and its subfields, with attention to methodology, research design, and research methods.
Delivery: Desktop Videoconferencing and Internet

PSCI 658 Seminar in Empirical Theory (3 hours)
Description: Survey of contemporary approaches in political science, including, among others, sociological and psychological perspectives, role and group theories, theories of games and coalitions, organization theories, and systems theories. Topics selected to accord with student needs and interests.
Delivery: Desktop Videoconferencing and Internet



  ELECTIVES
 

PA 602 Statistical Analysis for Public Administrators (3 hours)
Description: Applications of statistical methods in preparing and evaluating research reports and other documents. Topics covered will include descriptive statistics, survey sampling, hypothesis testing, and inferential statistics.
Delivery: Desktop Videoconferencing and Internet

PA 603 Computer and Management Information Systems for Public Administrators (3 hours)
Description: Practical use of mainframe and micro-computers to store, retrieve, and analyze public agency data bases. Applications of SPSS-X will be explored; other packages will be included as time permits.
Delivery: Desktop Videoconferencing and Internet

PA 609 Ethical Concerns in Current American Public Administration (3 hours)
Description: This course reviews theories of ethics and principles of ethics applied to management in the public sector. It deals with ethical issues that may confront the public manager. Accountability, discretion, working in the public interest, and influence of public administrators on public policy are reviewed. The course emphasizes practical approaches to ethical dilemmas in public administration.
Delivery: Desktop Videoconferencing and Internet

PA 640 Seminar in Personnel Law (3 hours)
Description: Analysis of personnel-related legal matters and their applications in public personnel management. Topics covered will include EEOC/OSHA guidelines, fair employment, employee rights, and collective bargaining laws. A major research paper will be required. (Note: M.P.A. students are not required to complete the major research paper.)
Delivery: Desktop Videoconferencing and Internet

PA 690 Special Topics in Public Administration (3 hours)
Description: Special topics in public administration not covered by regularly scheduled research seminars will be considered. The course may be repeated for up to 6 hours of credit with a different topic. A major research paper will be required. (Note: M.P.A. students are not required to complete the major research paper.)
Delivery: Desktop Videoconferencing and Internet

PA 698 Directed Research in Public Administration (3 hours)
Description: Supervised research on an approved topic resulting in a major research document.
Delivery: Desktop Videoconferencing and Internet


  CAPSTONE COURSE
 

PA 697 Capstone Research Seminar in Public Administration (3 hours)
Description: This is a directed research course that will be taken by each M.P.A. student during her or his final semester in the M.P.A. Program. Under the supervision of one or more members of the political science and public administration faculty, students will develop projects suitable for presentation at a public forum. Faculty will judge each project and presentation either as pass or fail. Judgments will be based on form, style, substance, and presentation of each project. Passage of this course is the final step toward the award of the M.P.A.
Delivery: Desktop Videoconferencing and Internet


The Catalog of Indiana State University is the document of authority for all students. The requirements given in the catalog supersede information issued by any academic department, program, college, or school. The University reserves the right to change the requirements at any time.

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