This program prepares students for government service on the federal, state, or local level, for employment in nonprofit organizations, and for careers which require various administrative skills. Its courses focus on such areas as budgeting, personnel and financial administration, the management of organizations, public services, law, political and government institutions, ethics, and global awareness.
Degree Requirements
Aside from other requirements for the baccalaureate degree, students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in public administration must complete the general education requirements, the following 12 courses (or approved substitutes), and sufficient electives to total 120 credits.
POLSC 100 American Government and Politics
PA 201 Public Administration
PA 202 Studies in Public Administration
PA 305 State and Local Government
PA 306 City Management
PA 340 Public Policy
PA 362 Public Personnel Administration
PA 363 Public Financial Administration
PA 364 Organizational Theory and Mgmt
PA or POLSC electives [Three courses]
The first graduating class of Roger Williams University’s Graduate Program in Public Administration. (May, 2007)
The program is based upon the standards outlined by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. The MPA Program seeks:
- To foster excellence in public service and good government.
- To prepare students for leadership and service in federal, state or local government as well as non-profit management.
- To positively influence public policy and management by promoting such values as constitutionalism, citizen participation, equity, diversity, and the ethical performance of public service.
- To foster an understanding about the integration of public administration institutions, processes, and procedures. These include legal, political, economic, and social institutions and a variety of administrative processes.
- To improve communications skills.
- To develop decision making skills along with problem-identification and problem-solving abilities.
The 36-credit program is offered in the evening to part-time students. There are two tracks – an In-Service track for working professionals in the field, and a Pre-Service track for students who have not yet had work experience. Courses will be taught in the following formats: traditional classroom, on-line, and directed study – a combination of classroom and on-line instruction.
The program consists of six core courses followed by four courses in a area of specialization (either Public Management or Health Care Management). The In-Service capstone experience is a research course followed by a directed study. The Pre-Service capstone experience consists of an internship course followed by a directed study.
Further information may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Admissions, the Dean of the Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences, the Director of the Master's Program in Public Administration, or the Dean of the School of Continuing Studies.
Degree Requirements
Core Courses (complete all six courses)
PA 501 Foundations of Public Administration
PA 502 Foundations of Public Administration
PA 503 Quantitative Methods in Public Administration
PA 504 Public Policy
PA 505 Public Budgeting and Finance
PA 506 Public Personnel Management
PA 511 Public Organizations
Choose an area of specialization and complete four (4) courses
Either:
Public Management (complete 4 of the 8 courses)
PA 512 Intergovernmental Relations
PA 513 Public Administration and Public Law
PA 514 Urban Administration and Management
PA 515 Ethics in Public Administration
PA 516 Grants Writing and Management
PA 517 Computer Applications for Public Managers
PA 518 Program Evaluation
PA 530 Special Topics in Public Administration
or:
Health Care Administration Courses (complete all 4 courses)
PA 550 Health Care Administration
PA 551 Public Policy and Politics in Health Care
Administration
PA 552 Trends and Issues in Health Administration
PA 553 Economics of Health and Medical Care
Complete one of the following two-course capstone sequences
Pre-service Track:
PA 580 Internship in Public Administration
PA 599 Directed Study in Public Administration
In-Service Track:
PA 590 Research in Public Administration
PA 599 Directed Study in Public Administration