MPA Program Options and Foundation Courses

PLEASE NOTE:  THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS APPLY TO NEW MPA STUDENTS THAT BEGIN IN FALL 2010 OR LATER.  CURRENT MPA STUDENTS CAN REFER TO THE UNIVERSITY CATALOG THAT WAS IN EFFECT WHEN THEY STARTED THE MPA PROGRAM.

FOUNDATION COURSES:
Before starting the graduate core courses, students must satisfactorily complete four foundation courses:

PUAD 4800: Public Administration and Society (with a grade B or better)

PUAD 4830: Organization Theory and Behavior (with a grade B or better)

PUAD 4840:  Fundamentals of Information Management in the Public Sector (with a grad of B or better)

PUAD 5000: Philosophy of Public Administration (with a grade B or better)

All applicants must pass the Foundation courses and be admitted into the program before enrolling in 6000 level courses.

WRITING SKILLS TEST: All students are also required to take and pass the University Writing Skills Test (WST) during their first quarter of enrollment. The WST is a state requirement for all students enrolling in the CSU system. Students should consult the University Catalog for full information on the WST.

Please note:  Students will not be allowed to take any 6000 level courses until the WST requirements have been met.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS - 48 UNITS
The program requires completion of 48 QUARTER UNITS beyond the foundation courses, at least 35 units of which must be completed in residence at CSUEB:
Core Courses -- 20 units
Required and Elective Courses in an Option Area -- 24 units
The Capstone Course -- 4 units

I. CORE COURSES - 20 UNITS
All students must take the following five courses prior to taking the option courses:
PUAD 6801: Public Policy Formulation and Implementation
PUAD 6811: Human Organizations and Social Realities
PUAD 6812: Changing Human Organizations
PUAD 6831: Research Methods in Public Administration I
PUAD 6832: Research Methods in Public Administration II
(Notes:  6811 must precede 6812.  6831 and 6832 are not sequential - 6832 may be taken before 6831.)

II. OPTION AREAS - 24 UNITS
Students choose one of the following options to specialize in the area of their choice in the MPA Program (a double option is also available). Options include four courses designated for the option and 8 units of electives which may be taken outside the department with prior approval of the student’s advisor. All PUAD courses carry 4 units.

Internships

The Department of Public Administration sponsors a graduate internship program as an integral part of the Master's program. The internship program provides students with an opportunity to complement their academic studies with practical administrative experience in a city, county, state, federal or non-profit agency. The internships vary from three to nine months and average 10 to 30 hours per week. Some pay a stipend, others are on a volunteer basis. An internship is not a job placement, but an opportunity for gaining experience.

For information on how to have the Department periodically email you information on internship opportunities, click here.

III. CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE - 4 UNITS Students are required to take one of the following:
PUAD 6901: The Graduate Synthesis and Comprehensive Examination
PUAD 6909: The Department Thesis or
PUAD 6910: The University Thesis

Students must satisfy the University Writing Skills Test requirements before they will be allowed to enroll in PUAD 6901, PUAD 6909 or PUAD 6910.  Please refer the Testing Office website at www.testing.csueastbay.edu for additional information.