Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is designed to prepare students for careers in public and non-profit service. The degree provides the student with a generalist perspective of public administration, including professional skills such as ethical leadership and management; strategic planning and performance evaluation; budgeting and finance; evidenced-based decision-making; human resource management; the public policy process; and a broad understanding of the democratic governance system.
Admission to the Program
In addition to the general requirements of the university, specific requirements for admission to the MPA degree program are:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university;
- A grade point average of 3.0 or above for the last 60 semester units (or 90 quarter units) of course work including post-baccalaureate courses. Students with a gpa of 2.50-2.99 may be admitted in consideration of their relevant professional experience and overall application.
- Public Service employment experience. Students without public service employment experience are advised to complete an internship before being advanced to candidacy.
- Academic motivation and professional goals and qualifications demonstrated through submission of a 500 word statement of purpose.
No more than 9 semester units of graduate credit earned in unclassified/ conditionally classified standing may be counted toward meeting the requirements for the degree.
Advancement to Candidacy
To be advanced to candidacy, a student must have:
- Completed the Graduate Entrance Writing requirement through passing the writing intensive PA 6110 with at least a "B-" grade.
- Completed at least 15 semester units of applicable graduate-level course work at the university, with a minimum grade point average of "B" (3.0);
- Completed an approved graduate program plan in consultation with an MPA adviser.
- Have evidence of Public Service employment experience or completion of PA 6750 Internship
- Secured the approval of candidacy from the MPA Graduate Director and the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Requirements for Graduation
- 36 semester units consistent with the program plan, with at least 27 units completed at CSUSB;
- Successful completion of the required core, selected concentration and required elective courses as outlined in the curriculum section;
- A cumulative grade point average of "B" (3.0) in MPA course work, grades of "C" (2.0) or better in all courses applied to the degree, and grade of "B-" or better in PA 6110;
- Completion of the Public Administration Capstone PA 6550 with a "B" (3.0) or higher grade.
- Satisfactory completion of one semester of PA 6985 Professional Development Seminar.
- MPA students satisfy the graduation writing requirement through successful completion of the comprehensive examination.
Degree Requirements (36 units)
| PA 6030 | Research Methods in Administration | 3 |
| PA 6110 | Public Administration Theory and Practice | 3 |
| PA 6620 | Human Resource Management in the Public Sector | 3 |
| PA 6630 | Public Budgeting and Finance | 3 |
| PA 6640 | Management of Public Organizations | 3 |
| PA 6800 | Public Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PA 6985 | Professional Development Seminar * Must be taken during the first two semesters of the program. | 0 |
| Culminating Experience (3) | 3 | |
| Concentration (15) | ||
| Students must satisfy the requirements of one of the concentrations listed below | 15 | |
| Total Units | 36 | |
Students may not include more than 9 semester units in transfer credit from other colleges. California State University, San Bernardino will not consider transfer credit course work from any institution which will not accept that work in its own advanced degree program.
Culminating Experience (3 units)
| PA 6550 | Capstone: Strategic Planning for Government and Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| Total Units | 3 | |
Concentrations (15 units)
Community Planning & Management Concentration
(Program Code: PACP)
| PA 5200 | Sustainability Policy and Management | 3 |
| PA 5210 | Community Planning and Management | 3 |
| PA 5640 | Economic and Community Development | 3 |
| Two electives (6 units) selected from any 5000 or 6000 level PA non-core class. | 6 | |
| Total Units | 15 | |
Cyber Security Concentration
(Program Code: PACS)
| IST 6090 | Information Systems and Technology Management | 3 |
| IST 6470 | Database Management and Policies | 3 |
| IST 6700 | Cybersecurity Policy and Risk Management | 3 |
| IST 6730 | Cybersecurity Theory and Practice | 3 |
| IST 6890 | Enterprise Architecture Planning, Strategy, Security and Policy | 3 |
| Total Units | 15 | |
Leadership Concentration
(Program Code: PALD)
| PA 5010 | Administrative Leadership | 3 |
| PA 6500 | Government in the Digital Age | 3 |
| PA 6720 | Administrative Regulation | 3 |
| Two electives (6 units) selected from any 5000 or 6000 level PA non-core class. | 6 | |
| Total Units | 15 | |
Public Financial Management Concentration
(Program Code: PAFM)
| PA 6150 | Public and Nonprofit Financial Management | 3 |
| PA 6300 | Program Evaluation | 3 |
| PA 6610 | Principles of Public and Nonprofit Procurement | 3 |
| Two electives (6 units) selected from any 5000 or 6000 level PA non-core class. | 6 | |
| Total Units | 15 | |
Nonprofit Leadership Concentration
(Program Code PANP)
| PA 5140 | Nonprofit Management and Leadership | 3 |
| PA 5150 | Executive Nonprofit Leadership | 3 |
| PA 5170 | Nonprofit Fundraising and Grantwriting | 3 |
| Two electives (6 units) selected from any 5000 or 6000 level PA non-core class. | 6 | |
| Total Units | 15 | |