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The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program offered at Notre Dame’s campus, and now online, has long been recognized for our faculty’s dedication to preparing professionals to work effectively in management and leadership positions within public, nonprofit, and service-related organizations.
The MPA program attracts professionals, including educational administrators, police and public service, healthcare professionals and government agency employees, from a variety of work experiences. The diversity of interests among our students is brought together in core courses and expanded in the areas of specialization.
The MPA program emphasizes broad study in functional areas of public administration and concentrated study in the fields of human resources management or public affairs administration.
Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is committed to honoring and recognizing the incredible sacrifices of our nation’s military veterans, active duty personnel and reservists. We understand the pursuit of higher education can be a challenge for members of the military because of cost and the demanding and uncertain schedules of military life. NDNU offers a variety of programs to help ease these burdens for both members of the military and their dependents.
Students may apply to the Master of Public Administration program in the fall, spring, or summer semesters and should meet the following requirements:
The MPA program requires 36 semester units of graduate course credit:
These courses are designed to prepare students in the functional areas traditionally comprising the field of Public Administration. Students must complete all of the Core Courses.
A systematic and experimental approach to the analysis of structural components of organizations as well as the behavior of people in them from private to public and nonprofit organizations. The purpose of the course is to provide the student with a thorough understanding of management theories, contemporary management application issues, and organizational models as they relate to organizational culture and structure.
(3 units)
Provides a conceptual foundation in public administration with an examination of the nature, scope, structures, functions, and challenges facing today's public sector administrative professionals.
(3 units)
Students gain applied research skills to engage in research for the purpose of benefiting a community organization or addressing a public issue. Topics will survey various scientific methods of inquiry, methodology, and procedures for analyzing and interpreting data and presenting results to address a policy or community-specified need.
(3 units)
This course focuses on concepts of financial management in the public and private sectors and relates performance in public financial management to notions of public value. Both practical and theoretical dimensions of public sector budgeting, finances, and reporting will be explored.
(3 units)
For future leaders who need spatial technology to inform business and public sector decision-making. Course work involves geographic information systems (GIS) applications to practical problems of retail service, public works management, public safety planning and reporting, land-use planning, and economic development. The course also reviews issues of how GIS can be used by organizations to support management analysis.
(3 units)
Gives an historical and philosophical approach to leadership, identification of personal goals and leadership behaviors in administration, and understanding group dynamics and group leadership. The course is organized as a laboratory for self-study of the individual as a leader and for development of leadership strategies.
(3 units)
Offers an overview of the personnel function, emphasizing professional responsibilities for employment, compensation, employee and labor relations, benefits administration, legal compliance matters, and human resources planning.
(3 units)
This course is used to integrate and apply the knowledge gained from previous courses with an emphasis on public administration environments, management strategies, ethical decision-making in public agencies, and public policy-making strategies.
(3 units)
In addition to Core courses, all MPA students are required to take an additional 12 graduate units. Students concentrating in Human Resource Management or Public Affairs Administration must take at least 9 units from the approved course list for the chosen concentration. The remaining 3 units may be satisfied by any BUS graduate elective approved by the program advisor. Students wishing to pursue a double concentration must take 9 units of approved coursework for each concentration, for a total of 42 units towards the degree. Students desiring a broader study can elect to pursue a general degree and select any 12 units of electives approved by the graduate program director.
9 units from the following + 3 units from BUS graduate elective approved by the program advisor:
Focuses on how to organize and lead working groups separated by time, distance, or organizational affiliation. Evaluation of collaboration tools, content management applications, and business process management solutions provide a technology framework. Development of collaborative processes with enabling technologies to support departmental and cross-functional teams for intra-company scenarios, as well as intercompany teams in a value chain that forms a virtual enterprise is emphasized.
(3 units)
Considers the specific issues concerned with managing a diverse workforce and clientele; ethnicity, class, religious beliefs, age, gender, sexual orientation, and learning or physical disabilities are considered.
(3 units)
The managerial perspective on Labor law, union organizing, campaigns, and negotiations are studied with a view to the development of labor policies. The case method and lecture/discussions are used.
(3 units)
Focuses on theoretical and practical analysis of principles and processes for the management of conflict in employment relationships. Provides a framework for understanding and developing skills and techniques for the identification, prevention, and resolution of conflict in workplace relationships; explores the design of effective conflict management systems.
(3 units)
Focuses on staffing needs and how to meet them, interview techniques, assessment of candidate potential and placement, assessment of training needs and means of developing effective training programs, and career planning and management.
(3 units)
9 units from the following + 3 units from BUS graduate elective approved by the program advisor:
This course investigates contemporary issues in public administration with a focus on evaluating the effectiveness of governmental policies, processes, and policy management techniques. Includes an examination of the role of society in shaping public institutions and how these institutions influence and structure public policy-making and administration.
(3 units)
Examines court decisions affecting administrative law. Topics include jurisdiction, venue, judicial ethics and discretion, abuses, and contemporary problems.
(3 units)
Students learn how organizations establish and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with the various publics it depends on to achieve its goals and mission. Professional practices, ethical responsibilities, communication theories, program planning, execution and evaluation as well as an in-depth study of the structure and function of various publics are examined.
(3 units)
Considers the specific issues concerned with managing a diverse workforce and clientele; ethnicity, class, religious beliefs, age, gender, sexual orientation, and learning or physical disabilities are considered.
(3 units)
Notre Dame de Namur University is a leader in expanding access, inspiring excellence, and fostering community engagement. Now more than ever, we strive for new ways to open doors to all students driven to grow through higher education.