The request to revise the MPA Program Concentrations and Course Offerings and establish three new certificates: Arts Administration, Public Budgeting & Finance, and Urban Management & Policy
Date: June 23, 2011
To: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
From: Clarence Greene, Faculty Governance Assistant
Approved On: May 26, 2011
Implementation Date: 2011
Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.
Summary
The Department of Political Science proposes to make the following revisions to the MPA curriculum:
- Create a new concentration in Public Finance.
- Eliminate five courses from curriculum: MPAD 6140, MPAD 6144, MPAD 6170, MPAD 6176, MPAD 6293
- Combine MPAD 6291 & MPAD 6293 into one course.
- Create seven new elective courses: MPAD 6312, MPAD 6314, MPAD 6316, MPAD 6318, MPAD 6332, MPAD 6350, MPAD 6352
- Change the name of MPAD 6324.
- Make minor corrections to the MPA Program section of the Graduate Catalogue.
Catalog Copy
The MPA Program section of the Graduate Catalogue should be as follows:
The primary objective of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program is to provide professional training in public administration. The curriculum of this National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) accredited program emphasizes the analysis of the political and administrative environments as well as the administrative decision-making approaches of public administration. Application of techniques and administrative skills to the management of nonprofit organizations is also included in the curriculum. The methods of instruction employed in the program expose students to a variety of approaches to public management.
Students may enroll in the Master of Public Administration program on either a full-time or part-time basis. The majority of classes are scheduled in the evening throughout the year. However, classes are sometimes scheduled on Saturdays and during the afternoon. Classes meet on the main campus and at UNC Charlotte Uptown Center.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Master of Public Administration program is open to qualified graduates of recognized colleges and universities accredited by a regional or general accrediting agency. There are seven major requirements for admission:
1) Application in writing submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office, accompanied by the application fee, which is neither deductible nor refundable.
2) Possession of a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from an accredited college or university.
3) An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
4) An appropriate score on the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical portions of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Although there is no required score for these exams, typically an acceptable score would be above the 35th percentile. The average score for admitted applicants is approximately 500 Verbal and 600 Quantitative.
5) A written statement of professional career goals and a description of any significant work experience, particularly in the public or nonprofit sectors.
6) Three supporting letters of recommendation from professors or employers.
7) Submission of two official transcripts from all postsecondary educational institutions in which the candidate was enrolled.
Prerequisite Requirements
In addition to the admission requirements, MPA students must complete the following prior to taking MPAD 6126, MPAD 6131, MPAD 6134, and their elective coursework: POLS 1110, Introduction to American Government (or the equivalent) with a grade of C or higher; STAT 1222, Elementary Statistics for the Social Sciences (or the equivalent) with a grade of C or higher; and demonstrate proficiency in computer applications (e.g. ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). Students may complete these after admission into the program.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Public Administration program is structured in three distinct phases: 1) core, 2) advanced work, and 3) directed study or research project. In all, the program requires 39 hours of graduate credit for completion of the degree. The MPA Program Handbook, available on the program website (http://mpa.uncc.edu), presents the most up-to-date listing of degree requirements.
I. Core
All students are required to complete 18 hours in core study. The emphasis in the core is twofold: (a) Understanding the various managerial and analytical approaches salient to the environment of public administration, and (b) Achieving an overall perspective on the problems of public administration. Students must attain a grade of B or higher in each core course prior to enrolling in MPAD 6187 and MPAD 6188. Students earning grades of C in a core course must retake that course at the earliest possible opportunity. The core courses are:
MPAD 6102 Foundations in Public Admin (3)
MPAD 6104 Public Organizations & Management (3)
MPAD 6125 Quantitative Research Methods in Public Administration (3)
MPAD 6126 Data Analysis for Decision Making (3)
MPAD 6131 Public Budgeting and Finance (3)
MPAD 6134 Human Resources Management (3)
II. Advanced Courses
a) Electives: The MPA program offers several advanced elective courses in areas important to public administrators. With the approval of the Director, students may take advanced elective work with other departments. Students are required to take a minimum of fifteen hours of advanced electives unless they opt for the Directed Study option (see below) in which case they need only take twelve hours of advanced electives. The MPA electives are:
MPAD 6000 Topics for Graduate Study in Public Administration (1-4)
MPAD 6128 Foundations of Public Policy Analysis
MPAD 6142 Managing Grants and Contracts in the Public & Nonprofit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6143 Introduction to Administrative Law (3)
MPAD 6160 Information Systems in Public Administration (3)
MPAD 6172 Administration of Health Care Systems in the U.S. (3)
MPAD 6174 Public Policy & Politics in Health Care Administration (3)
MPAD 6184 Urban Government and Politics
MPAD 6185 Intergovernmental Relations (3)
MPAD 6210 Aging and Public Policy (3)
MPAD 6211 Administration of Aging Programs (3)
MPAD 6290 Emergency Management (3)
MPAD 6291 Homeland Security & Terrorism (3)
MPAD 6292 Disaster Management (3)
MPAD 6310 Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector (3)
MPAD 6311 Intro to Nonprofit Management (3)
MPAD 6312 Fundraising (3)
MPAD 6314 Marketing for Arts & Nonprofit Organizations (3)
MPAD 6316 Introduction to Arts Administrations (3)
MPAD 6318 Arts Administration II (3)
MPAD 6324 Financial Analysis for Nonprofit Organizations (3)
MPAD 6326 Applied Economics for Public Administrators (3)
MPAD 6327 Internal Capacity Building in Nonprofit Organizations (3)
MPAD 6328 Urban & Community Development (3)
MPAD 6329 Nonprofit Organizations and their Environment (3)
MPAD 6330 Program Evaluation for the Public & Nonprofit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6332 Project Management (3)
MPAD 6350 Public Sector Financial Management I (3)
MPAD 6352 Public Sector Financial Management II (3)
MPAD 6820 Independent Study (1-3)
b) Capstone Seminar: Students are required to complete MPAD 6187: Advanced Seminar in Public Management Problem Solving as a capstone course. Students must successfully complete all of their core courses with a grade of B or better prior to enrolling in this course.
III. Directed Study or Research Applications (each MPA student must complete one of the options “a” or “b”). Students must successfully complete all of their core courses with a grade of B or better prior to enrolling in any courses listed in this section.
a) Research Applications: Students who select this option will complete a one-semester written project course on an approved topic of significance in public administration or nonprofit management. The project will include the submission of revised paper drafts based on instructor evaluation. Students must enroll in the following course which is graded A, B, C, or U:
MPAD 6188 Research Applications in Public Administration (3)
b) Directed Study: Students who select this option will complete a written project on a topic of significance based on a field experience or research in public administration, nonprofit management, or arts administration. The Directed Study requires the following courses, graded on a pass/unsatisfactory basis:
MPAD 6800 Directed Study in Public Administration (Proposal) (3)
MPAD 6801 Directed Study in Public Administration (Completed Study) (3)
University regulations governing the preparation and submission of Master’s theses apply to the Directed Study option. Rules for the Directed Study committee are provided in the MPA Program Handbook. Students who select option “b” may take one less elective course for 3 credits to complete the MPA degree in the required 39 hours.
Admission to Candidacy Requirements
Students are required to complete an “Application for Admission to Candidacy” due November 1st (for May graduation), September 1st (for December graduation), or May 1st (for August graduation). This form lists all courses to be counted toward the degree. It must be signed by the student and returned to the MPA Program office. The form is available online from the Graduate School web page.
Internships
Each student in the Master of Public Administration Program is required to complete a field experience. This requirement may be satisfied in one of these ways: (1) through a position in a public or nonprofit organization; (2) through a position in a business where the work experience is approved for internship by the MPA director; or (3) through an approved internship in a public or nonprofit organization. Each student must complete an “MPA Internship Information” form and submit it to the MPA office for approval. Forms to evaluate the internship experience must also be completed. These forms are available in the main MPA office. Current guidelines for the internship requirement are provided in the MPA Program Handbook.
Degree Concentrations
Students may either develop their own program of study with their elective credits or complete one of five approved 15 credit hour concentrations. Students who choose a concentration must focus their research in MPAD 6188, or MPAD 6800 and MPAD 6801 on an approved topic related to the concentration subject matter.
Nonprofit Management
The nonprofit management concentration consists of fifteen credit hours within the MPA curriculum. Students must fulfill the following requirements:
1-Students are required to take the following two courses:
MPAD 6311 Introduction to Nonprofit Management (3)
MPAD 6324 Financial Analysis for Nonprofit Organizations (3)
2-Students must complete two of the following courses:
MPAD 6142 Managing Grants and Contracts in the Public & Nonprofit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6310 Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector (3)
MPAD 6312 Fundraising (3)
MPAD 6314 Marketing for Arts & Nonprofit Organizations (3)
MPAD 6316 Introduction to Arts Administration (3)
MPAD 6318 Arts Administration II (3)
MPAD 6327 Internal Capacity Building in Nonprofit Organizations (3)
MPAD 6329 Nonprofit Organizations and their Environment (3)
MPAD 6330 Program Evaluation for the Public & Nonprofit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6332 Project Management (3)
3-Students must complete an additional three credit hours of MPAD electives.
Appropriate non-MPAD courses may be taken within this concentration upon approval of the student’s advisor and the MPA Director.
Urban Management and Policy
The urban management and policy concentration consists of fifteen credit hours within the MPA curriculum. Students must fulfill the following requirements:
1-Students are required to take the following two courses:
MPAD 6184 Urban Government and Politics (3)
MPAD 6185 Intergovernmental Relations (3)
2-Students must complete two of the following courses:
MPAD 6128 Foundations of Public Policy (3)
MPAD 6142 Managing Grants and Contracts in the Public & Nonprofit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6143 Introduction to Administrative Law (3)
MPAD 6160 Information Systems in Public Administration (3)
MPAD 6290 Introduction to Emergency Management (3)
MPAD 6324 Financial Analysis for Nonprofit Organizations (3)
MPAD 6326 Applied Economics for Public Administrators (3)
MPAD 6328 Urban and Community Development (3)
MPAD 6330 Program Evaluation for the Public & Nonprofit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6332 Project Management (3)
MPAD 6350 Public Sector Financial Management I (3)
MPAD 6352 Public Sector Financial Management II (3)
GEOG 5155 Retail Location (3)
GEOG 5190 Geographic Info Systems for Non-Majors (3) or GEOG 5120 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3)
GEOG 5210 Urban Planning Methods (3)
GEOG 5260 Transportation Policy Formulation (3)
GEOG 6300 Applied Regional Analysis (3)
GEOG 6301 Industrial Location (3)
GEOG 6500 Urban Planning: Theory and Practice (3)
3-Students must complete an additional three credit hours of MPAD electives.
Appropriate non-MPAD courses may be taken within this concentration upon approval of the student’s advisor and the MPA Director.
Public Finance
The public finance concentration consists of fifteen credit hours within the MPA curriculum. Students must fulfill the following requirements:
1-Students are required to take the following three courses:
MPAD 6326 Applied Economics for Public Administrators (3)
MPAD 6350 Public Sector Financial Management I (3)
MPAD 6352 Public Sector Financial Management II (3)
2-Students must complete two of the following courses:
MPAD 6142 Managing Grants and Contracts in the Public & Nonprofit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6184 Intergovernmental Relations (3)
MPAD 6324 Financial Analysis for Non-Profit Organizations (3)
MPAD 6330 Program Evaluation for the Public & Nonprofit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6332 Project Management (3)
ECON 6112 Graduate Econometrics (3)
ECON 6218 Advanced Business and Economic Forecasting (3)
MBAD 6159 Real Estate Development (3)
Appropriate non-MPAD courses may be taken within this concentration upon approval of the student’s advisor and the MPA Director.
Arts Administration
Prerequisites: For students with an undergraduate degree not in the arts: You are required to take no less than four 3-credit hour undergraduate arts courses (or the equivalent) in order to develop the necessary foundation of appreciation for the arts required of arts administrators. The exact set of courses will be determined by the field of arts on which you desire to focus and in consultation with your advisor. The prerequisites vary by visual arts, dance, theater, and music. Ideally, these prerequisites will be completed prior to admission into the MPA program. However, students who opt for the arts administration concentration after being admitted to the MPA program will have to complete these prerequisites prior to admission into MPAD 6316, MPAD 6187, or MPAD 6188. Substantive professional experience in the arts field can be used as a substitute or partial substitute (e.g., students may be required to take less than 4 arts courses) for the undergraduate prerequisites at the discretion of the MPA Director.
The arts administration concentration consists of fifteen credit hours within the MPA curriculum. Students must fulfill the following requirements:
1-Students are required to take the following two courses:
MPAD 6311 Introduction to Nonprofit Management (3)
MPAD 6316 Introduction to Arts Administration (3)
2-Students must complete at least one of the following courses:
MPAD 6312 Fundraising (3)
MPAD 6314 Marketing for Arts & Nonprofit Organizations (3)
3-Students must complete one of the following courses:
MPAD 6128 Foundations of Public Policy (3)
MPAD 6142 Managing Grants and Contracts in Public & Non-Profit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6160 Information Systems in Public Administration (3)
MPAD 6324 Financial Analysis for Non-Profit Organizations (3)
MPAD 6327 Internal Capacity Building in Nonprofit Organizations (3)
MPAD 6329 Nonprofit Organizations and their Environment (3)
MPAD 6318 Arts Administration II (3)
COMM 5102 Federal Interpretation of the First Amendment (3)
COMM 6145 Communication Campaign Management (3)
COMM 6146 Media Relations (3)
HIST 6310 History Museums (3)
ANTH 5120 Intercultural Communications (3)
ENGL 5182 Information Design & Digital Publishing (3)
4-Students must complete an additional three credit hours of MPAD electives.
Appropriate non-MPAD courses may be taken within this concentration upon approval of the student’s advisor and the MPA Director.
Emergency Management
The Emergency Management concentration consists of fifteen credit hours within the MPA curriculum. Students must fulfill the following requirements:
1-Students are required to take the following two courses:
MPAD 6290 Emergency Management (3)
MPAD 6185 Intergovernmental Relations
2-Students must complete one of the following four courses:
MPAD 6142 Managing Grants and Contracts in Public & Non-Profit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6291 Homeland Security & Terrorism (3)
MPAD 6292 Introduction to Disaster Management (3)
GEOG 5190 Geographic Information Systems for Non-Majors (3) or GEOG 5120 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3)
3-Students must complete one of the following courses:
MPAD 6128 Foundations of Public Policy (3)
MPAD 6143 Administrative Law (3)
MPAD 6160 Information Systems in Public Organizations (3)
MPAD 6184 Urban Government and Politics (3)
MPAD 6324 Financial Analysis for Nonprofit Organizations (3)
MPAD 6330 Program Evaluation for the Public & Nonprofit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6332 Project Management (3)
GEOG 5130 Advanced Geographic Information Systems (3)
CJUS 5103 International Criminal Justice
CJUS 6120 Criminal Justice Mgmt & Decision Making (3)
CJUS 6132 Legal Issues in Law Enforcement
COMM 5102 Federal Interpretation of the First Amendment (3)
COMM 6120 Communication and the Network Society (3)
PSYC 6155 Community Psychology (3)
ITIS 5250 Computer Forensics (3)
CSLG 7680 Crisis Counseling (3)
4-Students must complete an additional three credit hours of MPAD electives.
Appropriate non-MPAD courses may be taken within this concentration upon approval of the student’s advisor and the MPA Director.
Advising
Each student is assigned an advisor and given access to the MPA Program Handbook when admitted to the program. The advisor is a member of the MPA Program faculty. Students should meet with their advisors each semester to develop a schedule before registering. Students are also encouraged to meet with the Program Director for additional advising when necessary.
Transfer Credit
Up to six credits taken at another university can be transferred to the MPA program on the recommendation of the Director and the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School.
Scholarships
1) The North Carolina City and County Management Association funds a scholarship for an MPA student to help train students for careers in North Carolina local government. The MPA Program selection committee nominates the eligible recipient each fall.
2) Burkhalter Alumni Scholarship. The MPA Alumni Association has established a scholarship fund to honor a former Charlotte City Manager.
3) Brown-Dorton MPA Scholarship. The MPA selection committee nominates eligible recipients each fall.
4) Other awards are available on a competitive basis through the Graduate School.
5) Other professional associations occasionally offer scholarships for which MPA students have competed successfully.
Public Service Fellowships
The department works with local area government and nonprofit agencies to provide fellowships to students on a competitive basis. Host agencies employ fellows on a part-time basis (20 hours per week) for a period of one to two years. In exchange for their services, agencies pay fellows a small stipend and tuition expenses for Fall and Spring semesters.
Assistantships
The department offers a number of graduate assistantships each academic year. To apply for an assistantship students must check the appropriate box on the Graduate Admissions form. Graduate assistantships are also available in several administrative units on campus. The application form is available online from the Graduate School web page.
Tuition Waivers
Out-of-state tuition waivers are available to students appointed to graduate assistantships. These are awarded on a competitive basis. Partial waivers of in-state tuition are also awarded competitively to students who are residents of North Carolina. A limited number of partial tuition awards are made available through the Graduate School.
Financial Assistance
Other forms of financial aid, such as loans, are available. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office at 704-687-2461 for further information. Several administrative units on campus also employ graduate students.
Courses In Public Administration
MPAD 6000. Topics for Graduate Study in Public Administration. (1-4) Intensive study of a topic in public administration. The topic of investigation may vary from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit. (On demand) (Evening)
MPAD 6102. Foundations in Public Administration. (3) Pre- or Co-requisite: POLS 1110 Introduction to American Government (or the equivalent). Consideration of the political context of contemporary public administration, with attention to the role of administration in the policy process, the legal basis for public administration, legislative-executive relations, and accountability, ethics, and responsibility in democratic administration. (Fall, Spring) (Evening) (MPAD only)
MPAD 6104. Public Organizations and Management. (3) Pre- or Co-requisite: POLS 1110 Introduction to American Government (or the equivalent). Changing images of people, organizations and organizational environments; research findings and applications related to organization structure, motivation, leadership, communications, decision-making, group dynamics, interpersonal skills; ethics and values important to the study and practice of organizational leadership; and assessment of value systems and the impact of competing value systems on public and organizational policy making. (Fall, Spring) (Evening) (MPAD only)
MPAD 6125. Research Methods for Public Administrators. (3) Pre- or Co-requisite: STAT 1222 Elementary Statistics (or the equivalent). An introduction to the application of social science research methods to problems in public management and policy. Topics include research design, measurement, data collection techniques, sampling, and decision-making theory. Includes basic introduction to the manipulation of data sets with statistical software. (Fall, Spring) (Evening) (MPAD only)
MPAD 6126. Data Analysis for Decision Making. (3) Pre-requisite: STAT 1222 Elementary Statistics (or the equivalent) and MPAD 6125. Continues MPAD 6125 by developing proficiency with an array of statistical procedures and tools for choosing which procedure applies to various decision making situations. Focus is on problem setup, computer-based computations, and outcome interpretation in applied settings. (Fall, Spring) (Evening) (MPAD only)
MPAD 6128. Foundations of Public Policy. (3) An examination of the role of public administrators in the policy process. Topics focus on issue formation, agenda setting, decision making, implementation, and policy evaluation. Course emphasizes the role of political actors and institutional constraints in various policy arenas. (Alternate years) (Evening)
MPAD 6131. Public Budgeting and Finance. (3) Pre- or Co-requisite: POLS 1110, Introduction to American Government (or the equivalent). An introduction to the basics of public finance and an examination of the theory and development of public budgeting, the budget processes, the budget cycle, budget reforms, capital budgets, revenue sources, taxation policies and processes, intergovernmental fiscal relations and governmental accounting practices, debt management and cash management in public organizations. (Fall, Spring) (Evening) (MPAD only)
MPAD 6134. Human Resources Management. (3) Pre- or Co-requisite: POLS 1110, Introduction to American Government (or the equivalent). Study of the context of public personnel administration; basic functions of job evaluation and compensation, employee rights and responsibilities; the legal constraints including equal opportunity, health and safety, collective bargaining; government productivity. (Spring, Summer) (Evening) (MPAD only)
MPAD 6141. Conflict Management in Public Organizations. (3) Deals with how to handle conflict within public and nonprofit agencies, as well has between organizations. Students will examine how the “publicness” of government agencies makes conflict management an especially difficult endeavor. (On Demand) (Evening)
MPAD 6142. Managing Grants and Contracts in the Public & Nonprofit Sectors. (3) Understanding government contracting and practice in government grant proposal writing with the development of contract administration skills. (Alternate years) (Evening)
MPAD 6143. Introduction to Administrative Law. (3) Prerequisite: MPAD 6102 or permission of the instructor. Examines the legal principles governing the modern administrative state, including: the Constitutional status of administrative agencies; legislative, judicial, and executive control of administrative agencies; discretion in making, adjudicating, and enforcing law and policy; the Administrative Procedures Act; and judicial review of agency action. (Alternate years) (Evening)
MPAD 6160. Information Systems in Public Administration. (3) Issues involved in administering and managing information system resource activities in public organizations. Topics include the system development life cycle including issues ranging from information system design and development through installation and evaluation. Special emphasis on challenges to achieving improved performance through information technologies in the public sector. (On demand) (Evening)
MPAD 6172. Administration of the Health Care Systems in the United States. (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6100. Components of the health care system in the United States, with emphasis on the relationships among public (local, state and federal), private, voluntary and nonprofit entities; including points of access for recipients of health care; relationships with other human services and professions involved in providing health care; and the regulatory environment governing these relationships. (On demand) (Evening)
MPAD 6174. Public Policy and Politics in Health Care Administration. (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6142. Prerequisite HADM 6100; MPAD 6172. Examination of the formulation, adoption and implementation of public policy for health care through federal, state and local political processes. (On demand) (Evening)
MPAD 6184. Urban Government & Politics. (3) Prerequisite: MPAD 6102 or permission of the instructor. Introduces students to urban affairs: the development of urban areas, the structures of local governmental bodies, the actors common to urban political scenes, and the incentives that motivate citizens and city officials. Illustrates urban policy issues such as poverty, race, transportation, housing, public safety, education, economic development, land-use, and service delivery. (Fall) (Evening)
MPAD 6185. Intergovernmental Relations. (3) Survey of the complex relationships of governments in an urban environment set in the federal system. A review of the problems created by that system and the approaches to their solutions. (Spring) (Evening)
MPAD 6187. Advanced Seminar in Public Management Problem Solving. (3) Prerequisite: all core courses. Seminar viewed as a capstone to the student’s coursework in public management and is required to be taken by all students. Seminar devoted to topics in public management, which involve problem identification and solution. Permit Only. (Fall, Spring) (Evening)
MPAD 6188. Research Applications in Public Administration. (3) Prerequisite: all core courses. Preparation of a major paper on a topic of significance in public or nonprofit administration. Topics must be approved by the instructor, and paper drafts will be revised by the student following evaluation by the instructor. Each paper must be well grounded in the appropriate professional literature and must demonstrate competence in professional communication skills. Permit Only. (Fall, Spring) (Evening)
MPAD 6210. Aging and Public Policy. (3) Examination of the public policy making process with attention to aging policy. Consideration of determinants of aging policy and institutions and actors in the policy making process and piecemeal development of legislation will be analyzed as factors related to the making of policy for the aged. (Same as GRNT 6210) (Alternate years) (Evenings)
MPAD 6211. Administration of Aging Programs. (3) Cross-listed as GRNT 6211. Focus will be the implementation of public policies and programs for the aged and the development and administration of these programs. Students will become familiar with the process through which policies are transformed into aging programs and the budgetary, management and evaluative considerations that must be considered. (Alternate years) (Evenings)
MPAD 6290. Emergency Management. (3) This course focuses on the principles and practices of emergency management at the local, state, and national levels and will explore the concepts of preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery. The course will also be conducted from the perspective of emergency management’s impact on local government and infrastructure, and the community’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a wide array of catastrophes. (Spring) (Evening)
MPAD 6291. Homeland Security & Terrorism. (3) This course investigates the organization and operation of the Department of Homeland Security, with a special emphasis placed on how the Department deals with the threat of terrorism. Strategies and tactics for fighting terrorism as well as other threats to homeland security will be examined. (On Demand) (Evening)
MPAD 6292. Disaster Management. (3) Emergency managers must be prepared to face a wide variety of natural, technological and public health disasters in their communities. Having a good understanding of a potential disaster’s unique characteristics and dynamics can help an emergency manager better prepare for the worst-case scenario. This course focuses on a series of natural and weather-related disasters, technological or man-made disasters and public health disasters. (Spring) (Evening)
MPAD 6310. Foundation of the Nonprofit Sector. (3) Survey of the history, culture and legal foundation of the nonprofit sector. Key definitions, scope and relationships between the nonprofit, for profit and government sectors are discussed. Examines current policy issues confronting nonprofits. (On Demand) (Evening)
MPAD 6311. Introduction to Nonprofit Management. (3) Examination of the structure, function and administration of nonprofit organizations. Developing strategies to ensure financial and ethical management. (Fall) (Evening)
MPAD 6312. Fundraising. (3) This course will provide a comprehensive overview of fundraising techniques geared toward various types of nonprofit organizations including education, health, arts and social services. Topics include: Annual giving, major gifts, estate planning, working with corporations and foundations, ethics and legal responsibilities. Students will learn to balance organizational needs with donor interests and the vehicles that can accomplish those goals. (Alternate years) (Evening)
MPAD 6314. Marketing for Arts & Nonprofit Organizations. (3) Recognizing the breadth and complexity of cultural organizations, the purpose of this class is to familiarize students with the fundamentals of marketing organizational programs and activities within the visual art field. Students will be given a broad overview of the functional components of administrative management and participation in the theory and techniques of public relations, audience development, market research, advertising and various promotional strategies. They will have the opportunity to explore, discuss and understand the principles of successful marketing for art organizations. (Alternate years) (Evening)
MPAD 6316. Introduction to Arts Administration. (3) Pre-requisite: MPAD 6311. Recognizing the breadth and complexity of career options in art administration, the purpose of this class is to orient students to the basic profiles of organizational activities within the visual art field. Students will be given a broad overview of the fundamentals of administrative structure, standards of operation, and functional components that are found in various visual art organizations. They will have the opportunity to explore, discuss and understand the principles of successful art organization management. (Fall) (Evening)
MPAD 6318. Arts Administration II. (3) Pre-requisite: MPAD 6316. This is an advanced course in the administration of arts nonprofits. This course goes into detail about several issues that are unique to the field of arts management including career paths in arts administration, marketing, legal issues, arts boards, arts councils, cultural districts, and constituent development. (Spring) (Evening)
MPAD 6324. Financial Analysis for Nonprofit Organizations. (3) Topics include fund accounting basics for nonprofit organizations, preparation and analysis of financial statements, evaluating and monitoring financial condition, capital budgeting and investment analysis, debt policy and management. (Fall) (Evening)
MPAD 6326. Applied Economics for Public Administrators. (3) The course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of microeconomics in order to enhance their analytical skills to a level that is appropriate for practitioners in the public sector. The course will focus on how the market works, why the market results in beneficial exchanges between sellers and buyers, what effects government intervention can have upon the market, whether government intervention is necessary, and how the tools of economics can be used by public administrators to improve decision making. (On Demand) (Evening)
MPAD 6327. Internal Capacity Building in Nonprofit Organizations. (3) Development of proficiency among an array of internal management tools, including: strategic planning; volunteer recruitment, management, and retention; and program evaluation and performance measurement. (On Demand) (Evening)
MPAD 6328. Urban and Community Development. (3) The course examines the policies and programs designed to reduce social and economic distress in U.S. communities and focuses on local and neighborhood-based efforts to address problems of inadequate housing, unemployment, lack of community services and facilities, crime etc. This course also considers the various roles that government, private sector, and nonprofit organizations play in community revitalization. (On demand) (Evening)
MPAD 6329. Nonprofit Organizations and their Environment. (3) Development of the skills needed to navigate in the complex external environment, including: fundraising, resource development, and donor development; networking, strategic alliances, and public relations; and legal requirements and issues of liability. (On Demand) (Evening)
MPAD 6330. Program Evaluation for the Public and Non-Profit Sectors. (3) This course is designed to give students a comprehensive overview of the theory, concepts, methods, and tools of program evaluation. In addition to providing an overview of various types and uses of program evaluation, the course will emphasize building expertise in evaluation design, developing process and outcome measures, analyzing data, and reporting results. The course will also address the use of evaluation tools to support the development and management of programs. (On demand) (Evening)
MPAD 6332. Project Management. (3) A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. The temporary nature of projects indicates a definite beginning and end. The end is reached when the project’s objectives have been achieved or when the project is terminated because its objectives will not or cannot be met, or when the need for the project no longer exists. This course explores the discipline of project management across the project lifecycle. The course is based on the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Project Management Body of Knowledge. At the completion of the course, students should have the knowledge to successfully complete the PMI’s certification exam. (On demand) (Evening)
MPAD 6350 Public Sector Financial Management I. (3) This course takes students beyond the introductory material in MPAD 6131 into a more thoroughgoing analysis of the finance function in modern governments. The dimensions of budgeting and financial management theory and practice which are examined include: management and accounting for revenues and expenditures; basic governmental accounting principles and procedures; the relationship of budgets to the accounting system; principles and concepts of revenue policy and administration. The material covered in this course should be regarded as “required knowledge” for public financial managers. (Fall) (Evening)
MPAD 6352 Public Sector Financial Management II. (3) This course is a continuation of MPAD 6350, extending the coverage of public financial management topics to include public debt management and accounting, business-type activities of governments, governmental third-party fiduciary activities, agency relationships, financial reporting and auditing, financial statement analysis, credit analysis, capital budgeting and investment evaluation, capital markets, pensions and investment management, cash and risk management and related policies. A unit of the course also concerns ethics, risk-taking and accountability, with a special emphasis on high-risk “derivative securities,” and the need to maintain the highest standards of fiduciary responsibility. (Spring) (Evening)
MPAD 6800. Directed Study in Public Administration. (3) Prerequisite: all core courses. Individual project proposal on a directed topic of significance based on field experience in public administration. Pass/In Progress grading. Permit Only. (Fall, Spring) (Evening)
MPAD 6801. Directed Study in Public Administration. (3) Prerequisite: MPAD 6800. Individual project report on a directed topic of significance based on field experience in public administration. Pass/In Progress grading. Permit Only. (Fall, Spring)
MPAD 6820. Independent Study. (1-3) Prerequisite: permission of the instructor and the MPAD Director. Supervised study of a public administration topic or problem of special interest to the student, within the instructor’s expertise, and normally an extension of previous coursework with the instructor. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
MPAD 7999. Master’s Degree Graduate Residency Credit. (1) Maintains continuous enrollment as required by University policy. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Catalog Copy:
Program Description:
The Graduate Certificate in Arts Administration at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is designed to provide graduate education in Arts management and development to individuals interested in careers as managers in Arts organizations.
Prerequisites: For students with an undergraduate degree not in the arts: You are required to take no less than four 3-credit hour undergraduate courses (or the equivalent) in order to develop the necessary foundation of appreciation for the arts required of arts administrators. The exact set of courses will be determined by the field of arts on which you desire to focus and in consultation with your advisor. The prerequisites vary by visual arts, dance, theater, and music. Substantive professional experience in the arts field can be used as a substitute or partial substitute (e.g., students may be required to take less than 4 arts courses) for the undergraduate prerequisites at the discretion of the MPA Director.
The Arts Administration Certificate consists of fifteen credit hours within the MPA curriculum. Students must fulfill the following requirements:
1-Students are required to take the following two courses:
MPAD 6311 Intro to Nonprofit Management (3)
MPAD 6316 Intro to Arts Administration (3)
2-Students must complete at least one of the following courses:
MPAD 6312 Fundraising (3)
MPAD 6314 Marketing for Arts & Nonprofit Organizations (3)
3-Students must complete one of the following courses:
MPAD 6128 Foundations of Public Policy (3)
MPAD 6142 Managing Grants and Contracts in Public & Non-Profit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6160 Information Systems in Public Administration (3)
MPAD 6324 Financial Analysis for Non-Profit Organizations (3)
MPAD 6327 Internal Capacity Building in Nonprofit Organizations (3)
MPAD 6329 Nonprofit Organizations and the Environment (3)
MPAD 6318 Arts Administration II (3)
COMM 5102 Federal Interpretation of the First Amendment (3)
COMM 6145 Communication Campaign Management (3)
COMM 6146 Media Relations (3)
HIST 6310 History Museums (3)
ANTH 5120 Intercultural Communications (3)
ENGL 5182 Information Design & Digital Publishing (3)
4-Students must complete an additional three credit hours of MPAD coursework.
Appropriate non-MPAD courses may be taken upon approval of the student’s advisor and the MPA Director.
Admission Requirements:
Admission to the Graduate Certificate program in Arts Administration is open to graduates of colleges and universities accredited by a regional or general accrediting agency. To apply, the student must meet the following requirements:
1) A completed Graduate Admissions application form and statement of professional goals.
2) Official transcripts from all post secondary educational institutions.
3) Three letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources.
4) An overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The GPA will be weighed less heavily for students who have at least 3 years of experience working in the arts or non-profit sectors after graduating from their undergraduate programs.
Catalog Copy:
Program Description:
The Graduate Certificate in Public Budgeting & Finance at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is designed to provide graduate education in public finance to managers in public sector organizations.
The Public Budgeting & Finance Certificate consists of eighteen credit hours within the MPA curriculum. Students must fulfill the following requirements:
1-Students are required to take the following four courses:
MPAD 6131 Public Budgeting & Finance (3)
MPAD 6326 Applied Economics for Public Administrators (3)
MPAD 6350 Public Sector Financial Management I (3)
MPAD 6352 Public Sector Financial Management II (3)
2-Students must complete two of the following courses:
MPAD 6142 Managing Grants and Contracts in the Public & Nonprofit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6184 Intergovernmental Relations (3)
MPAD 6324 Financial Analysis for Non-Profit Organizations (3)
MPAD 6330 Program Evaluation for the Public & Nonprofit Sectors (3) 84
MPAD 6332 Program Planning (3)
ECON 6112 Graduate Econometrics (3)
ECON 6218 Advanced Business and Economic Forecasting (3)
MBAD 6159 Real Estate Development (3)
Appropriate non-MPAD courses may be taken upon approval of the student’s advisor and the MPA Director.
Admission Requirements:
Admission to the Graduate Certificate program in Public Budgeting & Finance is open to graduates of colleges and universities accredited by a regional or general accrediting agency. To apply, the student must meet the following requirements:
5) A completed Graduate Admissions application form and statement of professional goals.
6) Official transcripts from all post secondary educational institutions.
7) Three letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources.
8) An overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Catalog Copy:
Program Description:
The Graduate Certificate in Urban Management & Policy at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is designed to provide graduate education in urban local government to individuals who are currently serving as managers in public organizations in the Charlotte Region, or those who might want to pursue a career in local government management.
The Urban Management & Policy Certificate consists of fifteen credit hours within the MPA curriculum. Students must fulfill the following requirements:
1-Students are required to take the following two courses:
MPAD 6184 Urban Government and Politics (3)
MPAD 6185 Intergovernmental Relations (3)
2-Students must complete at least two of the following courses:
MPAD 6128 Foundations of Public Policy (3)
MPAD 6142 Managing Grants and Contracts in the Public & Nonprofit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6143 Introduction to Administrative Law (3)
MPAD 6160 Information Systems in Public Administration (3)
MPAD 6290 Introduction to Emergency Management (3) 92
MPAD 6324 Financial Analysis for Nonprofit Organizations (3)
MPAD 6326 Applied Economics for Public Administrators (3)
MPAD 6328 Urban and Community Development (3)
MPAD 6330 Program Evaluation for the Public & Nonprofit Sectors (3)
MPAD 6332 Project Management (3)
MPAD 6350 Public Sector Financial Management I (3)
MPAD 6352 Public Sector Financial Management II (3)
GEOG 5155 Retail Location (3)
GEOG 5190 Geographic Info Systems for Non-Majors (3) or GEOG 5120 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3)
GEOG 5210 Urban Planning Methods (3)
GEOG 5260 Transportation Policy Formulation (3)
GEOG 6300 Applied Regional Analysis (3)
GEOG 6301 Industrial Location (3)
GEOG 6500 Urban Planning: Theory and Practice (3)
3-Students must complete an additional three credit hours of MPAD coursework.
Appropriate non-MPAD courses may be taken upon approval of the student’s advisor and the MPA Director.
Admission Requirements:
Admission to the Graduate Certificate program in Urban Management & Policy is open to graduates of colleges and universities accredited by a regional or general accrediting agency. To apply, the student must meet the following requirements:
1) A completed Graduate Admissions application form and statement of professional goals.
2) Official transcripts from all post secondary educational institutions.
3) Three letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources.
4) An overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The GPA will be weighed less heavily for students who have at least 3 years of experience working in the public or non-profit sectors after graduating from their undergraduate programs.