Tarleton Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Good afternoon, Texan MPA students.


Briefly, I want you all to know that the degree plan for the MPA degree is in a state of flux, at least as it reads in the catalog.


My purpose in writing this blog entry is to let you know that the MPA degree is very much a program that focuses on solid public administration core subjects.


That said, the current degree plan, the one we are currently operating under has some course listed different from the MPA that is in the catalog, so please be aware of that when you look at the catalog.


For the most part, we have substituted several courses that really are more cogent and responsive to our current students' needs than the program listed -- it takes the bureaucracy a bit of time to catch up, but it will catch up eventually.

Until then, the primary track for the MPA that we have laid out is:


Core courses (with substitutions indicated):

MAPA 5300, Public Administration
MAPA 5310, Intro to PA, which will be taught as a Public Sector Systems course. However, we will be submitting a course alternative titled Public Sector Systems with a PA prefix soon and this course will be substituted for MAPA 5310 once approved.
CRIJ 5321, Management of Criminal Justice Personnel (this course is substituted for HRMT 5302), which has been moved to a required course -- substituted for MKTG 5303, which may be taken as an elective if this is a class you think would benefit you. The plan is to submit a course created titled, "Public Personnel Administration." Once that class is approved, it will become a required course and CRIJ 5321 will be dropped or cross-listed.
MAPA 5311, Intergovernmental Relations
MAPA 5315,  Public Budgeting (5330, Advanced Public Budgeting can be substituted for 5315 with Director's approval)
MAPA 5322, Ethics (cross-listed with CRIJ 5322)
MAPA 5398, Research Methods (cross-listed with CRIJ 5398 -- must be taken prior to taking MAPA 5307 (cross-listed with CRIJ 5300)
MAPA 5307, Statistics
MAPA 5331, Public Policy
MAPA 5340, PA Capstone


You have a number of great courses available for your 6 hours of electives. However, if you are thesis student, you will not have an option for electives under the 36-hour degree program.


If you have any questions, please give Mrs. Johnson, Program Coordinator (254-986-9106), or me (817-484-4395) a call and we can steer you towards the appropriate course mixes.


Dr. G. M. Cox
Assistant Professor
Director, MPA Program
Tarleton State University