Master of Public Administration

MPA Mission Statement

The mission of the Kean University Master of Public Administration Program is to prepare students to be managers and professionals of public, health service and nonprofit organizations who are committed to public service and are globally aware and engaged in their communities. The demand for highly-trained workers in the not-for-profit and public service sectors has never been greater. The Master of Public Administration offered by Kean University’s Department of Public Administration provides students with the information, skills and insight needed to excel in careers in the not-for-profit and public service sectors.

Kean is one of only four higher education institutes in New Jersey accredited in the field of public administration by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). Our undergraduate program combines a firm theoretical foundation with an understanding of practical applications. Teaching methods in both elective and required courses stress the use of case studies, hands-on experience, and simulations that demonstrate how theory and concepts evolve into practical applications.

Academic Accordions:

Accordion Title:

Guidesheet (MPA General Public Administration)

Accordion Body:

The General Public Administration was designed by our faculty in consultation with our Board of Advisors and the public sector community to provide our students with the foundation to become effective leaders of governmental and public service organizations. This concentration prepares you to begin or advance in careers as administrators in public sector organizations providing you with the knowledge, the values and the skills to work effectively and to administer programs in virtually any segment of the public sector. Your coursework covers the critical elements of administration, including budgeting, strategic planning, human resources, information systems, law, leadership and ethics, and multicultural competencies. We help you focus on the unique nature and needs of government organizations and gain the skills and knowledge specific to and necessary for leadership in this growing and dynamic sector. The sheer diversity of local, county, state, and federal organizations and the issues they work on means that government require leaders with a thorough understanding of the complex public sector landscape.

REQUIRED COURSES 36 credits

PA 5001 Global Foundations of Public Administration
PA 5021 Economic Issues in Public Administration
PA 5040 Public Budgeting and Financial Management
PA 5050 Administrative Law
PA 5110 Human Resources Management
PA 5225 Strategic Planning in Management
PA 5245 Management of Information Systems in the Public Sector
PA 5250 Leadership and Management
PA 5963* Graduate Internship in Public Administration
PA 5988 Analytical Methods For Public Administration
PA 5989 Research Methods and Design
PA 5990 Capstone Seminar

*3 credit internship (may be waived for students with appropriate managerial/professional experience)

ELECTIVES 12 CREDITS

PA 5125 Collective Negotiations and Public Employment
PA 5144 Conflict Resolution in the Public Sector
PA 5215 The Grants Process in the Intergovernmental Systems
PA 5230 Improving Public Organizations
PA 5235 Public Program Evaluation
PA 5270 Ethical Issues in Public and Nonprofit Administration
PA 5470 Governing NJ: Issues in Management and Administration
PA 5500 Advanced Topics in Public Management
PA 5550 Global Issues in Comparative Public Administration
PA 5710 Introduction to Nonprofit Management
PA 5730 Nonprofit Organization Law and Governance
PA 5750 Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprises: Management and Models
PA 5810 Health Care Administration
PA 5825 Health Care Law & Politics
PA 5830 Health Care & Nonprofit Marketing
PA 5860 Issues in Modern Health Care
PA 5910 Current Issues in Public Administration I
PA 5911 Current Issues in Public Administration II
PA 5985 Independent Study in Public Administration

Accordion Title:

Guidesheet (MPA Health Service Administration)

Accordion Body:

The Nonprofit Management concentration was designed by our faculty in consultation with our Board of Advisors and the nonprofit community to provide our students with the foundation to become effective leaders of nonprofit and voluntary organizations. This concentration prepares you to begin or advance in careers as administrators in nonprofit organizations providing you with the knowledge, the values and the skills to work effectively and to administer programs in virtually any segment of the social service community. Your coursework covers the critical elements of administration, including budgeting, strategic planning, human resources, information systems, non-profit law, leadership and ethics, and multicultural competencies. We help you focus on the unique nature and needs of nonprofit organizations and gain the skills and knowledge specific to and necessary for leadership in this growing and dynamic sector. The sheer diversity of nonprofit organizations and the issues they work on means that nonprofits require leaders with a thorough understanding of the complex nonprofit landscape.

REQUIRED COURSES 33 CREDITS

PA 5001 Global Foundations of Public Administration
PA 5021 Economic Issues in Public Administration
PA 5110 Human Resources Management
PA 5225 Strategic Planning in Management
PA 5245 Management of Information Systems in the Public Sector
PA 5250 Leadership and Management
PA 5850 Health Care Budgeting and Finance
PA 5963* Graduate Internship in Public Administration
PA5988 Analytical Methods in Public Administration
PA 5989 Research Methods and Design
PA 5990 Capstone Seminar

HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION CONCENTRATION REQUIRED COURSES (12 CREDITS)

PA 5810 Health Care Administration
PA 5825 Health Care Law & Politics
PA 5830 Health Care & Nonprofit Marketing
PA 5860 Issues in Modern Health Care

ELECTIVES – 3 CREDITS

PA 5040 Public Budgeting and Financial Management
PA 5050 Administrative Law
PA 5125 Collective Negotiations and Public Employment
PA 5144 Conflict Resolution in the Public Sector
PA 5215 The Grants Process in the Intergovernmental Systems
PA 5230 Improving Public Organizations
PA 5235 Public Program Evaluation
PA 5270 Ethical Issues in Public and Nonprofit Administration
PA 5470 Governing NJ: Issues in Management and Administration
PA 5500 Advanced Topics in Public Management
PA 5550 Global Issues in Comparative Public Administration
PA 5710 Introduction to Nonprofit Management
PA 5730 Nonprofit Organization Law and Governance
PA 5750 Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprises: Management and Models
PA 5830 Health Care & Nonprofit Marketing
PA 5910 Current Issues in Public Administration I
PA 5911 Current Issues in Public Administration II
PA 5985 Independent Study in Public Administration

*3 credit internship (may be waived for students with appropriate managerial/professional experience)

Accordion Title:

Guidesheet (MPA Nonprofit Management)

Accordion Body:

The Health Services Administration concentration was designed by our faculty in consultation with our Board of Advisors and the health care community to provide our students with the foundation to become effective leaders of health care organizations. This concentration prepares you to begin or advance in careers as administrators in health care organizations providing you with the knowledge, the values and the skills to work effectively and to administer programs in virtually any segment of the health-care community. Your coursework provide you with the conceptual and practical skills covering the critical elements of administration, including marketing, budgeting, strategic planning, human resources, information systems, law, leadership
and ethics, and multicultural competencies. We help you focus on the unique nature and needs of health services organizations and gain the skills and knowledge specific to and necessary for leadership in this growing and dynamic sector. The sheer diversity of health services organizations and the issues they work on means that the heath care sector requires leaders with a thorough understanding of the complex health landscape.

REQUIRED COURSES 33 CREDITS