Public Administration | M.A.P.A.

Public Administration MAPA

This program is designated as a cohort-dependent program. For maximum student learning, a minimum of seven students is required.

Graduate Program

The Master of Arts in Public Administration is a 37-credit-hour accredited professional program designed primarily for public service adult lifelong learners who want to refine their knowledge, skills and abilities ó including promotability. The degree program consists of a core curriculum with a preparation course, nine cognate courses and a practicum in an agency or not-for-profit organization.
The purpose of the Master of Arts in Public Administration degree is to provide academic and professional competencies that are rooted in service to students, government and society in general. It will create opportunities for graduates who are practical public service thinkers and thinking public service practitioners.

Admission

Admission to the M.A.P.A. program requires:

1. The completion of an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 2.75 or higher. Applicants whose GPA falls between 2.60 and 2.74 must submit GRE scores of 150 on both verbal and quantitative portions of the test in order to be considered for admission.
2. Professional resume and two letters of recommendation.
3. Completed Fundamentals course with a grade of B or higher.
4. Written statement and possible interview.
5. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), if English is not the applicant’s primary language.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of their studies, graduates of Washington Adventist University’s Master of Arts in Public Administration program will have acquired and demonstrated the following outcomes:

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the fundamental differences between for-profit and nonprofit organizations.  This includes, but is not limited to, public service ethics, team building in a nonprofit organization, leadership and change management in a nonprofit organization and public service consulting practices.
2. Demonstrate leadership management skills where each student will develop the ability to lead and work in small or large groups within any nonprofit organization or public sector.
3. Understand and utilize public policy processes that include conducting extensive background research relevant to a wide range of social problems, including identifying the costs and benefits accruing to different groups of people from different policy alternatives, applying and comparing different normative criteria in making policy choices and understanding the policy-making process, particularly the political realities associated with implementing and evaluating policy.
4. Advocate for public service by effectively corresponding with different audiences, including elected officials at all levels of government and other policy decision-makers, policy analysts and the public, using excellence in making oral presentations to different kinds of audiences.
5. Demonstrate critical thinking and decision-making in which each student will be able to integrate all areas of business knowledge, and apply this knowledge to any nonprofit and public business sector.
   This will include performing statistical analysis, multiple regression analysis, linear programming and forecasting, understanding the strengths and limitations of statistical measures in conducting public policy research and building analytical models to aid in the policy analysis and decision-making process.

Master of Arts in Public Administration

The M.A.P.A. focuses on the practical application of government policy development, implementation and management. Effective public administrators are operators. They must be able to use the best leadership and management methods, and the most helpful insights and information available to handle the problems and obstacles that affect the day-to-day process. Public administration professionals must have the knowledge to seize the opportunities that arise to improve individual and organizational effectiveness and efficiencies.
The following undergraduate course serves as a prerequisite to the M.A.P.A. courses:
MATH 110     Probability and Statistics

Graduate Studies Degree Programs