Core Courses
PA301 Foundations of Public Administration (Fall)
This course is an analysis of major elements of management in the public sector (organization, personnel, budgeting) with special attention to problems arising from political imperatives generated by a democratic society.
PA302 Organizational Theory and Behavior (Spring)
(Formerly titled "Public Sector Organizations.") This course focuses on organizational culture, organizational learning, conflict resolution, leadership-followership, and motivation in decision making and brainstorming for alternative solutions by a competent and diverse work force. Specific skill sets are included for each topic, as well as outcomes assessment.
PA303 Research and Evaluation Methods (Fall)
Data analyses and communication of statistical information for management decision making. Methods of modeling relationships, comparing strategies, and assessing probabilities. Instruction in computer use. Additional lab required.
PA305 Public and Non-Profit Financial Budgeting (Fall)
(Financial Resource Management) This course is an introductory survey of public budgeting and financial management. The purpose of this course is to explore fundamental ideas, concepts, and theories that contribute to understanding public sector revenue and expenditure decisions and to examine basic practices and techniques of modern financial administration, budget preparation, and performance measurement. The course will rely on readings, discussions and case studies that focus on state and local governments and non-profit organizations as examples. An effort will be made to cover federal budget systems as well.
PA306 Policy Systems (Spring)
(Formerly titled "Introduction to Public Policy.") This course helps students develop an understanding of the stages in the policy process and an understanding of the development of public policy in the intergovernmental system. Participants also study the analytical methods of effective policy in complex political and bureaucratic environments. Students become more sensitive to the analytical, political and substantive complexities of policy issues, develop methods of coping with these complexities, and become acquainted with the basic areas of policy formulation, implementation, and analysis.
PA 326 Community and Economic Development (Spring)
This course looks at how rural and urban communities address poverty, unemployment and other economic problems through job creation and retention, workforce training and support and other development strategies. We look at local economic development constituencies and goal-setting, economic analysis and planning, strategies and projects, resident participation and organizational collaboration, and implementation and evaluation. We address the links among community economic, social and physical development and issues of sustainable development. Burlington, Vermont will serve as the principal case study.
PA380 Internship (Fall, Spring, Summer)
The Internship experience is a key opportunity to put into practice the concepts and theories of public administration. It is critical in gaining experience, building credentials and networking for future professional opportunities. A three-credit internship is required of all students, and students may apply up to 6 credits of internship experience toward the degree. Students who work full time may do an "internship in place."
PA375 Capstone (Spring)
The Capstone is designed to provide MPA students with a summative experience, achieved through the development of a final portfolio, that ties learning competencies to evidence drawn from their course of study. Students in their final spring semester of the program are eligible to take this. This course counts as the “comprehensive exam” for the Master of Public Administration at UVM. Examples of final learning portfolios:
Naa Aku Addo Portfolio.pdf
Additional 12 credits of advisor-approved electives.
Elective Courses (generally 4-5 electives offered each year)
PA 307 Administrative Ethics
PA 308 Decision Making Models
PA 311 Policy Analysis
PA 317 Systems Dynamics & Strategic Management for Community Resilience
PA 319 State Administration
PA 320 Local Government Administration
PA 323 Nonprofit Administration
PA 395 Human Resources Management
PA 395 Resilient Communities: Designing Food, Energy, Water Systems
PA 395 Multicultural Leadership
PA 395 Sustainable Resources for Nonprofits
PA 395 Housing Policy
