Curriculum
The MPA program at Appalachian State University involves a minimum of 42 semester hours. This consists of 21 hours of core courses and 21 hours of courses that are specific to a career track. Electives must be approved by the student's advisor and the MPA Director. All students are required to take at least one course outside of the Department of Government and Justice Studies.
Core Courses
PA 5000 Research Methods
PA 5060 Seminar in Public Administration
PA 5180 Public Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation
PA 5260 Organization Theory and Behavior
PA 5360 Public Personnel Administration
PA 5460 Budgeting and Fiscal Administration
PA 5558 Capstone Research
PA 5559 Capstone in Public Administration
Students must select one of the following five tracks as their area of concentration:
Public Management Track
MPA Core Courses listed above
15 hours of elective courses approved by MPA Director
6 hours of internship PA 5900-Internship in Public Affairs
Town, City and County Management Concentration
MPA Core Courses listed above
9 hours for concentration from among:
PLN 5700-Project Management
GHY 5400-Planning Theory and Process
PA 5560-Local Government Administration
PA 5665-Public Management
PA 5330-Problems in State & Local Government
6 hours of elective courses
6 hours of internship PA 5900-Internship in Public Affairs
Administration of Justice Concentration
MPA Core Courses listed above
9 hours of required CJ courses from the following:
CJ 5050-Seminar in Public Law & Judicial Behavior
CJ 5060-Administration of Justice
CJ 5150-American Justice System
CJ 5620-Contemporary Police Issues
CJ 5660-Crime, Theory and Practice
3 hours of elective courses from the following:
CJ 5500-Idependent Study
CJ 5580-Private Security
CJ 5661-Court Administration
CJ 5670-Crime Analysis and Criminal Justice Planning
CJ 5680-Organized Crime
CJ 5800-Decision-Making in Criminal Justice
3 hours from outside GJD Department as approved by MPA Director
6 hours of internship PA 5900-Internship in Public Affairs
Emergency Management Concentration
MPA Core Courses listed above
GHY 5100 Seminar in Physical Geography
PA 5140 Emergency Management Systems
PA 5560 Local Government Administration
3 hours of elective courses from the following:
PLN 5400 Planning and Theory Process
PLN/COM 5425 Task-Oriented Group Facilitation Methods
3 hours of additional coursework selected in consultation with the MPA Program Director
Not-For-Profit Management Concentration
MPA Core Courses listed above
PA 5270 Not-for-Profit Organizations
PA 5271 Grant Strategies and Preparation
PA 5665 Public Management
6 hours of elective courses from the following:
MBA 5420 Marketing Strategy and Applications
MGT 5770 Social Responsibilities of Management
PLN/COM 5425 Task-Oriented Group Facilitation Methods
PLN 5700 Project Management
In all tracks, in-service status involves waiving the internship requirement and the addition of one elective course plus PS 5530 Field Based Research for 42 hours total.
