Public Administration

Public Administration College of Liberal Arts Kelly Hall, Rm. 216 (915) 747-5879 DEAN: Patricia Witherspoon COORDINATOR: Karla Iscapa GRADUATE FACULTY: Bretting, Faria, Krause, Lane, McDonald, Scheller CONTRIBUTING FACULTY: AlDouri, Dalton, Kolbe ADJUNCT FACULTY: McCune Master of Public Administration The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree provides professional education for students interested in public service careers. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, the interdisciplinary program is designed to stress the knowledge, skills, values, and behaviors essential to the successful public servant. Some flexibility in curriculum is permitted to meet the diverse educational needs of pre-service and in-career students, changing-career students, and students in different career specialties in public administration. The curriculum components are designed to produce professionals capable of intelligent and creative analysis, communication, and action in the public sector context. Basic Requirements for Admission to the MPA Program 1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university 2. Demonstration of academic achievement and potential as indicated by the results of the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), and upper level undergraduate and graduate coursework. 3. A one- to two-page statement of purpose that addresses educational and career goals and reasons for pursuing a MPA degree. 4. Three academic or professional letters of recommendation. At least one academic letter is preferred. 5. For international students, a score of 600 on the TOEFL and an in-person or telephone interview. Specific Requirements for the MPA Degree Completion of at least 39 semester hours of core course work consisting of the following: 1. At least 27 hours of courses in the theoretical, methodological, and technical aspects of public administration and policy. PAD 5300 Introduction to Research Methods PAD 5301 Qualitative Research Methods for Public Administration PAD 5310 Public Policy Process and Institutions PAD 5311 Economic Analysis for Public Administrators PAD 5350 Organizational Theory and Behavior PAD 5351 Applied Statistics for Public Administrators PAD 5352 Public Budgeting and Financial Management PAD 5353 Human Resources Management PAD 5365 Policy Analysis and Decision Making Selected MBA core courses may be substituted for some of these courses, depending on course offerings by each program. Advance approval of MPA coordinator is required for substitution. 2. Completion of an additional 9 hours of approved courses, which can be in the following areas of

concentration:, Homeland Security, Public Policy and Management, Leadership, and Urban and Regional Planning. No more than 6 hours of electives can be at the undergraduate level in courses approved for graduate-level credit. 3. The final program requirement is the completion of one of the following: the capstone course, PAD 5367 Comprehensive Integration of Public Administration (3 semester hours) or a thesis (six semester hours). The final program requirement is not included in either the 27 hours of core requirements or the 9 hours of courses in an area of concentration. 4. Three semester hours of PAD 5366 Internship in Public Administration are required for students who do not possess significant administrative experience as part of the 9 hours of courses in the area of concentration. Master in Public Administration Program Concentrations Each concentration consists of three courses (9 credit hours) in the area of study. Three semester hours of PAD 5366 Internship in Public Administration is substituted for one of the elective courses in the concentration for students without appropriate professional experience. Other substitutions are allowed with advisor approval. A. Public Policy and Management Students choosing the Public Policy and Management concentration must take three of the following courses. PAD 5354 Administrative Law and Regulation PAD 5358 Administrative Ethics and Responsibility PAD 5356 Social Entrepreneurship and Not-For-Profit Management PAD 5348 Innovation and Problem Solving PAD 5364 Public Participation and Democratic Process PAD 5360 Urban Administration PAD 5363 Intergovernmental Relations PAD 5380 Selected Problems in Public Administration B. Leadership Students selecting the Leadership concentration must elect three of the following courses: PAD 5348 Innovation and Problem Solving PAD 5358 Administrative Ethics and Responsibility PAD 5364 Public Participation and Democratic Process COMM 5362 Organizational Communication MLS 5300 Contemporary Concepts of Leadership MLS 5321 Leadership in Complex Organizations MLS 5326 Leadership of Organizational Change MLS 5331 Leadership Communications C. Urban and Regional Planning Students selecting the Urban and Regional Planning concentration must elect three of the following courses: PAD 5359 Regional and Urban Planning PAD 5360 Urban Administration PAD 5363 Intergovernmental Relations PAD 5364 Public Participation and Democratic Process PAD 5380 Selected Problems in Public Administration (topics to include Geographic Information Systems) D. Homeland Security This concentration requires at least one of the following two courses, plus electives to total nine hours. PAD 5340 Professional Seminar in Homeland Security

INSS 5302 Professional Seminar in Intelligence and National Security Take at least two electives from the following (or one if both PAD 5340 and INSS 5302 are taken): INSS 5303 Legal Issues in Intelligence and National Security PAD 5342 Risk Analysis PAD 5343 Crime and Border Security PAD 5344 Emergency Management PAD 5346 Public Health Issues and Homeland Security PAD 5347 Critical Infrastructure Protection PAD 5363 Intergovernmental Relations Two Degree Option MPA/MBA Students may also enroll in a two-degree option: MPA-MBA program. The objective of this program is to permit students with broad interest in both the public and private sectors to double register in both the MPA and MBA programs. With the increasing interdependence of the public and private sectors, this option is attractive to those students wishing to pursue careers in positions responsible for working with their counterparts in private or public organizations. In order to be admitted into the two-degree option, the applicant must specify the option at the time of application to the Graduate School. Students who wish to enter either the MPA or MPA-MBA programs should consult with the Graduate Advisor for the College of Business Administration and with the Coordinator of the MPA program with regard to admission, required courses, approved electives, and petition for candidacy. The program consists of 69 semester credit hours (SCH) of graduate study, of which 39 SCH are in areas of Business Administration and 30 SCH are in areas of Public Administration. Specific Requirements for the MBA/MPA Two-Degree Option 1. Students must meet all requirements for admission to both programs. 2. Students must choose one of the following Programs of Study: I. Program of Study I a. MBA Required Core (39 SCH) ACCT 5311 Accounting for Management ACCT 5301 Financial Accounting BLAW 5306 Business Law and Ethics CIS 5313 Strategic Information Systems ECON 5311 Managerial Economics ECON 5360 Global Economic Environment for Managers FIN 5311 Financial Management MGMT 5311 Organizational Management Seminar MGMT 5325 Management Strategy and Policy MGMT 5336 Effective Management of Human Resources MKT 5311 Marketing Management QMB 5311 Quantitative Methods in Business SCM 5308 Concepts of Production Management b. MPA Required Core (30 SCH) Students are allowed to substitute PAD 5311, PAD 5350, and PAD 5353 for approved PAD electives. PAD 5300 Introduction to Research Methods PAD 5301 Qualitative Research Methods for Public Administration PAD 5310 Public Policy Processes and Institutions PAD 5311 Economic Analysis for Public Administrators PAD 5350 Organizational Theory and Behavior PAD 5351 Applied Statistics for Public Administrators PAD 5352 Public Budgeting and Financial Management PAD 5353 Human Resources Management

PAD 5365 Policy Analysis and Decision Making PAD 5367 Comprehensive Integration of Public Administration II. Program of Study 2 a. Required MPA Core (30 SCH) PAD 5300 Introduction to Research Methods PAD 5301 Qualitative Research Methods for Public Administration PAD 5310 Public Policy Processes and Institutions PAD 5311 Economic Analysis for Public Administrators PAD 5350 Organizational Theory and Behavior PAD 5351 Applied Statistics for Public Administrators PAD 5352 Public Budgeting and Financial Management PAD 5353 Human Resources Management PAD 5365 Policy Analysis and Decision Making PAD 5367 Comprehensive Integration of Public Administration b. Required MBA Core (39 SCH) Students are allowed to substitute ECON 5311, MGMT 5311, and MGMT 5336 for approved Economics or Management electives. ACCT 5311 Accounting for Management ACCT 5301 Financial Accounting BLAW 5306 Business Law and Ethics CIS 5313 Strategic Information Systems ECON 5311 Managerial Economics ECON 5360 Global Economic Environment for Managers FIN 5311 Financial Management MGMT 5311 Organizational Management Seminar MGMT 5325 Management Strategy and Policy MGMT 5336 Effective Management of Human Resources MKT 5311 Marketing Management QMB 5311 Quantitative Methods in Business SCM 5308 Concepts of Production Management 3. Electives must be approved by the academic advisors of both programs. 4. Admission to and continuance in the program are administered separately by the MBA and MPA graduate committees and by the Graduate School. Graduate Certificate Programs Graduate certificates are a 15 semesters hour interdisciplinary programs in selected areas of study. Graduate certificates are offered within the context of existing MPA coursework or are provided via a cohort delivery model. Graduate students pursuing other degrees may enroll in the graduate certificate programs with approval from the advisor from the home department and the MPA coordinator. Certificate Requirements Five courses (15 semester hours) are required of all students. For non-degree seeking students enrolled students will take a capstone course (PAD 5367, Comprehensive Integration of Public Administration) that calls for demonstration of competency on the area of interest in a professional format. Each student will design and complete a research project that demonstrates the ability to synthesize and apply relevant knowledge and skills to a public service problem. For degree seeking students, the capstone course may be aligned to degree requirements. Certificate Admission Requirements Prospective students must apply through the Graduate School. Applicants must complete the graduate school application and provide an official transcript. Students may be classified as non-degree seeking students or have the certificate program incorporated into departmental degree requirements after meeting all program requirements for admission. Admission into the program will be based on the

applicant s undergraduate record. Students who enroll in the certificate program and decide at a later date to pursue a graduate degree may apply to the appropriate graduate program and request that the units be incorporated in the degree program at admission. Certificate in Urban and Regional Planning The UTEP Graduate School offers a Graduate Certificate Program in Planning which is a 15 semester hour interdisciplinary program based in the Master of Public Administration Program. The certificate program is aimed at professionals with bachelor s or master s degrees who wish to enhance their knowledge and skills in the area of planning and at students in the MPA or other master s or doctoral programs (in fields such as economics, political science, environmental science, and engineering) who wish to incorporate a certificate in planning in their graduate degree program. The certificate is designed for those employed as planners and students interested in a career in planning to provide them with core knowledge in economics, demography, law and administration and the technology (such as GIS) necessary for planning activities. Curriculum (15 semester hours) Four courses (12 semester credit hours) selected from the following: PAD 5359 Regional and Urban Planning PAD 5310 Public Policy Process and Institutions PAD 5360 Urban Administration PAD 5363 Intergovernmental Relations PAD 5380 Selected Problems in Public Administration (topics to include Geographic Information Systems) One course (3 semester credit hours) is required: PAD 5367 Comprehensive Integration of Public Administration Public Administration (PAD) 5190 Selected Topics in Public Administration (1-0) The study of selected problems and/or current issues in public management. Course provides professional training opportunities, including the hands-on development of specialized skill sets and techniques for non-profits and public organizations. Examples of topics are: information technology and government, survey design, public marketing, strategic planning, and performance budgeting. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5300 Introduction to Research Methods (3-0) Introduction to methods used in public management research. Five components of research design and evaluation are covered: 1) framing public policy problems; 2) developing testable questions; 3) situating questions with regard to past research (literature reviews); 4) empirical testing and evaluation methods; 5) presenting findings. Prerequisite: Department approval. (PAD 5300 is the same course as POLS 5300). 5301 Qualitative Research Methods (3-0) Introduction to the use of qualitative methods in public management research. Course will focus on; 1) case analysis, both basic and applied; 2) design of qualitative assessments/evaluations; 3) interpretation of qualitative data; and 4) reporting. 5310 Public Policy Process and Institutions (3-0) This course covers the history of public administration and the basic issues confronted, both legal and political, the role of bureaucratic expertise in contemporary government and in solving public problems, and public participation in administration. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5311 Economic Analysis for Public Administrators (3-0)

Introduction to microeconomic concepts and analysis and their application to the public sector. Topics to be covered include: supply and demand theory, firms and markets, consumer theory, market equilibrium, welfare economics, public choice theory and the economics of planning. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5340 Pro-Seminar in Homeland Security (3-0) This course examines the scope and breadth of homeland and national security issues. It serves as a professional overview of the field and its intelligence sub-fields and includes the emergency management/natural disaster response aspects of the field. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5341 Legal issues in Homeland Security (3-0) This is a foundation course in the legal aspects, civil and criminal, of homeland security. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5342 Risk Analysis (3-0) This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts and skills of risk perception, assessment, and aversion, risk management and communication, and their roles in homeland security. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5343 Crime and Border Security (3-0) This graduate course focuses on the impact of globalization on crime and border security. Special emphasis will be placed on human, drug, and arms trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border, but will also provide comparative examples from border regions around the world. The role of drug cartels, criminal gangs, and corruption will be addressed. Attention will also be given to the U.S.- Canadian border. Other serious crime such as fraud, identity theft, and cybercrime will be explored. This course will also review current and past strategies for maintaining border security and limiting the flow of criminal activity into the United States. Prerequisite: Departmental approval. 5344 Emergency Management (3-0) This graduate course focuses on the fundamental concepts involved in preparing for and managing the response to a catastrophic emergency event such as a fire, earthquake, terrorist act, biological materials release, hazardous material spill, weather-related disaster, or internal sabotage. Heavy emphasis is placed on interagency communication and coordination in emergency events. The course outlines the practical steps needed to develop an effective emergency response plan, and outlines how such a plan should be organized and executed. Prerequisite: Departmental approval. 5145 Professional Skills (1-0) 5245 Professional Skills (2-0) 5345 Professional Skills (3-0) An exploration of skills, values, and behaviors that contribute to success within the profession. Skills to be developed may include professional report writing, presentations, time management, project management, and others. Discussions of values and behaviors may include such matters as ethics and professionalism among others. May be repeated for a total of six credit hours. Prerequisite: Departmental approval. 5346 Public Health and Homeland Security (3-0) This graduate course focuses on policy responses to bioterrorism and emerging public health threats such as pandemic flu. Topics include the science of biological weapons and threats, the history of bioterrorism and weaponization, verification and monitoring, scenario building, national security decision-making as it pertains to biothreats, and public health policy and infrastructure. Prerequisite: Departmental approval. 5347 Critical Infrastructure Protection (3-0)

This graduate course examines the 11 major categories of the nation s critical infrastructure as outlined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security with a particular emphasis on their dimensions, operational responsibility, and unique vulnerabilities. Strategies for critical infrastructure protection will be addressed as will the means for establishing priorities for protecting key infrastructure assets. Prerequisite: Departmental approval. 5348 Innovation and Problem Solving An exploration of innovation, problem solving, and creativity, as applied in the public sector. This course is intended to provide an overview to assist in developing creative problem solving, innovation, and leadership skills relevant to public management. 5350 Organizational Theory and Behavior (3-0) Introduction to the major theories in organizational theory and administrative behavior and their uses in diagnosing organizational problems; key organizational functions; emphasis on organization-environment relationships. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5351 Applied Statistics for Public Administrators (3-0) Course covers the quantitative methods used by public managers in policy analysis (ANOVA; Ordinary Least Squares and variants) and prepares students to be intelligent evaluators of public sector research and evaluation studies. Students design, conduct and report on a research question of their choosing; use of SPSS required. Prerequisites: PAD 5300 with a grade of B or better and department approval. Two drop limit: Following a second drop, a student may not enroll in any other PAD course until 5351 is successfully completed. 5352 Public Budgeting and Financial Management (3-0) Introduction to the theories and practice of budgeting, financial management, tax analysis, and the role budgets play in public policy making and implementation. Course covers approaches and techniques of budget analysis. Prerequisites: PAD 5311 with a grade of B or better and department approval. 5353 Human Resources Management (3-0) Introduction to the social, political and legal dimensions of public personnel management (history, values in the American political system, employee selection, compensation, job design, evaluation, labor relations, staff development and training, administrative ethics, affirmative action, comparable worth, sexual harassment). Prerequisite: Department approval. 5354 Administrative Law and Regulation (3-0) The legal problems of the administrative process, including the uses of administrative discretion, fact-finding, and hearing procedures, and the methods and scope of judicial review of administrative decisions. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5355 Comparative Public Administration (3-0) A comparative view of government administration in developed and developing countries. Examines both the effects of culture on government bureaucracy and the efforts of governments to promote socioeconomic development. May include emphasis on U.S.-Mexico border administration. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5356 Social Entrepreneurship and Not-For-Profit Management (3-0) Course examines the administrative challenges in the nonprofit sector, with special attention to social entrepreneurship, practical management and problem-solving. Includes topics such as the nature and scope of the nonprofit sector, fund-raising, volunteer management, government and public relations, and the organization of nonprofit institutions. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5358 Administrative Ethics and Responsibility (3-0)

Course deals with ethical issues that face public administrators: responsibilities, accountability, discretion, the public interest, professionalism, codes of ethics, and corruption. It focuses on applied ethics and the reasoning process administrators can use to analyze and evaluate ethical dilemmas. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5359 Regional and Urban Planning (3-0) Covers planning topics associated with satisfying area-wide service needs in urban and regional environments. Topics may include land-use regulations, capital facilities siting, and transportation planning. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5360 Urban Administration (3-0) Public administration at the level of service delivery with emphasis upon the management of and policy problems facing local agencies. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5361 Political Economy of Borders (3-0) This course provides an introduction to the field of international border economics with special emphasis on topics dealing with the border zone between Mexico and the United States. We will intensely examine the role of public policy on economic issues of the border. This includes, but is not limited to the following topics: international trade agreements, monetary policy, environmental and natural resource policy, immigration (legal and illegal), the underground economy, and economic development. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5363 Intergovernmental Relations (3-0) Covers the interrelationships among international, national, state, and/or local governmental institutions in the policy making, executive, and/or administrative processes. The special issue of states and communities situated on international borders is also discussed. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5364 Public Participation and Democratic Process (3-0) This course addresses public policy formation, implementation, and evaluation as a democratic process. Surveys issues and best practices for public participation: roles of experts and publics, opening the full policy cycle to public participation, involving stakeholders, communicating effectively, working with complex and conflictive communities, and the ethics of democratic participation. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5365 Policy Analysis and Decision Making (3-0) Course covers the use of quantitative decision tools and formal modeling in the evaluation of policy outcomes: cost-benefit analysis, decision-tree analysis, logistic modeling of categorical choice decisions, etc., with examples from legislative, executive and judicial decision-making environments. Use of SPSS required. Prerequisites: PAD 5300 and PAD 5351 each with a grade of B or better and department approval. 5366 Internship in Public Administration (3-0) Practical internship experience with a public or non-profit sector agency, selected in consultation with the MPA program advisor. The experience consists of at least twenty hours of work per week with the selected agency. The internship will be under close supervision by the agency and the MPA program advisor. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5367 Comprehensive Integration of Public Administration (3-0) MPA Studio course and capstone experience in the MPA program. Requires students to integrate and apply core knowledge and research skills to the analysis of a major administrative or policy problem. Students must complete 33 semester hours in the program before enrolling in this course. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5380 Selected Problems in Public Administration (3-0)

Independent study, research, and writing on a topic agreed upon by the student and professor. May be repeated up to three times for credit when the topic varies. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5398 Thesis (0-0-3) As part of this course, the student will successfully prepare and defend a proposal for the MPA thesis. The proposal must be approved by the student s thesis committee, and failure to meet this requirement within two long semesters will preclude continuation of the student in the MPA program. Prerequisite: Department approval. 5399 Thesis (0-0-3) Continuous enrollment required while work on the thesis continues. Prerequisites: PAD 5398 with a grade of B or better and department approval.