- Overview
- Courses
- Requirements
- Faculty
MPA Program Overview
Our online Master of Public Administration program is designed to help students enter into or advance their current careers in the public and nonprofit sectors. As you progress through the program, you’ll learn how to address organizational issues and policy questions in a practical, competent, ethical, legal and politically savvy manner, with the overarching goal of supporting the public interest. Graduates of our program go on to apply their expertise in a wide range of fields including healthcare, public safety, economic development, human services, criminal justice, parks and recreation, fine arts, and transportation. Our convenient online format allows you to complete studies on your own schedule and earn your degree in as little as one year.
UT Permian Basin’s online MPA program enables you to:
- Refine a variety of practical skills.
- Identify and address ongoing challenges in public administration.
- Gain a respected, career-enhancing credential.
- Prepare for rewarding leadership roles.
- Move into or between the public and nonprofit sectors.
Our program provides tremendous advantages, including:
- Elective courses that allow you to gear your studies toward your specific area of interest.
- Competitive pricing for a cost-effective education.
- A top-quality education delivered by supportive faculty.
- Core faculty members with extensive practical experience in public and/or nonprofit service.
- No thesis or internship requirement.
- A 100% online format.
- Eight-week courses.
- Six start dates throughout the year.
- Degree completion in as little as 12 months.
Required Courses
21 Credits. The online MPAL courses explicitly listed in the plan immediately below are all required core courses that are part of the current standard schedule or “carousel” as shown. In addition to the current standard schedule, a few of the MPAL core courses (MPAL 6301, MPAL 6302, and MPAL6320) are presently offered twice per year.
MPAL 6302 - Organizational Leadership and Administration
8 weeks
3
Historical, theoretical, and practical applications of developments in public leadership, public policy, and public organizational theory.
MPAL 6301 - Public Leadership and Ethics
8 weeks
3
Theories and readings in public and nonprofit leadership and ethical issues facing public leaders.
MPAL 6320 - Leadership and Public Policy
8 weeks
3
Theories and practices in public policy agenda setting and formation, working with other policy actors, implementation of public policies, and policy evaluation.
EDUC 6305 - Research Design in Education and the Social Sciences
8 weeks
3
This course is designed to acquaint students with how research is conducted in the fields of education and the social sciences. Students will select and evaluate research findings within their fields and learn how to design their own research studies.
MPAL 6303 - Analytical Techniques
8 weeks
3
Social science research and data analysis techniques and their practical application to issues in public and nonprofit administration.
MPAL 6305 - Public Personnel Administration
7 weeks
3
Theories and practices of personnel administration in governmental agency and nonprofit organizational environments. Emphasis on civil service systems and volunteer-paid employee relationships.
MPAL 6304 - Public Budgeting
7 weeks
3
Fundamental concepts, methods, and political/administrative processes of public sector budgeting in the United States (with a state and local emphasis).
Elective Courses
15 Credits. Regarding electives, students may choose from a variety of courses offered by MPAL and other programs at UTPB (e.g., the MBA program, the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program, and others). Selection of electives is subject to review by the MPAL coordinator to ensure appropriateness. See example courses below. Other UTPB courses from the catalog may be acceptable as electives.
A few of the elective courses listed below indicate a prerequisite. This does not apply to Master of Public Administration students.
MPAL 6380 - Financial Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations
8 weeks
3
Examines fundamental issues, principles, and tools of financial management for government and nonprofit organizations. Explores accounting concepts, basic financial statements, and key financial analysis techniques.
MPAL 6381 - Issues in Health and Human Services Policy and Management
8 weeks
3
Explores service areas such as healthcare, child welfare, and education (K-12). For each area, will consider structure (including intergovernmental aspects), funding, and selected policy and management issues.
EDLD 6365 - School Public Relations
8 weeks
3
An analysis of school public relations from a perspective of communication and collaboration with all community constituents and responding to diverse interests and needs to promote student success.
EDLD 6361 - School Law
8 weeks
3
Effects of Federal and Texas law on processes of public school education and its relationship to school administrators. (Code of Ethics & Federal Programs.)
EDUC 6302 - Cultural Diversity in Education and the Social Sciences
8 weeks
3
This course gives candidates the opportunity to develop cultural diversity competence in order to face challenges in education and the social sciences. Research and reflection are emphasized.
EDLD 6369 - School Human Resources Management
8 weeks
3
Personnel management theory and research. Emphasizes skills in recruitment, selection, assignment, staff development, supervision, and evaluation.
MNGT 6360 - Organizational Behavior
8 weeks
3
The systematic study of individual, team, and structural characteristics that influence behavior within organizations. Cross-cultural applications are discussed.
MRKT 6310 - Marketing Management
8 weeks
3
An analysis of the customer/market relationships with the company in an open market system characterized by the presence of strong competition within a very fluid business environment. Managerial decision making with this matrix will be stressed.
MNGT 4331 - Healthcare Management
8 weeks
3
This course engages students in an overview of the management concepts and issues related to the effective/efficient delivery of services in healthcare organizations (HCOs). Students will be introduced to a wide range of managerial, policy, and other issues that they are likely to encounter in healthcare management. The course prerequisite is not applicable to Master of Public Administration students.
MRKT 4335 - Healthcare Marketing
8 weeks
3
This course provides an overview of the role of marketing in the healthcare industry. It will examine the methods for designing healthcare systems responsive to patient needs and the promoting and pricing of healthcare services. Issues relating to ethic and social responsibility in the marketing of healthcare services will be studied.
MPAL 6382 - Innovation in Public & Nonprofit Organizations
8 weeks
3
Will explore innovative tools and practices in the public and nonprofit sectors, including innovative collaboration, performance measurement, and the use of the social media to engage the public and to improve service delivery.
MPA Program Admission Requirements
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 in last 60 credits of undergraduate work
- One of the following:
- Equivalent of three or more years of full-time professional work experience, or
- GRE scores of 295 (verbal and quantitative combined)
- Three letters of recommendation
Conditional Admission Requirements
In addition to the requirements below, factors such as extensive professional work experience, completion of graduate courses, and relevant volunteer work will also be considered.
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
- GPA of 2.50-2.99 in last 60 credits of undergraduate work
- Three letters of recommendation
- GRE scores of 287-294
- Other evidence (at least one of the following):
- Completion of graduate courses
- Current or previous professional service in governmental, public service, nonprofit, or for-profit organizations
Official Transcripts
Official transcripts in electronic format can be sent to admissions@utpb.edu. Official hard copies of transcripts must come directly from the school in a sealed envelope to our Office of Admissions and should be mailed to this address:
UT Permian Basin
Office of Admissions
4901 E. University Blvd.
Odessa, TX 79762
Supporting Documents
All supporting documents related to a graduate program, such as letters of recommendation, essays, statements of interest, resumes, professional work experience, and awards should be sent to the Graduate Studies Office:
UT Permian Basin
Graduate Studies
4901 E. University Blvd.
Odessa, TX 79762-0001
Electronic versions of supporting documents may be emailed to gradstudies@utpb.edu.
Application Fee
The application fee is $40.