Public Administration MPA
Total Units Required: 37
The Master of Public Administration offers options in health administration and criminal justice. The mission of the program is to develop and enhance the theoretical and practical understanding, knowledge, and skills of current and future managers in public service with particular emphasis on the North State region. A major feature of this program is administration in a nonmetropolitan setting.
Graduate Advising Requirement
Advising is mandatory each semester for all Public Administration students. Units taken outside the discipline of Public Administration must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator and the student's graduate advisory committee. Consult with the Graduate Coordinator for specifics.
Requirements for the Master of Public Administration
Completion of all requirements as established by the departmental graduate committee, the graduate advisory committee, and Graduate Studies, to include:
- Completion of an approved program consisting of 37 units as follows:
- At least 30 units in the discipline of Public Administration.
- At the discretion of the academic program, a maximum of six semester units of special session credit earned in non-matriculated status combined with all transfer coursework may be counted toward the degree requirements. This applies to special session credit earned through Open University, or in courses offered for academic credit through Professional & Continuing Education. Correspondence courses and UC Extension coursework are not acceptable for transfer. Not more than six units from another department within the University, and only with approval by the graduate advisory committee.
- Not more than three units of internship coursework and only if the student's graduate committee or the Graduate Coordinator agrees that the internship is a meaningful educational experience. Internships are encouraged for pre-service students.
- Not more than nine units of POLS 697 or POLS 680B combined. POLS 697 topics cannot be the same as POLS 680B papers.
- Completion and final approval of one of the following plans as specified by the student's graduate advisory committee.
- Comprehensive Examination Plan
- Preparing for the Comprehensive Examination: students shall enroll in POLS 680A the semester before they intend to take the Comprehensive Examination. Students are provided lists of suggested readings. The exam involves synthesis and practical application of public administration theory, knowledge, and skills acquired in the program.
- Written Comprehensive Examinations: the candidate shall complete and pass a written examination in public administration.
- Grading: each examination shall be graded as pass or fail.
- Repeating the Written Comprehensive Examination: the candidate may repeat the examination once.
- Approval by the departmental graduate committee and the Graduate Council on behalf of the faculty of the university.
- Professional Paper Plan
Enrollment in POLS 680A and POLS 680B and successful completion of a professional research paper (typically a policy analysis) of sufficient range in subject and method to demonstrate a broad acquaintance with the relevant theory and methodology and a capacity for in-depth analysis and investigation. The completed paper shall be presented before interested faculty and graduate students and approved by both members of the graduate committee.
- Comprehensive Examination Plan
- Approval by the department graduate committee and the Graduate Council on behalf of the faculty of the University.
The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this master's.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| POLS 521 | Research Experience: An Introduction to Exploring Data in Politics and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| POLS 602 | Public Administration and Democracy | 3 |
| POLS 660A | Public Management | 3 |
| POLS 660B | Public Personnel Administration | 3 |
| POLS 660C | Public Budgeting and Finance | 3 |
| POLS 662 | Organizational Theory in the Public Sector | 3 |
| Culminating Activity | ||
| Select four units from the following: | 4 | |
Comprehensive Examination: 1 | ||
Select three units of an elective course. | ||
| Research Plan/Culminating Practicum | ||
Professional Paper: | ||
| Research Plan/Culminating Practicum | ||
| Culminating Practicum | ||
| Options | ||
| Select one of the following: | 15 | |
| Total Units | 37 | |
- 1
Students selecting the comprehensive examination must enroll in POLS 680A the semester prior to taking the comprehensive examination.
General MPA Electives
Students pursuing the option in criminal justice or the option in health administration select six units from the following; general MPA students must take 15 units.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 600 | American Institutions and Public Organizations | 3 |
| POLS 601 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| POLS 624 | Public Opinion and Survey Design | 3 |
| POLS 652 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Health and Human Services | 3 |
| POLS 653 | Environmental Policy and the Law | 3 |
| POLS 654 | Behavioral Health Policy and Administration | 3 |
| POLS 655 | Aging Policy | 3 |
| POLS 656 | International Public Administration | 3 |
| POLS 657 | The Criminal Justice System: Institutions and Public Policy | 3 |
| POLS 658 | Criminological Theory | 3 |
| POLS 659 | Collaborative Community Management | 3 |
| POLS 661 | Seminar in Public Administration | 3 |
| POLS 664 | Public Policy in Health and Human Services | 3 |
| POLS 665 | Issues in Global Public Health | 3 |
| POLS 667 | Administration and Planning | 3 |
| POLS 668 | Public Policy Formation | 3 |
| POLS 669 | Public and Non-Profit Program Evaluation | 3 |
| POLS 671 | Topics in American Politics | 3 |
| POLS 672 | The U.S. Presidency | 3 |
| or POLS 673 | The U.S. Congress | |
| POLS 689 | Intern/Fieldwork Public Admin | 1-3 |
| POLS 689P | MPA Professional Internship (recommended for pre-service students) | 3 |
| POLS 697 | Independent Study | 1-6 |
The Option in Criminal Justice
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 657 | The Criminal Justice System: Institutions and Public Policy | 3 |
| POLS 658 | Criminological Theory | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Police Administration and Management | ||
| Seminar in Judicial Politics | ||
| Behavioral Health Policy and Administration | ||
| Select six units from the General MPA Electives | 6 | |
| Total Units | 15 | |
The Option in Health Administration
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Legal and Ethical Issues in Health and Human Services | ||
| Behavioral Health Policy and Administration | ||
| Aging Policy | ||
| Public Policy in Health and Human Services | ||
| Issues in Global Public Health | ||
| Select six units from the General MPA Electives | 6 | |
| Total Units | 15 | |
Graduate Grading Requirements
All courses in the major (with the exceptions of Comprehensive Examination - 696, Independent Study - 697, Master's Project - 699P, and Master's Thesis - 699T) must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as ABC/No Credit (400/500-level courses), AB/No Credit (600-level courses), or Credit/No Credit grading only. A maximum of 10 units combined of ABC/No Credit, AB/No Credit, and Credit/No Credit grades may be used on the approved program (including 696, 697, 699P, 699T and courses outside the major). While grading standards are determined by individual programs and instructors, it is also the policy of the University that unsatisfactory grades may be given when work fails to reflect achievement of the high standards, including high writing standards, expected of students pursuing graduate study.
Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average in each of the following three categories: all coursework taken at any accredited institution subsequent to admission to the master's program; all coursework taken at Chico State subsequent to admission to the program; and all courses in the approved master's degree program. Failure to maintain a 3.0 average in any category will result in academic notice in the master's program. Failure to remedy the deficiency within one semester with appropriate courses approved by the program coordinator may result in disqualification from the master's program. See Graduate Education Policies for more information.
In addition, no course in which a grade lower than B- is earned will be counted toward the fulfillment of any graduate degree requirements.
Continuous enrollment is required. At the discretion of the academic program, a maximum of six semester units of special session credit earned in non-matriculated status combined with all transfer coursework may be counted toward the degree requirements. This applies to special session credit earned through Open University, or in courses offered for academic credit through Professional & Continuing Education.
Graduate Time Limit
All requirements for the degree are to be completed within five years of the end of the semester of enrollment in the oldest course applied toward the degree. See Master's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements.
Graduate Requirement in Writing Proficiency
All students must demonstrate competency in writing skills as a requirement for graduation. Graduate students in public administration demonstrate their writing competence through POLS 602 or the first graduate seminar in which they enroll. The instructor of the seminar will certify to the Graduate Coordinator that the student has met the requirement. Students should consult with the Graduate Coordinator for specifics.
Prerequisites for Admission to Classified Status
- Satisfactory grade point average as specified in Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Admission Requirements.
- Approval by the department and Graduate Studies.
- An acceptable baccalaureate from an accredited institution, or an equivalent approved by Graduate Studies.
- Evidence of American Government/Politics coursework at the post secondary level or successful completion (B- or higher) of POLS 355 is strongly recommended.
- Completion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 550 (80 on the internet-based TOEFL) by all applicants who have not attended post secondary educational institutions for at least three years where English is the principal language of instruction.
Advancement to Candidacy
- Development of an approved master's degree program plan. The Graduate Coordinator works with the student in the development of the degree program plan. The plan must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator and the Office of Graduate Studies.
- Completion of at least 15 units of the student's approved master's degree program plan.
- Formation of a graduate advisory committee.
- Students selecting the thesis option must have a committee of three faculty members. At least two of the three faculty members on the committee, including the chair, must be chosen from the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice.
- Students selecting the professional paper plan must have a committee of two faculty members. The chair of the committee must be a faculty member in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice who holds a terminal degree in the field.
- For students who select the comprehensive exam plan, the Graduate Coordinator organizes the graduate advisory committee and is responsible for the guidance of the student through the completion of the degree.
- For students completing the professional paper, graduate advisory committee approval of the student's professional paper topic and enrollment in POLS 680B.
Definition of Blended Programs
A blended bachelor's and master's degree program combines an existing Chico State bachelor's degree with an existing Chico State master's degree; the blended program allows up to 12 units of the graduate program units to be double-counted at the undergraduate level, for a minimum of 138 units to receive both degrees. Students who complete a blended program will receive both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Upon completion of 120 semester units and with the completion of all requirements for the bachelor's degree, students in blended programs will be awarded the bachelor's degree. Upon completion of the requirements for the master's degree, students will be awarded the master's degree.
Students interested in applying to a blended program must be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program at Chico State and must meet and maintain the minimum GPA of the existing master's degree entrance requirements for all bachelor's coursework completed at the time of the application to the blended program, or show promise to reach this level as determined by the program. Once admitted to the blended program, students shall not be required to apply for admission to the master's program.
Blended BA + Public Administration MPA
Eligibility
Criminal Justice BA: In order to apply to the blended program students must have completed 60 undergraduate units. A total of 15 units in the major, including CRIM 250, CRIM 384/SOCI 384, and POLS 331W must be completed before applying.
Political Science BA: In order to apply to the blended program students must have completed 60 undergraduate units. A total of 12 units in the major, including POLS 331W, must be completed before applying.
Application Procedure
Application deadlines: April 1 for fall start, November 1 for spring start.
Students who meet the eligibility criteria may submit an application for admission to the blended program. Formal application through Cal State Apply is not necessary and the student is not required to pay an application fee. GRE scores are not required. Students must meet the requirements outlined below to change to blended graduate status and continue toward the master's degree.
Grading Requirement
Once in the blended program, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA during their remaining undergraduate and graduate semesters.
Transition to Graduate Status
Students can transition to the graduate program after completing all undergraduate degree requirements with a minimum 2.5 GPA in all coursework. The Office of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Coordinator will verify graduate program eligibility at the end of the semester in which the bachelor's degree is completed. Qualified students change to graduate status effective the following semester.
Requirements for the Blended Criminal Justice BA + MPA
The blended program allows the courses below to count toward both degrees.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CRIM 476 | Police Administration and Management 1 | 3 |
| POLS 521 | Research Experience: An Introduction to Exploring Data in Politics and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| POLS 657 | The Criminal Justice System: Institutions and Public Policy | 3 |
| POLS 658 | Criminological Theory | 3 |
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
Other criminal justice elective courses may be taken if pre-approved by an advisor. An additional assignment may need to be completed by students in the blended program.
Requirements for the Blended Political Science BA + MPA
Legal Studies Option
The blended program allows the courses below to count toward both degrees.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 651 | Seminar in Judicial Politics | 3 |
| or POLS 652 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Health and Human Services | |
| POLS 689 | Intern/Fieldwork Public Admin | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Public Administration and Democracy | ||
| Environmental Policy and the Law | ||
| Seminar in Public Administration | ||
| Public Policy Formation | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| State and Local Government | ||
| Seminar in Judicial Politics | ||
| The U.S. Presidency | ||
| The U.S. Congress | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
U.S. Politics Option
The blended program allows 12 units from the courses below to count toward both degrees.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 521 | Research Experience: An Introduction to Exploring Data in Politics and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| POLS 689 | Intern/Fieldwork Public Admin | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Public Opinion and Survey Design | ||
| Environmental Policy and the Law | ||
| International Public Administration | ||
| The Criminal Justice System: Institutions and Public Policy | ||
or POLS 661 | Seminar in Public Administration | |
| Public Policy Formation | ||
| Select any BA elective or one-two of the following: | 3-6 | |
| American Institutions and Public Organizations | ||
| Public Policy Formation | ||
| Topics in American Politics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| State and Local Government | ||
| The U.S. Presidency | ||
| The U.S. Congress | ||