Although students may begin in any term, course schedules are arranged
to best serve the needs of students who matriculate each fall. Students
should schedule PAD 5050 and PAD 5700 during their first semester.
PAD 5700 is a prerequisite for PAD 5701 which should be taken the
following term. PAD 6908 should be scheduled in the last term following
completion of PAD 5035. This sequencing enables us to develop your
skills in research and writing further than was possible before we
instituted the prerequisite requirements. For most students not on
a graduate assistantship, three courses (or nine credit hours) is
a full-load of courses.
The following schedule lists an appropriate sequence of MPA courses
for a program of study that spans five semesters.
It is extremely important that you take and complete PAD 5701
early in your coursework. Do not make the mistake of waiting until
your last couple of terms as it is a very difficult class and could
hold your graduation.
First Semester
PAD 5050 The Profession of Public Administration, and
PAD 5700 Research Design, and
One (or two) other core or specialization course
Second Semester
PAD 5701 Research Methods, and
One core courses, and
One (or two) specialization course(s)
PAD 5035 Policy Development and Management
Internship (if required to graduate) or in fourth semester, and
One or two specialization courses
One core course, and
Two specialization courses
PAD 6908 Action Report
One specialization course
Most of the core courses are taught once every semester, including
summer sessions. The specialization courses are taught at most once
a year and occasionally only every four or five semesters, so you
should watch for the specialization courses as they are taught and
take them. If you are in a specialization track, you should take the
core course of that topic area as soon as possible so you will have
the prerequisite for the advanced course, e.g., take PAD 5227 before
you can take PAD 6226 or PAD 6207. During the summer semester, generally
most of the core courses but only a few specialization courses are
offered. There is also a limited offering of graduate courses in other
departments. Students who plan to enroll for summer courses should
plan to “save” one or more of the core courses for the
summer.