Master of Public Administration-Capstone Option

Comments about Master of Public Administration-Capstone Option - At the institution - Charles Town - West Virginia

• Objectives
  The capstone seminar option includes a thesis, or a major research project or paper in lieu of the final comprehensive examination, which has no credit hours. Those who elect this option may reduce their electives by three semester hours to accommodate the seminar option credit. This option is desirable for those students who wish to focus on specific subject matter of an interdisciplinary nature or who would like to continue their education at a higher level. Students electing this option must use this as one of the graduate electives.
  
  In addition to the institutional and degree level learning outcomes objectives, the Master of Public Administration seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates:
  
  * Apply leading theories and approaches to managing public organizations and administering federal, state, and local levels.
  * Test the concepts, theories and methodologies to conduct research in the public sector.
  * Evaluate the philosophical and practical issues related to ethical decision-making in the public sector.
  * Formulate and articulate positions and issues that intersect the dynamics of politics, policy, economics, administration, and management in the public sector.
  * Compare and contrast the government and private sector budgeting process and funding of specific government programs and activities.
  * Analyze the role of federal administrative organizations - to include Congress, the president, the courts, and interest groups - in the public policy development and implementation.
  * Assess the emerging trend and implications of the private and not-for-profit sectors providing government services.
  * Formulate a strategy for developing a needs assessment, outcome expectations, program outcome evaluations, and impact assessments.
• Course description
  The Master of Public Administration degree program provides a unique program of study in administrative theory, the program and policy development process, and specific case studies in public policy. This degree program is designed to offer graduates of various undergraduate programs an opportunity to obtain high levels of proficiency of technical and managerial skills to enhance public service work. It aims at broad-level understanding of the goals and challenges of public administration and the relationship of these to more specialized aspects of planning, organization, management, and analysis in the public sector at the national, state and local levels. The degree program is designed to provide advanced study and prepare current and future government employees for management positions in government at all levels. Because of its focus on management and the expanding role of the private sector in providing traditional government services, the degree program is also applicable to industry and the non-profit sector.

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