MPA DEGREE WITH A SPECIALIZATION
IN PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

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IIT offers a MPA Specialization in Public Management within the MPA Program. This Public Management Specialization is oriented to professionals interested in public management.

To complete the Program students will take a minimum of 33 credit hours. In particular, they will:

• Take 24 credit hours (8 courses) in the MPA core curriculum:

PA 501 Introduction to Public Administration
PA 502 Complex Organization
PA 503 Public Administrative Law
PA 510 Managerial Communications*
PA 522 Public Personnel Administration
PA 532 Principles and Practices of Public Finance
PA 542 Strategic Planning
PA 509 Practicum in Policy Analysis (focused on issues in the public safety management)

*Can be waived with satisfactory completion of written exercise administered in PA 501 Introduction to Public Administration or with the approval of the Academic Director. If waived, the student must take a 4th elective course.

• Take 9 credit hours (3 courses) from the following:

PA 508 Seminar in Public Management - Students attend lectures and make site visits to state and local agencies and governments, learning about special problems encountered by leadership for each agency and the solutions that the agencies have devised. Course offers students an opportunity to interact with a group of agency directors, public officials and staff about their experience, and solutions to common management problems. Students compare experience of local leaders with theoretical public administration material.

PA 511 Comparative Public Administration - An introduction to comparative analysis of systems of public administration in selected nations, including Great Britain, Japan, China, and major non-governmental organizations such as the European Union and the United Nations. The nations and organizations discussed will be compared to each other and to the United States. Areas explored will include: the historical antecedents of current national administrative systems (including the development of the nation-state), public administration models and structure in both developed and developing nations, the relationship between bureaucracies and political systems, the rise of the international nongovernmental organization, and the impact of corruption on public administration.

PA 513 Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation - Explores techniques of policy analysis and program evaluation having practical application in such fields as transportation, education, housing, criminal justice, and environmental quality. Includes those research and analytical methods most frequently applied in governmental decision-making.

PA 516 Information Technology n Public Administration - The course has the learning objective of developing awareness of the general management challenges that the use of information technology presents for governments, and to be able to develop appropriate policies that address these challenges. Upon completion, students should be able to apply best practices to the management of computer hardware, software, networking, and other technologies in government, and appreciate how the use of "electronic government" technology can transform government and be able to help governments develop and manage effective programs of e-government uses.

PA 533 Advanced Financial Management - An advanced course focusing on the application of techniques used by financial managers to evaluate government financial condition and performance Students conduct case studies in which they apply tools such as performance measurement, budget analysis, priority-setting and financial indicator analysis to evaluate core public financial documents including budgets, capital improvement plans and audited financial statements.

PA 539 Local Government Management and Public Safety - This course examines the governmental structure in which public safety administrators work and studies the interrelationship of public safety administrators with the rest of the organization. The leadership and management roles of the public safety officials, finances and budgeting in local government, and ethics in the profession will be examined.

PA 541 Performance Measurement in Nonprofit and Public Management - Governments at all levels, as well as foundations, trusts and other funders now require performance measurement systems to improve management and demonstrate meaningful results to officials, taxpayers, donors and decision makers. This is an applied course which will help students understand performance measurement concepts, develop specific performance measures, and apply performance measurement techniques to solve real world problems in both the nonprofit and public sectors.

PA 556 Tools of Government - In the United States, an increasing of proportion of the goods and services traditionally provided by governmental employees in the context of a governmental bureaucracy are now provided by outside contractors, or through indirect means such as social, economic regulation, tax policy, loan guarantees, vouchers, and manipulation of incentives for the private sector. This course is intended to provide students with an understanding of various tools used by governments through the West as the traditional rule based bureaucracy is replaced by other types of institutions and other means to provide goods and services traditionally provided by government.

PA 562 Urban and Metropolitan Government - Analyzes the decision-making process in urban and metropolitan governments. Emphasizes the role of elected and appointed officials, business, organized labor, community organizations and the electorate. Also focuses on the major problems of city-suburban relations.

• Undertake a 3 credit hour internship with an existing public management organization. If the student does not have public management work experience, a weekly 4-hour placement outside their current employment is required. The internship will provide students an opportunity to gain experience in public management activies as well as offering an opportunity to apply the lessons they are learning in the classroom setting.

• Successfully pass a MPA Preliminary Exam, prior to registering for fifth course in program.

Faculty

The MPA program has faculty with considerable experience in public management.
Among them are: 

Karl Nollenberger, MPA Program Academic Director, has worked in local government management for 35 years.

Scott Peters, J.D., Senior Lecturer, has worked with governments and governmental agencies.

Roland Calia, Visiting Professor, has extensive experience in governmental budgeting and financial management working with association management studying governments.

Rick Kuner, Adjunct Faculty, has experience in planning analysis and policy analysis.

IIT also offers a Certificate Program in Public Management.

Both programs are offered at the IIT Downtown Chicago Campus at 565 W. Adams.