Students who wish to gain additional knowledge in a specialized area can choose one of the following specializations.
This specialization is designed for criminal justice professionals, including supervisors and managers in policing, courts, corrections, security, and associated support agencies, who aspire to move into upper-level management and administrative assignments. The coursework includes an in-depth review and discussion of contemporary decision-making models and issues confronting the American criminal justice system.
MMPA 6350 Historical and Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice (4 cr.)
MMPA 6351 Policy Analysis in the Criminal Justice System (4 cr.)
MMPA 6352 Leadership: Putting Theory Into Practice in Criminal Justice Administration (4 cr.)*
* This course will become available in December 2007.
Americans have seen radical changes in the health care industry over the past several years. They’ve watched it go from an independent structure to a collection of major business enterprises, which in turn has changed the way health care is delivered. As the health care environment changes, managers must quickly adapt to succeed. The Health Services specialization helps students gain valuable knowledge about health delivery systems, health policy, health administration, and health finance centers, so they can manage effectively and successfully in this unique environment.
PUBH 6130 Health Care Organization, Policy, and Administration (4 cr.)
PUBH 6250 U.S. and International Health Care Systems (4 cr.)
PUBH 6920 Health Services Financial Management (4 cr.)
Today’s complex public safety environment demands smart policy on emergency response strategies. This specialization prepares homeland security professionals to implement protective measures without compromising individual rights and freedoms. With this knowledge, students are equipped to effectively develop policy to protect individuals’ safety and freedom.
MMPA 6320 Public Policy Implications of Terrorism Legislation and Policies (4 cr.)
MMPA 6321 Terrorism: A Systemic Approach for Emergency Preparedness (4 cr.)
MMPA 6322 Critical Incident Planning and Leadership (4 cr.)
In an era of increasing globalization, it is important for leaders of nonprofit organizations and governmental departments at the local, state, and national levels to know how to operate in an international environment. This specialization explores how countries organize, regulate, and foster nongovernmental activities; how international intergovernmental organizations operate; and how representatives of these organizations can learn from, partner with, and work within organizations worldwide. By focusing on the effects of globalization and the cultures and sociopolitical environments of diverse nations and organizations, students in this specialization learn how to work effectively with nongovernmental organizations, voluntary organizations, and intergovernmental organizations around the world.
MMPA 6330 Holding Up the Mirror: Understanding Different Cultures and Increasing Global Consciousness (4 cr.)
MMPA 6331 Crossing Borders: U.S. and International NGO Organizational Cultures and Environments (4 cr.)
MMPA 6332 Placing NGOs in the Global Context (4 cr.)
The Knowledge Management specialization prepares students to develop innovative solutions to their organizations’ most critical challenges—through the comprehensive creation, sharing, and use of knowledge, and the effective education of adult learners. The curriculum is focused on organizational change (e.g., Total Quality, Six Sigma, re-engineering, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award) and organizational learning, including the deployment of corporate universities.
AMDS 8335 Principles of Knowledge Management (4 cr.)
AMDS 8800 Epistemology and the Practice of Knowledge and Learning Management (4 cr.)
AMDS 8801 Principles of Learning Management (4 cr.)
The Nonprofit Management and Leadership specialization prepares students to apply entrepreneurial ideas and concepts to the nonprofit sector as they assume leadership roles in the rapidly changing nonprofit sector. Financial management, accountability, program effectiveness, civic empowerment strategies, and sophisticated management practices are key to nonprofit success.
MMPA 6340 Leadership for the Nonprofit Sector (4 cr.)
MMPA 6341 Fund Raising and Marketing in Nonprofit Organizations (4 cr.)
MMPA 6342 Nonprofit Management (4 cr.)
Fundamental, rapid, and unpredictable change is ubiquitous in public administration, making leadership more critical than ever. This specialization provides professionals with the advanced knowledge and skills to assume the interrelated responsibilities of managing and leading during a time of change in any area of public administration.
MMPA 6390 Strategic Context of Public Management and Leadership (4 cr.)
MMPA 6391 Transformative Change in a Shared-Power World (4 cr.)
MMPA 6392 The Language of Leadership (4 cr.)
The Public Policy specialization provides students with a critical understanding of the context within which organizations and individuals act in a democratic society. It prepares students to function knowledgeably within this context and to help shape public policy development and implementation.
MMPA 6380 Policy and Politics in American Political Institutions (4 cr.)
MMPA 6381 Program Public Policy and Evaluation (4 cr.)
MMPA 6382 Public Policy and Finance (4 cr.)
The emergency situations of today’s complex environments call for a new leadership approach and effective collaboration among public safety professionals. The Public Safety Management specialization offers emergency response professionals the skills to lead, manage, and motivate others during emergencies; to build confident and capable teams; and to address challenging ethical situations that may arise during the course of duty.
MMPA 6360 Public Safety Issues (4 cr.)
MMPA 6361 Managing Public Safety Organizations (4 cr.)
MMPA 6362 Ethics in Preserving Public Safety (4 cr.)
Course Sequence
Students complete MMPA 6000 Success Strategies in the Online Environment in their first quarter. The remaining core courses are listed below under Quarters 2-7 in a recommended sequence of study. Students have the option to customize their program (e.g., quarters to completion, order of courses) to meet their personal schedules. Students who decide to add a specialization will extend their time to degree completion beyond seven quarters.
| Quarter |
Course |
| 1 |
MMPA 6000 Success Strategies in the Online Environment |
| 2 |
MMPA 6220 Principles of Public Administration: Applied Critical-Thinking Skills |
| 3 |
MMPA 6265 Organizational Theory and Behavior
MMPA 6300 Strategic Management of Information |
| 4 |
MMPA 6230 Professional Leadership and Ethics
MMPA 6240 Cultural Competency: Communication Skills for a Global Society |
| 5 |
MMPA 6210 Managing at the Boundaries: Creative Thinking for Social Change
MMPA 6285 Policy Analysis |
| 6 |
MMPA 6250 Nonprofit and Governmental Budgeting and Finance
MMPA 6285 Human Resource Management |
| 7 |
MMPA 6295 Applied Research
MMPA 6305 Master's Capstone Seminar |
| 8 |
Specialization Courses |
