Public Administration - Gannon University

Public Administration from Gannon University is a Campus Master Public Administration degree that prepares you for a Human Services career. Introduction Gannon University's Master of Public Administration Program strives to give you the tools you need to be able to effectively solve problems. Our missions is to provide you with the vision, values and leadership skills required for successful professional and rewarding personal lives. Public Administration is at the core of the discipline of political science. It involves the study of the management of governmental entities. It's the who, when, where and how policies are formulated, implemented, and evaluated. It's where campaign promises get carried out (or not). Public administration is a rapidly changing field. In fact, the one thing that is constant is change. It is a field in which new ways of doing things are constantly being suggested. It is a field in which politics and values are always in flux. Public administrators are consistently being held to higher standards-to be accountable, to be ethical, to be efficient and effective, and to be responsive. These recent dramatic changes in the worlds of politics, government, international relations, not-for-profits, and the private sector have cast a new light on the importance of leadership within the public sector. The urgency for leadership studies and development has never been greater! A commitment to instilling qualities of leadership in students lies at the heart of a Gannon University education. The Mission Statement that drives University life promises to "offer each student a value-centered education... in order to prepare students for leadership roles in their careers, society and church." That long-standing focus on leadership has become even more intense through development of new academic programs and scholarships that will uniquely position Gannon graduates to take leadership roles in fields that will be most in demand in the next century. Political appointees of the past are rapidly being replaced by a new breed of public sector managers, more similar to executives, engineers, and accountants of the private sector. Governments, agencies, foundations, and authorities are seeking highly motivated individuals with communication, critical analysis, marketing, finance, strategic planning abilities, grant writing experience, program development capabilities, organizational skills, and the ablity to solve problems creatively. To meet this demand, the Gannon Master of Public Administration and Master of Business Administration Programs share resources. This encourages public adminstration students to pursue management skills training with the rigor and dedication frequently associated only with business school training. It also provides opportunities to specialize in selected concentrations. Gannon is a student-oriented, value-centered teaching university. This philosophy guides our approach to teaching, advising, and designing our curriculum. We recognize and understand the ongoing changes taking place in today's workplace environments as a result of the introduction of recent reinvention initiatives. We want to prepare students to excel in this current reality. Our approach is to work closely with students on a personal basis, challenging you to grow while ensuring that you meet your own objectives. Courses are rigorous and challening by design, but we will work with you to build the skills you will need for the world of the new millenium. Our experience as the region's oldest and largest graduate school of management and administration has taught us some important lessons. Simply having a master's degree is no assurance of success or happiness. To succeed you need real skills, an understanding of the worlds of the public , private, and not-for-profit sectors, practical experience, and a moral compass. What are the origins of public administration? How has public adminstration evolved and changed? What motivates human behavior? What are the differences and similarities between public, private, and nonprofit management? What are the various theories of organization? What is the science of "muddling through"? How are policies formulated and implemented? What is strategic planning and how is it done? How are budgets and financial statements created? How do we evaluate programs? What role do ethical considerations play in public administration and what tools exist to help "good people make tough choices"? Where is public administration headed in the 21st century? These are some of the questions that you will grapple with during time studying the field of public administration at Gannon. Our central location to city, county, state, and federal government offices makes Gannona virtual public administration laboratory. Our close proximity allows for continuous interaction with government and agency leaders who visit classes on a regular basis and often serve as instructors themselves. This is a program in which real world case studies are often the focus of seminar deliberations and class projects. In addition, internship opportunities abound. This practical experience adds balance to academic life. Objectives To impart a sophisticated and lasting paradigm for understanding bureaucracy and the administrative process in large, complex organizations; To develop requisite skills necessary to participate effectively in and practice the business of management and leadership roles in public administration; and To enhance leadership potential in the public sector, not-for-profits, and for profit sectors. Outcomes Outcomes of the Foundation Curriculum: Upon completion of the MPA, students should be able: appreciate broader environmental and contextual backdrops; acquire both theoretical and experiential perspectives; lead successful professional lives and rewarding personal lives based on the vision, values, and skills acquired; know and understand the basic principles and theories of public administration; leverage technology with the use of computers; understand global cultures and concepts; understand public policy; evaluate policy outputs; understand the budgeting process; understand basic legal principles affecting all facets of public administration; understand the worlds of government and for profits and not-for-profits and how they interface; act with integrity and ethics in all aspects of daily life; and interact with local and regional leaders and managers. Track I: Administrative Track Outcomes: Upon completion of this track, students should be able: do accounting, financial management, and marketing; do quantitative analysis; analyze financial data and prepare operating budgets; collect data, understand statistical methodology, and analyze statistical data; evaluate the effectiveness of on-going programs; learn effective strategies in applying for grants; understand the concepts underlying the use of scarce resources; and Track II: Organizational Leadership Track Outcomes: Upon completion of this track, students should be able: solve problems creatively; negotiate and bargain effectively; lead, motivate, and empower others; bring people to consensus; prepare a strategic plan; facilitate a visioning process; communicate effectively in listening, speaking, and writing; understand how leadership style affects the outcomes of policy implementation; and understand the importance of community leadership/trusteeship. lead, motivate, and empower others; bring people to consensus; prepare a strategic plan; facilitate a visioning process; communicate effectively in listening, speaking, and writing; understand how leadership style affects the outcomes of policy implementation; and understand the importance of community leadership/trusteeship. View more details on Gannon University . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Public Administration courses.