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Program Director: Dr. Duane (Rick) Prokop, M.B.A, DSL  
Phone: (814) 871-7576
Email: prokop001@gannon.edu

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.

Offerings

The goal of Gannon's Master of Public Administration Program is to provide students with the vision, values, and leadership skills required for successful professional and rewarding personal lives.

Gannon offers a Master of Public Administration Degree (MPA), a Specialized Five Year Master's Degree MPA Program, and a number of related Graduate Certificates.

Within the MPA, you are able to take one of four directions.
They are:

1. The Administrative Track
2. The Organizational Leadership Track
3. A combination of electives to best meet your needs
4. A program with a concentration or Graduate Certificate

In addition, we also offer customized packages of graduate courses in management, leadership, administration, and related topics for professionals who wish to upgrade skills or retrain.

Our programs of study may be pursued on either a full- or part-time basis.

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.

Admission Requirements

1. Have a bachelor's degree in any discipline from an accredited college or university
2. A completed application for admission
3. Transcripts from all prior institutions attended
4. TOEFL scores if English is not a first language
5. GRE scores (if you are seeking a degree or a certificate and if your undergraduate GPA is less than 3.2)
6. Three letters of recommendation

Five Year Bachelor's Degree/MPA

This program is designed to allow outstanding undergraduate students the opportunity to earn both an undergraduate degree and an MPA within a five-year period. All majors are eligible. If interested, students should apply before their junior year. Working with both the undergraduate advisor and the MPA Director, a schedule will be customized for students using undergraduate electives and/or cognates to take MPA courses.

Graduate Certificates

Gannon offers graduate certificates in a number of disciplines, including accounting, environmental sciences, financial management, human resources management, investments and marketing. If students are unable to commit to a degree program but wish to develop a particular specialization or if they have a master's degree but wish to upgrade skills or retrain, a certificate may be just what they are seeking. Most of the certificate programs include 12 to 15 hours of graduate work.

Internships and Cooperative Education

In consultation with their advisor, students may accept field placements related to their interests and academic studies. Placements range from short-term assignments to full-time positions. If students are looking for experience, internships complement book learning and classroom lectures and are also a great resume builder. If interested, a student should consult the MPA Director. In some circumstances, elective credits are awarded for these placements.

Second Master's Degree MBA/MPA

A student who has earned an MBA or MPA can obtain the second Master's degree with a reduced number of courses. See program director for details.

Research Project

Course research projects are frequently geared toward helping and/or understanding local government and nonprofit organizations. This component of study helps students to learn better by doing while community groups benefit from student involvement.

Students will compile a final integrating portfolio which will serve as a culmination of your MPA experience. This will compel you to reflect on your course work, do an extensive literature review, exercise your professional speaking and writing skills, and apply what you have learned. The Research in Public Administration course (GMPA 799) will provide you the opportunity to prepare this written project. Through this project, you must weave together theory and practice developing your own philosophy of leadership/administration, a leadership checklist, a self-assessment profile, and a personal action plan with individual goals of growth. In addition, you will be required to do a research project as a component of your portfolio. This segment of the portfolio will provide you with a powerful tool for illustrating what you have learned and how it can be applied to work, in the community, or in other venues. You will develop your research topic in consultation with the Director. Through a program of directed study and seminar-type deliberations, the course will seek to conclude and intergrate your Public Adminstration experience.

You are to make two copies of this project, bind them in standard thesis folders, and present them to the research project mentor for inclusion in the university research archives.

Tracks/Concentrations

In registering for electives, you have a number of avenues you can pursue, such as:

1. Specialize in the Administrative track (12)
2. Specialize in the Organizational Leadership track (12)
3. Take various courses in business, counseling, education, gerontology, pastoral studies or public administration to meet your personal needs.
4. Pursue a graduate certificate in Accounting (24), Environmental and Occupational Science and Health (18), Financial Management (15), Gerontology (15), Investments (15), Human Resource Management (15), Marketing (15),  Pastoral Ministry (12), Reading Specialist (30) or Religious Education (12).

You should consult with your advisor to develop a systematic plan including choice of electives and a research project given your prior coursework, your areas of interest, and your future career plans.