Its primary objective is to provide a rigorous, high-quality professional education to students pursuing careers within government agencies or in organizations directly involved with public issues. The curriculum and educational process are grounded in the belief that public administration involves more than just a job or career requiring certain technical skills. It is a form of governance the exercise of public authority to serve the common good. The MPA Program provides intellectual and collaborative experiences that help students learn to act as facilitators to the public interests by reflecting on their own understanding of the historical, political and economic context within which public administration is practiced. The program places special emphasis on the contributions made by men and women of different cultures to the region s economic development and to the form and functions of organizations in the public, nonprofit and private sectors.
Students develop expertise in both oral and written communication.
They learn to reason critically, to analyze important dimensions of public service and to understand and take a coherent position on key policy issues. Technical skills are acquired during the program and after graduation within a framework that recognizes and understands their implications. Students find ample opportunity for discussion of contemporary public issues with practitioners and faculty. They are also encouraged to address such issues in research assignments and group applications projects. Finally, their own experience in internships and employment completes the integration of theory and practice.