Department of Public Administration

Degree and Course Planning

PSU students sitting and working together

Degree Requirements

Master of Public Administration

General Degree Requirements (54 Total Credits)

The Master of Public Administration Program at Portland State University offers students the skills and knowledge to meet the contemporary challenges of public service and nonprofit work. Students will complete 39 credits of foundational coursework and 15 credits of elective skill development coursework. The Foundational coursework addresses topics such as ethics, diversity, policy implementation and processes. Through the elective coursework, students will also have the opportunity to earn an additional certificate in a specialized area of their choosing.

Foundations of Public Service and Administration (15 Credits)

  • PA 511 Public Administration and Democratic Governance
  • PA 513 Public Service Ethics
  • PA 533 Public Policy Development and Implementation
  • PA 534 Administrative Law
  • PA 582 Public Budgeting Process

Organization Management and Leadership (12 Credits)

  • PA 528 Public and Nonprofit Leadership
  • PA 540 Organization Management and Behavior
  • PA 549 Communication and Managing Across Difference
  • PA 585 Financial Management for Public Organizations

Analytic Methods (8 Credits)

  • PA 551 Qualitative Methods for Public and Nonprofit Managers
  • PA 552 Quantitative Methods for Public and Nonprofit Managers
     

Graduate Certificate Options (15 elective credits)

Students may use their 15 elective credits to complete an optional Graduate Certificate, allowing them to earn a second credential by submitting a GO-19 form. The required courses for each Graduate Certificate are listed below. Any remaining elective credits can be selected from the approved Elective list. Students not wishing to earn an additional credential may take any courses from the approved Elective list.

Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership: 

  • PA 520, PA 521, PA 525 + 6 additional elective credits

Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis:

  • PA 554, PA 555 + 9 additional elective credits

Graduate Certificate in Local Government Administration: 

  • PA 542, PA 560, PA 561 + 6 additional elective credits

Approved Elective List

  • PA 520 Nonprofit Governance and Management
  • PA 521 Nonprofit Foundations
  • PA 525 Fundamentals of Grantwriting and Fundraising
  • PA 536 Strategic Planning
  • PA 538 Advocacy and Political Participation by Nonprofit Organizations
  • PA 539 National Policy Process
  • PA 542 Sustainable Development Implementation
  • PA 554 Policy Analysis Research
  • PA 555 Program Evaluation and Management
  • PA 556 Public Contract Management
  • PA 558 Managing Public Projects and Programs
  • PA 560 Local Government Administration
  • PA 561 Intergovernmental Relations
  • PA 579 Policy Tools in Policy Design

*Other courses may be approved by the faculty advisor

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The Public Service Capstone

Your program of study will culminate in a community-based Public Service Capstone (PA 509). This is an opportunity for you to solidify what you’ve learned throughout the program with a hands-on project aimed at helping a nonprofit or grassroots organization build its capacity.

Public Service Capstone
Student Group

Student Resources