Prof. William F. West, Acting Department Head

Ms. Kimberly Reeves, Assistant to the Department Head

Ms. Stephanie Bustos, Administrative Assistant

New Student Orientation 2014

Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA) Program

OVERVIEW OF THE

MPSA CURRICULUM

Curriculum by SemesterFirst Year

Semester I: Semester II:

1. PSAA 601: Foundations of Public Service 1. PSAA 611: Public Policy Formation 2. PSAA 621: Economic Analysis 2. Quantitative Methods II requirement:

PPA - BUSH 635: Quant. Methods II3. BUSH 631: Quantitative Methods I PM - BUSH 636: Game Theory - OR -

PSAA 630: Program Evaluation4. PPA and PM – Approved Elective NPM - PSAA 630: Program Evaluation NPM - PSAA 643: Foundations of Nonprofits

3. Track requirement: PPA - PSAA 622: Public Finance

PM - PSAA 634: Public Management NPM - PSAA 644: Nonprofit Mgmt

  4. Approved elective

 

Curriculum by SemesterFirst Year

Summer

Professional Internship

(Required for students without two years of professional public service experience related to their degree and career goals.)

Curriculum by SemesterSecond Year

Semester III: Semester IV: 1. PSAA 675: Capstone Seminar I 1. PSAA 676: Capstone Seminar II

2. Track requirement: 2. Approved Elective PPA - PSAA 615: Policy Analysis PM - PSAA 623: Public Budgeting 3. Approved Elective NPM - PSAA 632: Fiscal Management of Nonprofits

4. Approved Elective3. Approved Elective

4. Approved Elective

Schematic Overview of CurriculumTerm Core Courses Public Policy 

Analysis (PPA) TrackPublic Mgmt.(PM) Track

Nonprofit Mgmt. (NPM) Track

Year 1Fall

• PSAA 601: Fdns. of Pub. Serv.

• 1 Elective • 1 Elective• PSAA 643: Foundations of Nonprofit Sector

• PSAA 621: Econ. Analysis

• BUSH 631: Quant. Methods

Year 1Spring

• PSAA 611: Public Policy Form.

• PSAA 622: Public Finance

• PSAA 634: Public Mgmt.

• PSAA 644: Nonprofit Mgmt.

• BUSH 635: Quant. Meth. II

• PSAA 630: Program Eval. OR• BUSH 636: Game Theory

• PSAA 630: Program Eval.

• 1 Elective • 1 Elective • 1 Elective

Schematic Overview of Curriculum Summer Internship - Between First and Second Years of Study

Term Core Course Public Policy  Analysis (PPA) Track

Public Mgmt (PM) Track

Nonprofit Mgmt(NPM) Track

Year 2Fall

• PSAA 675: Capstone I

• PSAA 615: Policy Analysis

• PSAA 623: Public Budget.

• PSAA : 632: Fiscal Mgmt. of

Nonprofits

• 2 Electives • 2 Electives • 2 Electives

Year 2Spring

• PSAA 676: Capstone II • 3 Electives • 3 Electives • 3 Electives

Choosing a Track and Concentration

You will officially declare your track and concentration by

submitting your MPSA Degree Plan Worksheet

to Kimberly Reeves by Friday, November 7, 2014.

(Form is online at https://bush.tamu.edu/students.)

Tracks

•Public Management

•Public Policy Analysis

•Nonprofit Management

Public Management (PM) Track

Associated Faculty: Bearfield (coordinator), AbouAssi, Bowman, L. Bright, Bullock, Graham, Kerr, West  The Public Management track provides knowledge and skills that are conducive to effective and ethical leadership in the public sector. These include an understanding of organizational processes such as budgeting, human resources administration, and planning and performance assessment. They also include an understanding of how public-service organizations are influenced by their environments.  PM Track Core Courses (must take BOTH):PSAA 634: Public Management PSAA 623: Budgeting in Public Service:  PM Track Electives (must choose at least TWO):PSAA 602: Tools for Advancement & Leadership PSAA 642: Ethics & Public PolicyPSAA 604: Emergency Mgmt & Homeland Security PSAA 644: Management of NonprofitsPSAA 610: Comparing Domestic & Intl Organizations PSAA 646: Accountability in Public ServicePSAA 616: Managing Diversity in the Public Service PSAA 648: Performance ManagementPSAA 630: Program Eval (if not taken as Quant II course) PSAA 661: Human Resource ManagementPSAA 636: Grant and Project Management PSAA 670: Public Information ManagementPSAA 637: Decision Making in Govt & Administration PSAA 673: Conflict Resolution in Public MgmtPSAA 641: Organizational Theory for the Public Sector

Public Policy Analysis (PPA) Track

Associated Faculty: Taylor (coordinator), Cortes, Dague, Griffin, Lahey, Portney, Reinhardt, Vedlitz

The Public Policy Analysis track offers students an in-depth understanding of how decision makers assess policy choices. It includes a consideration of why government should or should not take action in response to particular problems and familiarizes students with evaluative techniques, such as cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and risk assessment. Students are given numerous opportunities to apply what they learn to current policy issues.

PPA Track Core Courses (must take BOTH):PSAA 622: Public Finance PSAA 615: Public Policy Analysis  PPA Track Electives (must choose at least TWO):PSAA 605: Homeland Security Policies & Strategies PSAA 637: Decision Making in Govt & AdminPSAA 606: Environmental Policy and Management PSAA 638: Health Economics & Public PolicyPSAA 613: Immigration and Education Policy PSAA 640: Energy & Security PolicyPSAA 616: Managing Diversity in Public Service PSAA 643: Foundations of Nonprofits PSAA 617: U.S. State & Local Govt: Institutions & Policy PSAA 671: Science & Technology PolicyPSAA 618: Education Policy INTA 625: International Trade PolicyPSAA 635: Social Welfare & Health Policy INTA 651: National Security Policy

Nonprofit Management (NPM) TrackAssociated faculty: Brown (coordinator), AbouAssi, Kerr, Paarlberg, Reinhardt

 The nonprofit management track focuses on the role of the nonprofit sector as it has evolved, and on the distinctive character of nonprofit management and the challenges it must address. Students will gain an understanding of how nonprofit organizations vary in terms of their structure and the functions they perform. They will also examine fundraising, political advocacy, and other activities that define the relationship between nonprofit organizations and their environments.  NPM Track Core Courses: (must take ALL THREE):PSAA 643: Foundations of the Nonprofit SectorPSAA 644: Nonprofit ManagementPSAA 631: Fiscal Management of Nonprofits Nonprofit Electives (must choose at least ONE):

PSAA 603: International NGOs PSAA 648: Performance ManagementPSAA 631: Marketing for Nonprofits PSAA 649: Volunteer & Human Resource MgmtPSAA 636: Grant and Project Management PSAA 650: Social Innovation & EntrepreneurshipPSAA 633: Philanth. & Fundraising in Nonprofits PSAA 674: Political Econ. of Intl. DevelopmentPSAA 635: Social Welfare & Health Policy PSAA 689: Nonprofit GovernancePSAA 645: Networks & Inter-Organizational Collaborations

Areas of Concentration• Energy, Environment and Tech. Policy and Mgmt.

• Health Policy and Administration• International Nongovernmental Organizations

• Nonprofit Management• Security Policy and Management• State and Local Policy and Management• Individually designed concentrations

Energy, Environment and Technology Policy and Management (EETPM)Associated faculty: Portney (coordinator), Bowman, Griffin, Vedlitz

 This concentration examines the key institutions that make and administer policy in these areas, and the political and economic forces that shape agenda setting and policy formation. It also examines obstacles to effective policy implementation, as well as analytical tools that can be used to evaluate policy success.  EETPM Core Courses (must choose TWO):PSAA 606: Environmental Policy & Management PSAA 640: Energy & Security Policy PSAA 671: Science & Technology Policy  EETPM Electives (must choose at least ONE):PSAA 606, 640, or 671 (if not taken as a core course)PSAA 636: Grant and Project Management PSAA 663: Natural Resource EconomicsLDEV 661: Development & the EnvironmentMGMT 632: Technology CommercializationOCNG 676: Marine Environmental PolicyPLAN 616: Analyzing Risk in Public PolicyWFSC 604: Ecology & Natural Resources LDEV 671: Sustainable Development

Health Policy and Management (HPM)

Associated faculty: Lahey (coordinator), Dague This concentration examines the key institutions that make and administer health policy, and the political and economic forces that shape agenda setting and policy formation. It also examines obstacles to effective policy implementation, as well as analytical tools that can be used to evaluate policy success. Health Policy and Management Core (must choose ONE):PSAA 635: Social Welfare and Health Policy – OR - PSAA 638: Health Economics & Public Policy Health Policy and Management Electives (must choose at least TWO):PSAA 635 or 638 (if not used as core course) PLAN 631: Health Systems PlanningPSAA 630: Program Eval (if not used as Quant Meth II course) PHPM 614: Strategic Plan & MarketingPSAA 636: Grant & Project Management PHPM 623: Intro to Health Policy & MgmtHLTH 611: Organization & Administration of Health PHPM 624: Managerial AccountingHLTH 630: Health Program Planning PHPM 633: Health, Law and EthPHEB 600: Fundamentals of Epidemiology PHPM 634: Environmental Health PolicyPHPM 601: Rural Public Health Systems PHPM 640: Health Policy & PoliticsPHPM 605: Intro to Health Policy & Mgmt PHPM 647: Long-term Care Policy & Mgmt

International Nongovernmental

Organizations (INGO)Associated faculty: Brown (coordinator), AbouAssi, Paarlberg, Reinhardt This concentration is for students who are considering careers in INGOs. It provides an overview of the various functions that these organizations perform, how they are structured, the environments in which they operate, and the management challenges that they confront.  International Nongovernmental Organizations Core Course (MUST TAKE):PSAA 603: International NGOs International Nongovernmental Organizations Electives (must choose at least TWO):PSAA 630: Program Eval (if not used for Quant Methods II )

PSAA 674: Political Econ of Intl Development INTA 630: Intl Economic Development PSAA 636: Grant & Project Management INTA 632: Advanced Econ DevelopmentPSAA 643: Foundations of Nonprofits INTA 634: Politics & Development PoliciesPSAA 650: Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Nonprofit Management (NPM)

Associated faculty: Brown (coordinator), AbouAssi, Kerr, Paarlberg, Reinhardt This concentration provides students with an understanding of the role the nonprofit sector plays, of how it has evolved, and of the distinctive challenges it must confront. It furnishes an appreciation for variation in the structures and activities of nonprofit organizations. It also examines fundraising, lobbying, and other activities that help define the relationship between nonprofit organizations and their environments.

Nonprofit Management Core (must choose ONE): PSAA 643: Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector - OR - PSAA 644: Management & Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations Nonprofit Management Electives (must choose at least TWO): PSAA 643 or 644 (if not taken as a core course) PSAA 603: Intl Nongovernmental Organizations PSAA 630: Program Eval (if not used for Quant Meth II) PSAA 631: Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations PSAA 632: Fiscal Mgmt in Nonprofit Organizations PSAA 633: Philanthropy: Fundraising in Nonprofits PSAA 636: Grant and Project Management PSAA 649: Volunteer & Human Resource Mgmt

PSAA 648: Performance Management PSAA 650: Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship PSAA 669: Legal Environment of Nonprofits ALEC 608: Volunteer Leadership MGMT 658: Managing Projects RENR 650: Mgmt of Environmental NGOs SOCI 616: Political Sociology SOCI 635: Complex Organizations

Security Policy and Management (SPM)

Associated faculty: West (coordinator), Davis, Griffin, McIntyre This concentration examines the key institutions responsible for making and implementing policy in the areas of homeland security and emergency management. Students will be exposed to security strategies, policies, and management principles in the practical context of current events.  Security Policy/Management Core (must take BOTH):PSAA 604: Emergency Management & Homeland Security PSAA 605: Homeland Security Policies, Strategies, & Operations  Security Policy/Management Electives (must choose at least ONE):PSAA 636: Grant and Project Management PSAA 640: Energy & Security PolicyPSAA 689: Domestic Threats to Homeland SecurityPLAN 616: Analyzing Risk & Public PolicyPLAN 649: Community Response to Disaster PLAN 650: Disaster Response Planning

State and Local Government Policy

and Management (SLGPM)Associated faculty: Bowman (coordinator), Bearfield, L. Bright, Cortes, Graham, Kerr, Lahey, Taylor This concentration examines the institutional structure of state and local government, and how it varies across jurisdictions. Among other topics, it focuses on politics and management at the state and local level, the prerogatives and limitations of state and local governments in different policy areas, and the role of state and local governments in implementing federal programs. State and Local Govt Core Courses (must take): PSAA 617: State & Local Government & Policy PM or NPM Track Students (must choose ONE): PSAA 641: Organizational Theory for the Public Sector – OR - PSAA 661: Human Resource Management PPA Track Students (must choose ONE): PSAA 630: Program Evaluation in Public & Nonprofit Orgs - OR - PSAA 648: Performance Mgmt in Public & Nonprofit Sectors State and Local Electives (must choose ONE): PSAA 613: Immigration and Education Policy PSAA 616: Managing Diversity in Public Service PSAA 618: Education Policy PSAA 635: Social Welfare & Health Policy PSAA 636: Grant and Project Management PSAA 642: Ethics and Public Policy PSAA 646: Accountability in Public Service EDAD 620: Educational Program Evaluation

EDAD 652: Politics of Education LDEV 671: Sustainable Development MGMT 658: Managing Projects PLAN 610: Structure of Urban Settlements PLAN 612: Transportation in City Planning PLAN 633: Planning Healthy Communities PLAN 656: Housing & Community RPTS 604: Community & Its Development

Individually Designed Concentration

In consultation with his/her advisor and the Department Head, a student may

choose to create an individualized concentration consisting of three

approved courses.

Goals of the Curriculum

• Generally applicable skills and knowledge

• Knowing how to think clearly and critically

• Knowing how to write

• Specializing in a particular area

Where to Go for Assistance

Advising Issues (choosing courses, tracks, concentrations)

Advisor, Department Head, or Assistant to Department Head

Academic Problems

Advisor or Department Head

Concerns about professor and courses (course content, grading, professionalism)

Department Head

Executive Associate Dean

Dean

Personal Issues

Advisor/other faculty, Department Head, Assistant to Department Head

Where to Go for Assistance Student Behavior

Department Head

Executive Associate Dean

Dean

Administrative Issues (registration, adds/drops, forms, degree plan, curriculum and program questions, appointments with Department Head)

Assistant to Department Head

Reserving classrooms/meeting rooms, student travel, student reimbursements

Administrative Assistant

Second-Year Funding• Criteria for continued support of scholarships

• Avoid probation• GPA of at least 3.25

• Assistantships• $1,500/month ($13,500 for 9 months)• 9-hour tuition payment each semester • In-state tuition rates• Eligibility for health insurance

Degree Plans and Advising

• Temporary and permanent advisors

• Choosing electives and areas of concentration

• Finding an internship

• Writing portfolio

• Waiving program requirements

Academic Administrative IssuesMs. Kimberly Reeves

(reevesk@tamu.edu), Room 1093• Advising and Registration issues

• General Advising Questions• Forces• Adds• Drops (Q-drops, withdrawals)

• Forms and procedures• Individually Designed Concentration Request Form• Degree Plan Worksheet• Change of Advisor Form• 685 (Directed Studies) Form• Petition for Degree Requirement Waivers or Substitutions• Degree Plan and Petitions• 4-semester schedule

• See Bush School student web page for resources such as forms, deadlines, schedules, and syllabi: http://bush.tamu.edu/students/

• Appointments with Dr. West

Other Administrative IssuesMs. Stephanie Bustos

sbustos@tamu.edu, Room 1069

• Student travel grant applications

• Student travel arrangements and required forms

• Student travel and expense reimbursements

• Classroom/conference room reservations and key check-out

• Check-out of camcorder or tape recorder

• Lost and Found

Welcome to the Bush School!