Mar 29, 2024  
2020/2021 University Catalog 
    
2020/2021 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Public Administration


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Undergraduate Information

OFFICE: Professional Studies and Fine Arts 100
TELEPHONE: 619-594-6224 / FAX: 619-594-1165
WEBSITE: http://spa.sdsu.edu

A Member of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

Faculty

Emeritus: Boostrom, Calavita, Caves, Coates, Dobbs, Gazell, Gitchoff, Henderson, Henry, Herzog, Lee, Parker, Pugh, Rea, Ryan, R., Sabath (SDSU-IV), Sparrow, Stock, Sutton, Wilson
Director: Ryan, S.
Professors: Flanigan, Kaplan, Ryan, S.
Associate Professors: Abdel-Samad, Appleyard, Chanin, Colvin, Espinosa, McIllwain, Mobley, Nurge, Welsh
Assistant Professors: Camargo (SDSU-IV), Jancsics (SDSU-IV), Kanaan (SDSU-IV), Kim, Kras, Vann

The Major

In an increasingly complex world, the nation is in need of effective leadership and competence in the administration of public affairs. The growth of all levels of government and public service organizations and their increasing responsibilities in a complex society have led to the need for more capable public administrators.

The undergraduate public administration major is an interdisciplinary program. In addition to the courses taken within the department, students select additional courses in areas as diverse as economics, sociology, social welfare, political science, and psychology. Required preparatory courses for the major include classes in accountancy, economics, management information systems, political science, and statistics.

The primary purpose of the public administration major is to provide knowledge and skills for students who wish to prepare themselves for management careers in government, community agencies, private not-for-profit organizations, planning and consulting firms, and private sector organizations that work in partnership with the public sector. Career opportunities in public administration can be found throughout the public and private sectors, and the future is represented by a stable job market. The school employs a full-time internship coordinator and career adviser.

Public administration students are employed in a wide variety of administrative positions within government, the private sector, and community agencies. For example, graduating students have recently been placed with city personnel and finance departments, county operating departments, special districts, hospitals, and consulting firms.

Impacted Program

The public administration major is an impacted program. To be admitted to the public administration major, students must meet the following criteria:

  1. Complete 18 units in the following courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better: ACCTG 201 ; ECON 101  and ECON 102 ; MIS 180 ; POL S 102 ; and a three-unit course in elementary statistics. These courses cannot be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC);
  2. Complete a minimum of 60 transferable semester units;
  3. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.40 or better.

To complete the major, students must fulfill the degree requirements for the major described in the catalog in effect at the time they are accepted into the premajor at SDSU (assuming continuous enrollment).

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and to identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement.


Graduate Information

OFFICE: Adams Humanities 4108
TELEPHONE: 619-594-6224 / FAX: 619-594-1165
WEBSITE: http://spa.sdsu.edu

Faculty

Sherry Ryan, Ph.D., Professor of Public Affairs, Director of School of Public Affairs
Shawn T. Flanigan, Ph.D., Professor of Public Affairs
Darrell L. Pugh, Ph.D., Professor of Public Affairs, Emeritus
Mounah Abdel-Samad, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Affairs
Joshua M. Chanin, Ph.D., J.D., Associate Professor of Public Affairs (Graduate Coordinator)
Roddrick A. Colvin, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Affairs
Salvador Espinosa, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Affairs
Jeffrey S. McIllwain, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Affairs
Megan B. Welsh, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Affairs

General Information

The School of Public Affairs offers graduate study leading to the Master of Public Administration degree, either face-to-face or online.

The San Diego metropolitan community affords significant internship opportunities for the graduate student in federal, state, and local government agencies.

The School of Public Affairs’ M.P.A. degree is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) and listed on its annual roster of accredited programs found to be in conformity with standards established for professional master’s degrees in public affairs and administration.

Master of Public Administration Degree

This degree permits the selection, under advisement, of a program of courses and seminar work which may be oriented toward a generalist approach or with a research focus on border governance, fiscal policy and administration, organizational behavior and development, public policy, or urban administration. Also offered are concentrations in criminal justice administration and city planning, each consisting of 15 units within the required program for the Master of Public Administration. Since management responsibilities are shared by administrators in a number of professional areas in public service, students are encouraged to supplement the study of government and administration with graduate courses in economics, sociology, psychology, business administration, and other related areas.

Admission to Graduate Study

All students must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the university with classified graduate standing, as described in Admission and Registration . The student must also satisfy the following requirements: (1) a 3.0 grade point average in the undergraduate major and a 2.85 overall average; and (2) an acceptable score on the GRE General Test.

Students applying for admission should electronically submit the university application available at http://www.calstate.edu/apply along with the application fee.

All applicants must submit admissions materials separately to SDSU Graduate Admissions and to the School of Public Affairs.

Graduate Admissions

The following materials should be submitted as a complete package directly to:

Graduate Admissions
Enrollment Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7416

  1. Official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) from all postsecondary institutions attended;

    NOTE:
    • Students who attended SDSU need only submit transcripts for work completed since last attendance.
    • Students with international coursework must submit both the official transcript and proof of degree. If documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
  2. GRE scores (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682);
  3. English language score, if medium of instruction was in a language other than English (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682).
School of Public Affairs

The following admissions materials must be submitted electronically before April 1:

  1. Letters of recommendation (two letters from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic ability and accomplishments);
  2. Statement of purpose.

For information regarding the admissions process, visit the school’s website at http://spa.sdsu.edu.

Advancement to Candidacy

All students must meet the general requirements for advancement to candidacy, as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees  and be recommended by the faculty. In order to be recommended for advancement, a student must have achieved an overall grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below B- (2.7) in P A 600 , P A 604 , P A 605  or P A 606 , P A 630 , P A 642 , P A 650 , P A 660 .


Imperial Valley

A member of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA)

Faculty

Emeritus: Coates, Murphy, Ryan, Sabath
Assistant Professors: Jancsics, Kanaan

Programs

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