Public Administration

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OFFICE: Adams Humanities 4108
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).

Director: Sherry Ryan, Professor (B.A., Princeton University, M.S., Ph.D., University of California, Irvine)
Undergraduate Adviser: Nora Leyva, Academic Adviser (B.A., M.A., San Diego State University)

Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty:
Roddrick A. Colvin, Professor (B.A., Indiana University, Bloomington; M.P.A., Seattle University; Ph.D., University at Albany, State University of New York)
Shawn T. Flanigan, Professor (B.A., M.P.A., University of New Mexico; Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany)

Mounah Abdel-Samad, Associate Professor (B.A., M.A., American University of     Beirut; Ph.D., University of Albany)
Joshua M. Chanin, Associate Professor (B.A., University of Pennsylvania; M.P.A., Indiana University; Ph.D., American University)
Salvador Espniosa, Associate Professor (B.A. Universidad Panamericana, Mexico; M.A., Ph.D., Indiana University)
David Jancsics, Associate Professor, SDSU Imperial Valley (M.A., Eotvos Lorand    University, Hungary; M.Phil., Ph.D., City University of New York)
Megan B. Welsh, Associate Professor (B.A., University of California, Berkeley; M.S.W., Temple University; Ph.D., City University of New York)

David Kanaan, Assistant Professor, SDSU Imperial Valley (B.S., M.P.A., Eastern     Michigan University; Ph.D., University of Central Florida)
Kimberly R. Kras, Assistant Professor (B.A., M.S., Ph.D., University of Missouri)
Burrel J. Vann Jr., Assistant Professor (B.A., M.A., California State University, Fullerton, Ph.D., University of California Irvine)

Additional Faculty:
Darrell Pugh, Professor, Emeritus (B.A., M.P.A., San Diego State University, J.D. University of San Diego)

Lecturers:
Christine Babla, M.A.U.D.
Nancy Bragado, M.P.A.
Nihat Celik, Ph.D.
Patricia Frosio, M.P.A.
Graham Mitchell, M.P.A.
Chris Olsen, M.P.A.
Richard Parker, Ph.D.
Andy Pendoley, M.A.
Robert Sobie, Ph.D.
Julie Wiley, J.D.
Douglas Williford, M.A.

Emeritus:
Breena E. Coates, Ph.D.
Matti F. Dobbs, Ph.D.
James A. Gazell, Ph.D.
Dalton S. Lee, Ph.D.
Richard A. Parker, Ph.D.
Darrell L. Pugh,  J.D.
Richard W. Ryan, Ph.D.
Michael J. Sabath, Ph.D.
Glen W. Sparrow, Ph.D.
Robert L. Stock, Ph.D.
Patricia A. Wilson, D.P.A.

Undergraduate Information

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 21 units in the following courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better: P A 200 ; 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 45 transferable semester units (a minimum of 60 units is required for all transfer applicants);
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

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 program prepares students with a generalist background in public administration covering a broad range of topics from fiscal policy and administration to organizational behavior and development, public policy, and 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.
3. Resume

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

Programs

• Public Administration Certificate
• Public Administration Minor
• Public Administration, B.A. in Applied Arts and Sciences
• Public Administration, City Planning Concentration, M.P.A.
• Public Administration, Criminal Justice Administration Concentration, M.P.A.
• Public Administration, Emphasis in City Planning, B.A. in Applied Arts and Sciences
• Public Administration, M.P.A.
• Public Administration, M.P.A. and Latin American Studies, M.A.

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