Dec 03, 2024

2021/2022 University Catalog

2021/2022 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Public Administration, M.P.A. and Latin American Studies, M.A.

(Major Code: 21020) (SIMS Code: 666905)

General Information

The School of Public Affairs and the Center for Latin American Studies offer a concurrent graduate program leading to a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies. This concurrent degree program offers students preparation in the fields of public administration and Latin American studies for the purpose of public administration in fields requiring bi-national understanding of administration in the public sector.

If a student in the concurrent graduate program returns to a single degree program, none of the provisions of the concurrent degree program shall pertain. Transfer units will not be accepted towards the concurrent degrees, nor will previous graduate study or prior degrees be accepted toward meeting the unit requirements.

Admission to the Degree Curriculum

All students must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the university with classified graduate standing as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees . The successful applicant will also satisfy the requirements for both the Master of Public Administration and the Master of Arts in Latin American Studies. To be admitted to the program, students must have (1) a 3.0 grade point average in the undergraduate major and 2.85 overall and (2) an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination (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.

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 graduate advisers of both programs. In addition, all students must (1) complete

P A 600 - Scope of Public Administration Units: 3

Three Additional Courses Selected From

P A 604 - Methods of Analysis in Public and Urban Affairs Units: 3
P A 605 - Seminar in Applied Research Units: 3
or
P A 606 - Seminar in Quantitative Approaches to Public Administration Units: 3 But not both.
P A 630 - Seminar in Public Personnel Administration Units: 3
P A 642 - Seminar in Administrative Theory Units: 3
P A 650 - Seminar in Public Financial Management Units: 3
P A 660 - Administration and Public Policy Development Units: 3

Complete

LATAM 600 - Seminar in Latin American Studies Units: 3
LATAM 601 - Seminar on Methodology of Latin American Studies Units: 3

Grade Point Average of 3.0

Achieve a grade point average of 3.0 in these course with no grade below B-

Complete with a Grade of B (3.0) or Better

SPAN 302 - Advanced Conversation and Writing Units: 3
or
Portuguese 401 But not both.
or
Their equivalents, or three units of 500-level or graduate coursework in Spanish But not both.
or
Pass the American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) oral proficiency examination in either Spanish or Portuguese with a score of 2.0 or above But not both.

Demonstrate International Experience

Demonstrate international experience in Latin America through an approved study abroad or an international internship experience, or successful completion of

LATAM 550 - Mexican-US Border from a Latin American Perspective Units: 3 an approved study abroad experience course

Specific Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the master’s degree as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees , the student must complete an officially approved course of study consisting of 54-66 units as outlined below.

Complete the Following Core of Eight Courses (24 Units)

P A 600 - Scope of Public Administration Units: 3
P A 604 - Methods of Analysis in Public and Urban Affairs Units: 3
P A 630 - Seminar in Public Personnel Administration Units: 3
P A 642 - Seminar in Administrative Theory Units: 3
P A 650 - Seminar in Public Financial Management Units: 3
P A 660 - Administration and Public Policy Development Units: 3
LATAM 600 - Seminar in Latin American Studies Units: 3
LATAM 601 - Seminar on Methodology of Latin American Studies Units: 3

Complete One of the Following Courses (3 Units)

P A 605 - Seminar in Applied Research Units: 3
P A 606 - Seminar in Quantitative Approaches to Public Administration Units: 3

Complete Three Courses in One Theme Listed Below (9 Units)

City Planning Theme

P A 525 - The U.S. City Planning Process Units: 3
C P 630 - Seminar in Urban Planning Foundations Units: 3
C P 640 - Seminar in Planning Theory and History Units: 3
C P 670 - History of Urban Planning Units: 3
C P 690 - Seminar in Land Use Planning Principles and Techniques Units: 3

Criminal Justice Administration Theme

Public Personnel and Labor Relations Theme

P A 530 - Negotiation and Bargaining in the Public Service Units: 3
P A 531 - Governmental Employer-Employee Relations Units: 3
P A 632 - Seminar of Organization Development in the Public Sector Units: 3
P A 643 - Seminar in Administrative Behavior Units: 3 (Offered only at SDSU-IV)

General Public Administration Theme

P A 620 - Seminar in Management of Urban Governments Units: 3
P A 632 - Seminar of Organization Development in the Public Sector Units: 3
P A 640 - Seminar in Public Administration Units: 3

Complete Five Courses From at Least Two Departments (15 Units)

Sociology

Spanish

SPAN 602 - Foundations and Research Methods of Hispanic Linguistics Units: 3
SPAN 606 - Spanish American Literature: Independence to Present Units: 3
SPAN 751 - Seminar in Realism Units: 3 *
SPAN 760 - Seminar in Reading in the Transatlantic Imaginary Units: 3

Note

*Acceptable when of relevant content; check with the Latin American Studies graduate adviser before enrolling.

Students Must Complete

Students must complete P A 799A or LATAM 799A . The thesis (P A 799A or LATAM 799A ) must treat a Latin American related topic in public administration and will be supervised by at least one public administration faculty and at least one member of the Latin American studies faculty.

An Internship of 12 Units

An internship of 12 units (one semester) beyond the coursework is required of students who have not had equivalent experience. Students should consult with the public administration graduate adviser before enrolling.

Students Must Pass

Students must pass the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Language (ACTFL) oral proficiency examination in either Spanish or Portuguese with a score of 2.0 or above.