master of public administration research topics

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Public Administration Dissertations and Final Research Papers

Theses/dissertations from 2017 2017.

Employee Engagement and Marginalized Populations , Brenna Miaira Kutch

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Impact of a State Evidence-Based Practice Legislative Mandate on County Practice Implementation Patterns and Inpatient Behavioral Health Discharge , Carl William Foreman

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

A Case Study of Collaborative Governance: Oregon Health Reform and Coordinated Care Organizations , Oliver John Droppers V

Higher Education Reform in Oregon, 2011-2014: A Policy and Legislative History , Sean Pollack

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

The Institutional Context that Supports Team-Based Care for Older Adults , Anna Foucek Tresidder

Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

Attaining a Sustainable Future for Public Higher Education: The Role of Institutional Effectiveness and Resource Dependence , Mirela Blekic

Governance in the United States Columbia River Basin: An Historical Analysis , Eric Thomas Mogren

Theses/Dissertations from 2010 2010

Use of Media Technologies by Native American Teens and Young Adults: Evaluating their Utility for Designing Culturally-Appropriate Sexual Health Interventions Targeting Native Youth in the Pacific Northwest , Stephanie Nicole Craig Rushing

Theses/Dissertations from 2009 2009

Oregon Physicians' Perception of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Use of Enforcement Discretion Related to the Use of Opioids in the Treatment of Chronic Pain , Robert Dale Harrison

City Management Theory and Practice: A Foundation for Educating the Next Generation of Local Government Administrators , Scott Douglas Lazenby

Theses/Dissertations from 2008 2008

The Institutionalization of Diversity and Gender Equity Norms and Values in Higher Education Settings , Rowanna Lynn Carpenter

Organizational Complexity in American Local Governance: Deploying an Organizational Perspective in Concept and Analytic Framework Development , Charles David Crumpton

Multi-Level Environmental Governance : a Comparative Case Study of Five Large Scale Natural Resource Management Programs , Shpresa Halimi

Police Organizations : an Empricial Examination of American Sheriff's Offices and Municipal Police Agencies , Matthew Adam Jones

Measuring Community-Engaged Departments: A Study to Develop an Effective Self-Assessment Rubric for the Institutionalization of Community Engagement in Academic Departments , Kevin Kecskes

Creating a Theoretical Framework for Understanding Homeland security using Multiple Frame Analysis , Linda Ann Kiltz

Emerging Governance at the Edge of Constrained Federalism : Public Administrators at the Frontier of Democracy , Gary Lloyd Larsen

George Lakoff"s Theory of Worldview : a Case Study of the Oregon Legislature , Catherine Law

Who Benefits? : a Multilevel Analysis of the Impact of Oregon's Volunteer Mentor Program for Postsecondary Access on Scholarship Applicants , Alisha Ann Lund-Chaix

Organizational Change in Corrections Organizations : the Effect of Probation and Parole Officer Culture on Change in Community Corrections , Shea Brackin Marshman

Lost in Translation : Ideas of Population Health Determinants in the American Policy Arena , Maria Gilson Sistrom

Representation without Taxation : China's Rural Development Initiatives For a New Millenium , Minzi Su

How Organizational Arrangements Affect High Reliability in Public Research Universities: Perceptions of environmental Health and Safety Directors , Rita Finn Sumner

The Washington State Patrol, Accountability-Driven Leadership, and the Organizational Factors that Propelled their Success: An Organizational Analysis , Timothy Carl Winchell

Theses/Dissertations from 2007 2007

The Changing Paradigm of Emergency Management : Improving professional development for the Emergency Manager , Robert Edward Grist

Global Civil Society Finding Collective Voice in Diversity , Kristen Marie Magis

Information Technology Training in the Public Sector : Essential Planning Elements , Betty Jean Reynolds

From Prison to the Community : the Role of Citizen Participation in Female Prisoner Reentry , Dana Roderick Torrey

Network Analysis of a Shared Governance System , Debra Reifman Whitall

Theses/Dissertations from 2006 2006

Presidential Values : Implications for Foreign Policy , Jordan Katherine Durbin

The Interactions between Carbon Regulation and Renewable Energy policies in the United Kingdom , Hal Thomas Nelson

Theses/Dissertations from 2005 2005

Reorganizing the Oregon Department of Human Services : an Exploratory Case Study of Organizational Change , Charles Anthony Gallia

Theses/Dissertations from 2003 2003

Portrayals of Disability in the Professional Preparation of Speech-language Pathologists , Jane Eric Sleeper Gravel

Theses/Dissertations from 2002 2002

The Effects of Parent Care and Child Care Role Quality on Work outcomes among dual-earner couples in the sandwiched generation , Angela Rickard

Theses/Dissertations from 2000 2000

The Role and Performance of Governmental and Nongovernmental Organizations in Family Planning implementation : Jordan as a Case Study , Khalaf al Hadded

Theses/Dissertations from 1999 1999

The Value of Independence in Old Age , Paula C. Carder

American Indian Elderly and Long-Term Care : Interorganizational Barriers to the Use of Oregon's Home and Community-Based Medicaid Waiver , Jo Lynn Isgrigg

The Effects of Mentoring on Work-parenting Gains and Strains in a Sample of Employed Predominately Female AFDC Recipients , Charlene Rhyne

Theses/Dissertations from 1998 1998

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Physician Assistants , Roderick Stanton Hooker

Theses/Dissertations from 1997 1997

State Funding for Special Education in Oregon : Calculating Cost Differentials of special education for handicapped students in Oregon school districts , Kyung-Sup Kim

Theses/Dissertations from 1996 1996

Scenery as Policy: Public Involvement in Developing a Management Plan for the Scenic Resources of the Columbia River Gorge , Gordon Mathews Euler

Impact of the Medical Library Assistance Act of 1965 on Health Sciences Libraries in the Pacific Northwest: an Interorganizational Approach , Leonoor Swets Ingraham

Administrative Reform in China: Its Impact on Economic Development After Mao , Meiru Liu

Theses/Dissertations from 1994 1994

Oregon Primary Care Physicians' Support for Health Care Reform , Timothy Alan Baker

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Master in Public Administration Theses

Submissions from 2021 2021.

Implementing Housing First Initiatives and Programs for the Persistently Homeless Individuals and Families in Iredell County, North Carolina , Laketha Bobish

Effective Cognitive Learning Solutions for Special Education Students of NYC Public Schools in Underserved Communities Prepared for: Dr. Sheying Chen Pace University , Nicole N. Garvin

Submissions from 2015 2015

An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Use of Social Media by United Way of Westchester and Putnam , Dian Xi and Ziyun Gao

Submissions from 2014 2014

Incentivizing Employees Through Benefits and Recognition Programs at Pace University , Diana Dumitru

Complexity in National Policy Implementation: A Top-Down Look at the Failure of Healthcare.gov , Samuel Fandrich

The Impact of Patient Centered Medical Home on the Patient’s Experience , Courtne Flynn

Health Professionals’ Attitude Towards Substance Abusers : A Part of the Health Professionals’ Value and Belief System Which Prevails in Society , Ana Gotay

Correctional Education: Society Essential for Progressive Growth or a Detrimental Use of Taxpayers Money? , Danilo Guy

Pace University Athletics: Increasing Profitability and Performance , Jhanay Harris

Does Having a Major and Lucrative Sports Arena Improve a Neighborhood’s Economy & Quality of Life? , Natalie Hernandez

How Does Geriatric Care Management Affect Health Outcomes of Geriatric Patients in Hospitals , Elaina Tate

Law Enforcement and Training , Erika Tremblay

Roadmap to Recovery: A Strategic Plan for Westchester County Government to Increase Office Occupancy and Revitalize the I-287 Corridor , Britta Vander Linden

Investigating Stigma Among Public Administration Students , Cora Venson

Submissions from 2013 2013

Evaluation of the Marketing Strategies of the Case Management Society of America , Veronica Chepak

Wireless Cell Towers and Antennae: Municipal and Private Relationship , James M. Collins

The Persistence of Bullying at School and Public Policy Responses: What Ails? , Rajeet Guha

A Youth Revolt: Discerning the Impact of “One-and-Done” Rule On Major Collegiate Championship Teams at the Division I Level , Erik Harris

How Successful was Kickstarter in Raising Funds for Library for All? , Yeerang Jang

Submissions from 2010 2010

New York State and Mid-Hudson Valley Nonprofits: The Impacts of Late Contract Payments , Jodi Fernandes

Submissions from 2009 2009

Venture Philanthropy in 2009: Developments in the Field Since "Virtuous Capital" , Annika Many

Economic Development in Downtown Ossining Since 1969 , Lutonya Russell-Humes

How an Ethnic Store Impacts a Community - The Case of Kam Sen Foods in White Plains , Tiantian Tang

Submissions from 2008 2008

The Relationship of Patient Falls to Prevention Policies in Hospitals: A Case Study , Cornelia Branzan

Artificial Transitive Fatty Acid (TFA) Ban in Restaurants in US Cities: NYC-DOH TFA Ban as a Model for Proactive Public Health Policy , Vidia S. Ramdeen

Health Insurance Policy in New York City and Westchester County , Colin Stone

Environmental Stewardship of the Vermont Ski Industry and the Public's Willingness to Support , Karina V. Warshaw

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About the journal

The Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory seeks to advance public administration scholarship by publishing the highest quality theoretical and empirical work in the field.

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Read the latest virtual issue, Advancing Public Administration Research through Qualitative Studies

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This award is given annually and presented at the Public Management Research Association conference for the best article published in JPART .

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Cleveland State University

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Capstone topics & research.

UST 692 is a generalist public administration capstone seminar that provides a final common experience for MPA students. In this course, students integrate learning from the MPA core curriculum with professional practices encountered in public and nonprofit organizations. Students prepare and defend a capstone paper. The following is a list of capstone projects that have been prepared & presented by MPA students:

• Bridging the gap: Public administration theories and the city management profession
• Farmers’ markets: Creating social capital, building trust and community while fostering civic engagement
• Grantmaking in Cuyahoga County: Commonalities among health and human service private grantmakers related to sustainability
• New innovations and social service agencies
• Public funding influence on nonprofit programming and mission fulfillment
• The impacts of beautification on urban environments
• What are the best practices adopted by foster care programs to increase the graduation rate among foster youth?
• What makes Vision Zero successful? Evaluating Vision Zero policy using the four Es of public administration

Spring 2019

• A critical analysis of youth homeless policies in the United States
• Adoption of the Good Food Purchasing Program at Cleveland Municipal School District
• Affordable on campus university housing
• A project evaluation of the Ohio Department of Public Health’s 2018 Hepatitis A outbreak response through a performance management system framework analysis
• Building inclusive boards for arts organizations
• Challenges to the legitimacy of the administrative state
• Closing the gap: Hiring practices in employing people with disabilities
• Commercial property revitalization
• Democratizing criminal justice: Project implementation plan for criminal defendant wayfinding app
• Efficacy and equity in public grantmaking
• Equity in local climate adaption planning
• Evaluating the Ohio benefits project: Goal achievement and satisfying the four Es
• How are cities including environmental justice when strategically planning for climate change adaptation and mitigation?
• Manager or mayor? Assessing the impacts of local government leadership on solid waste services
• Medical debt: A public crisis
• Millennials and public service
• Social media engagement for nonprofits
• The management values of public administration within special districts
• The public value in universal child care
• Use of predictive analytics in higher education: Implementation at Cleveland State University
• Waste management in local government
• Adequacy of public school education funding in Ohio
• An evaluation of Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s transportation program through the four Es framework: Efficiency, effectiveness, economy, and equity
• Assessing local efforts to address social determinants of health
• Body-worn cameras in EMS: A regulatory process for policy-compliance management
• Evaluation of juvenile justice risk assessment tools using the four es of public administration
• Generational impact of codes of ethics in nonprofit organizations
• Place branding strategies to enhance Cleveland’s perception
• Police regionalization using the FOPA model
• Taxes “coming out of her wherever”: An examination of sales taxation on menstrual products in Ohio
• Spillover Effects: Analysis to Determine if Economic Development  & Land Use Propels Gentrification in Other Areas
• The Peculiar Family: Exposing ‘Blaming the Victim’ Policies
• Accessibility in Higher Education: Going Above and Beyond the Legal Minimum
• Grandparent Caregivers’ Limited Financial Resources
• Cleveland Voices: Technology in Modern Museums
• Ban the Box: Fair Chance Hiring Legislation and Unintended Consequences
• Nonprofit Hybrid Organizations and their Implications: What are they, how they interact, and at what cost?
• Mass Incarceration: Cuyahoga County Community Cares Initiative
• Public Participation & Electric Vehicle Policy: A review of public participation and its role in creating and implementing electric vehicle policy
• Municipal Home Rule and Breed Specific Legislation
• Public Service Education: Enhancing the Regula Center for Public Service
• Organ Trafficking and the Public Policies that Affect it
• Collaborative Efforts to Address Human Trafficking: A Local Solution to a Global Crisis
• Reusing Historic Buildings: Connecting Historic Preservation to Environmental Sustainability
• Racing toward Gigabit Internet: The Role of Cities in Fiber Broadband Infrastructure
• Political Bias: Is Politics a Factor in Local Government?
• Infant Mortality: Mitigating the Gaps

Before Fall 2016

• Cleveland Hopkins Airport: A Vision for the Future by Chris Corrigan
• Using Best Public Administration Practices for Promoting EITC by Marlene Perdan
• Picturing Change: Self-Documentary Photography & the Search for Social Equity in Public Administration by Seth Beattie
• No Board Member Left Behind: Raising the Standard for School Board Governance by Lori Chick
• At Your Service: Patterns of Citizen Interaction With City Managers by Mark Medlar
• Performance Measurement in Public and Nonprofit Social Service Agencies by Rachel Singer
• The Legitimacy of the Administrative State & the Social Security Administration by Frank Wagner
• Implementation of Outcome Measurement in Small Nonprofits by Steve Greenwell
• The Few, The Proud, the Brave: The Under-representation of Black Women in City Management by Tanisha Briley
• Eminent Domain as an Economic Development Tool by Peter Bishop
• Ohio's Term Limits: More Harm than Good? by Ellie Sullivan
• Think like a Business with the Heart of a Charity by Julie Scarsella
• The Heroes Among Us: Mythical Adventures of Nonprofit Organizations by Rachael Balanson
• The Future of Wireless Broadband: Implications for Economic Development in the Knowledge-based Economy by Brian Iorio

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Master in Public Administration

Prepare for greater responsibility across sectors with this flexible two-year program

Key Program Information

Program Length: Two years (varies for students pursuing concurrent degrees)

Degree Awarded: Master in Public Administration

Admission Application Deadline: December 2024

Financial Aid Application Deadline: January 2025

Contact the MPA Program

79 John F. Kennedy Street Littauer Building, Room 126 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

Elevate your impact as a public leader

The Master in Public Administration Program is for aspiring leaders with real-world experience and graduate-level coursework in economics, public policy, or management.

The Master in Public Administration (MPA) curriculum is flexible. You create a study plan that reflects your academic interests, focuses on your personal and professional aspirations, and integrates across disciplines.

You may also decide to pursue a concurrent degree in business, law, medicine, or other professional fields. You’ll earn two degrees in less time and acquire even more skills you can use to make a difference in the world.

“HKS provided opportunities for me to expand the narrative of what diversity looks like in foreign policy and foreign service.” —Korde Innis MPA 2023

About the MPA Program

The MPA curriculum is flexible. You’ll create your own 64-credit study plan that reflects your academic interests and professional aspirations.

As an MPA student, you’ll take eight credits in a Policy Area of Concentration as well as four credits in each of these key areas:

• Economics and Quantitative Analysis
• Management, Leadership, and Decision Sciences
• Public Ethics and Political Institutions

You’ll select your remaining credits to support your unique intellectual and professional objectives. You can take classes across academic disciplines at HKS and cross-register into courses at other Harvard graduate schools as well as at MIT Sloan School of Management and The Fletcher School at Tufts University. 

Sample Courses

• MLD-223: Negotiating Across Differences
• API-135: Economics of Climate Change and Environmental Policy
• DPI-640: Technology and the Public Interest: From Democracy to Technocracy and Back

Concurrent Degrees

You might consider  pursuing a second degree concurrently  if you’re interested in how the world’s public challenges can be addressed at the intersection of business, law, medicine, design, or other fields.

Pursuing a concurrent degree reduces coursework and residency requirements and makes it possible to earn two degrees in a shorter amount of time.

Concurrent degree students complete 48 credits at HKS, including four credits in each of the key areas:

Concurrent degree students are not required to fulfill the Policy Area of Concentration requirement.

Degree Requirements

The MPA Program consists of four semesters of full-time coursework in residence at HKS.

To graduate, you must:

• Earn at least 64 credits
• Finish with a GPA of B or better
• Earn a B- or higher in all courses counting towards the distribution requirements
• Matriculate as a full-time, in-residence student and take between 12-20 credits per semester
• Fulfill a Policy Area of Concentration requirement by taking eight credits in one of the policy areas at HKS
• Economics and Quantitative Analysis

HKS  faculty members  are among the most influential leaders and thinkers in their fields. They have contributed vital research and scholarship to their fields. Served in U.S. administrations. Founded learning labs to assist local communities. Led negotiations to reduce nuclear stockpiles. Reported on human rights abuses. Led efforts to address climate change. Advised governments and companies on gender equality.

They are doers as well as thinkers, shaping public policy and devising entrepreneurial approaches to public problems at the local, national, and international levels.  

MPA Faculty Chair

Kessely Hong

Mpa at a glance.

*Statistics are based on a five-year average.

Employment Snapshot:  MPA Class of 2023 Employment Sectors

* The number of private sector jobs secured by MPA graduates is, in large part, a reflection of the program’s many concurrent degree graduates.

Featured MPA stories

Elevating the stories of diverse, unsung women.

Jamie Mittleman MPA 2022 launched her COVID-adapted dream job: a platform for women Olympians and Paralympians.

A long military heritage shapes a desire for peace

Clark Yuan MPA 2022 wants unique perspectives to have a seat at the table when critical decisions are being made.

From Santiago to Cambridge to Paris

For Ingrid Olea MPA 2020, a journey that started with a career change has led to remarkable achievements in education policymaking.

Applying to the MPA Program

Prerequisites.

There are specific academic and professional prerequisites required to apply to the MPA Program. You must have:

• A bachelor’s degree with a strong academic record 
• Three years of professional work experience by September 1 of the year you would enroll in the program
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of International Business
• Master of International Development
• Master of International Economics
• Master of Science in Engineering

How to Apply

A complete application to the MPA Program includes the following: 

• Online application
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE or GMAT required
• Non-native English speakers who did not earn an undergraduate degree conducted in English must submit results of the TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge English exam
• Academic transcripts
• $100 application fee or waiver

Read more about how to apply . 

The application for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available in September 2024. There is one admission application deadline and one start date for each degree program per year. You may apply to only one master's degree program per admissions cycle. 

Tuition & Fees

The cost of attendance for the 2024-2025 academic year is outlined in  Funding Your Master ’ s Education  to help you plan financially for our master’s degree programs. Living expense costs are based on residence in Cambridge. The 2025-2026 academic year rates will be published in March 2025. HKS tuition and fees are subject to change without notice. 

At HKS, we consider financing your education to be a partnership and are here to help guide you. We encourage you to explore all opportunities for funding .

Learn more about the HKS community

Student life, student stories, admissions & financial aid blog.

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Case Law: Laws established by judicial decisions in particular cases originating from decisions of the appellate courts

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• Charity Navigator Charity Navigator provides unbiased assessments of charities, and evaluates them based on criteria including financial health, transparency, and organizational activities. Includes charts of data, a rating system with explanations, and other metrics for evaluating the organization.
• GuideStar GuideStar Basic is free, and you can also register at the site for free to access even more data. Includes financial statements, tax forms, and information on programs, operations, and effectiveness.
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer Includes financial statements and tax data from the most current year. Includes historical data for tracking trends. Also includes independent auditors' reports on each organization.
• Highlights of IRS Form 990 A document that explains the various data points of the IRS 990 nonprofit tax form, and explains their meaning and importance for evaluating the organization.
• Researching Nonprofits: The Bridgespan Group Includes useful tips for researching a nonprofit, including studying the organization and its operations, conducting site visits, and interviewing leadership and board members.

The USF Scholarship Repository allows you to view the scholarly work of the USF community:

Public and Nonprofit Administration Articles by the USF Community

Public Affairs, Public Policy, and Public Administration Articles by the USF Community

Whenever you do research, you will need to cite the information sources that you use. Most business scholars use APA style. Here are some tools that can help you with this task:

Gleeson Library's guide to citations: How? Why? When? 

• APA 7th Edition Citations for Business Sources An excellent guide to using APA 7th edition style for popular business sources. Scroll through the guide to find an example for the business source you are using in your research. Compiled by librarians Naomi Schemm, Marcia Dellenbach, Zachary Grisham, Marianne Hageman, Natalia Tingle, Matt Trowbridge, and Amanda Wheatley
• Purdue OWL Our favorite style guide web site is the OWL from Purdue University.

There are several ways to obtain assistance with your research. Read on!

You have your very own librarian! She is Penny Scott , and you can contact her for help. 

Her contact information is: email: [email protected] * phone: 415-422-5389

It is best to  email ahead, or make an appointment , to make sure she is available! Appointments are available virtually via Zoom, or in person, and are great for groups or individuals. If you don't see a time that works for you, email Penny. 

If Penny is not available, or any time you need help, you can always get help, just  Ask a Librarian !

You can also take a look at our  Research Guides  on many topics!

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Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) Major in Public Administration (Thesis Option)

Program overview.

The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree program cultivates practical, research-oriented students for careers as reflective practitioners guided by democratic values, integrity and service. Students work with faculty who have been recognized nationally for their contribution to outstanding teaching, research, and service. The M.P.A. program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

Application Requirements

The items listed below are required for admission consideration for applicable semesters of entry during the current academic year. Submission instructions, additional details, and changes to admission requirements for semesters other than the current academic year can be found on The Graduate College's website . International students should review the International Admission Documents page for additional requirements.

• completed online application
• $55 nonrefundable application fee

          or

• $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
• baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our  International FAQs  for more information.)
• official transcripts from  each institution  where course credit was granted
• a 3.0 overall GPA or a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)
• GRE not required
• statement of purpose (two pages in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced with one-inch margins and full name in the header) addressing the following: academic interests, personal and professional experiences relevant for graduate work, motivations and accomplishments, potential as a graduate student and readiness for graduate school, interest in the M.P.A. program at Texas State and reasons the student would be a good fit, and aspirations and the specific goals
• two letters of recommendation
• public sector experience (If the student does not have public sector experience, the student must complete a three-hour internship course.)

Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores

Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our  exempt countries list .

• official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
• official PTE scores required with a 52
• official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
• official Duolingo Scores required with a 110 overall
• official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall

Degree Requirements

The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree with a major in Public Administration requires 39 semester credit hours, including a thesis.  All students will be required to complete a thesis and an oral defense of the thesis.  

Students who have not completed a statistics course in the last five years with a grade of B or better will be required to take  PA 5311  as a required elective.  Students who do not have administrative experience must take  PA 5389  Internship in Government. The internship can be waived by sending documentation of administrative experience directly to the M.P.A. director. 

Course Requirements

Students registering for PA 5399A must prepare a thesis proposal under the guidance of a thesis chair that includes a statement of the problem, literature review, theoretical framework, research design, data collection procedures, and a representative bibliography. Upon successful completion of PA 5399A , students may register for PA 5399B with thesis chair approval. 

Comprehensive Examination Requirement

An oral defense of the thesis in front of a committee of faculty and  practitioners will serve as the comprehensive examination requirement. If a student does not successfully defend the thesis in the first attempt, one subsequent chance to defend the thesis will be provided after the student satisfactorily addresses every suggestion for improvement made by the thesis committee.

Students who do not successfully complete the requirements for the degree within the timelines specified will be dismissed from the program.

If a student elects to follow the thesis option for the degree, a committee to direct the written thesis will be established. The thesis must demonstrate the student’s capability for research and independent thought. Preparation of the thesis must be in conformity with the  Graduate College Guide to Preparing and Submitting a Thesis or Dissertation .

Thesis Proposal

The student must submit an official  Thesis Proposal Form  and proposal to his or her thesis committee. Thesis proposals vary by department and discipline. Please see your department for proposal guidelines and requirements. After signing the form and obtaining committee members’ signatures, the graduate advisor’s signature if required by the program and the department chair’s signature, the student must submit the Thesis Proposal Form with one copy of the proposal attached to the dean of The Graduate College for approval before proceeding with research on the thesis. If the thesis research involves human subjects, the student must obtain exemption or approval from the Texas State Institutional Review Board prior to submitting the proposal form to The Graduate College. The IRB approval letter should be included with the proposal form. If the thesis research involves vertebrate animals, the proposal form must include the Texas State IACUC approval code. It is recommended that the thesis proposal form be submitted to the dean of The Graduate College by the end of the student’s enrollment in 5399A. Failure to submit the thesis proposal in a timely fashion may result in delayed graduation.

Thesis Committee

The thesis committee must be composed of a minimum of three approved graduate faculty members.

Thesis Enrollment and Credit

The completion of a minimum of six hours of thesis enrollment is required. For a student's initial thesis course enrollment, the student will need to register for thesis course number 5399A.  After that, the student will enroll in thesis B courses, in each subsequent semester until the thesis is defended with the department and approved by The Graduate College. Preliminary discussions regarding the selection of a topic and assignment to a research supervisor will not require enrollment for the thesis course.

Students must be enrolled in thesis credits if they are receiving supervision and/or are using university resources related to their thesis work.  The number of thesis credit hours students enroll in must reflect the amount of work being done on the thesis that semester.  It is the responsibility of the committee chair to ensure that students are making adequate progress toward their degree throughout the thesis process.  Failure to register for the thesis course during a term in which supervision is received may result in postponement of graduation. After initial enrollment in 5399A, the student will continue to enroll in a thesis B course as long as it takes to complete the thesis. Thesis projects are by definition original and individualized projects.  As such, depending on the topic, methodology, and other factors, some projects may take longer than others to complete.  If the thesis requires work beyond the minimum number of thesis credits needed for the degree, the student may enroll in additional thesis credits at the committee chair's discretion. In the rare case when a student has not previously enrolled in thesis and plans to work on and complete the thesis in one term, the student will enroll in both 5399A and 5399B.

The only grades assigned for thesis courses are PR (progress), CR (credit), W (withdrew), and F (failing). If acceptable progress is not being made in a thesis course, the instructor may issue a grade of F. If the student is making acceptable progress, a grade of PR is assigned until the thesis is completed. The minimum number of hours of thesis credit (“CR”) will be awarded only after the thesis has been both approved by The Graduate College and released to Alkek Library.

A student who has selected the thesis option must be registered for the thesis course during the term or Summer I (during the summer, the thesis course runs ten weeks for both sessions) in which the degree will be conferred.

Thesis Deadlines and Approval Process

Thesis deadlines are posted on  The Graduate College  website under "Current Students." The completed thesis must be submitted to the chair of the thesis committee on or before the deadlines listed on The Graduate College website.

The following must be submitted to The Graduate College by the thesis deadline listed on The Graduate College website:

• The Thesis Submission Approval Form bearing original (wet) and/or electronic signatures of the student and all committee members.
• One (1) PDF of the thesis in final form, approved by all committee members, uploaded in the online Vireo submission system.  

After the dean of The Graduate College approves the thesis, Alkek Library will harvest the document from the Vireo submission system for publishing in the Digital Collections database (according to the student's embargo selection).  NOTE: MFA Creative Writing theses will have a permanent embargo and will never be published to Digital Collections.  

While original (wet) signatures are preferred, there may be situations as determined by the chair of the committee in which obtaining original signatures is inefficient or has the potential to delay the student's progress. In those situations, the following methods of signing are acceptable:

• signing and faxing the form
• signing, scanning, and emailing the form
• notifying the department in an email from their university's or institution's email account that the committee chair can sign the form on their behalf
• electronically signing the form using the university's licensed signature platform.

If this process results in more than one document with signatures, all documents need to be submitted to The Graduate College together.

No copies are required to be submitted to Alkek Library. However, the library will bind copies submitted that the student wants bound for personal use. Personal copies are not required to be printed on archival quality paper. The student will take the personal copies to Alkek Library and pay the binding fee for personal copies.

Master's level courses in Public Administration: PA

Courses Offered

Public administration (pa).

PA 5199B. Thesis.

This course represents a student's continuing thesis enrollment. The student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding.

PA 5299B. Thesis.

PA 5300. Introduction to Public Policy and Administration.

This course introduces students to the study and practice of US public administration and policy. It also focuses on the dynamics of the democratic governance process.

PA 5310. Public Finance Administration.

This course examines the applied aspects of public finance including operating budgets, revenue estimation, capital budgeting, financial planning, budgetary decision-making, cost benefit analysis, and life-cycle costing. In addition, strategies for budget justification, presentation, and implementation are examined. The use of various budgetary tools and techniques are emphasized.

PA 5311. Introduction to Statistical Analysis.

This course applies quantitative methods to problems faced by public administration practitioners. Topics include the use of descriptive and inferential statistics as they apply to decision-making in public management. Students gain hands-on experience with data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

PA 5312. Program Evaluation and Administrative Statistical Analysis.

This is an advanced course in the application of quantitative methods for the evaluation of public policies and programs. The course emphasizes the administrative and managerial environment. Prerequisite: PA 5311 with a grade of "B" or better.

PA 5313. Public Sector Economics.

This course presents basic concepts of economics as applied to the public sector. Principles of economics for policy analysis and management are examined in the context of collective action, public choice, resource allocation, and service delivery. The course also examines the financing of national, state, and local governments.

PA 5314. Public Administration and Information Technology.

This course explores the use of information technology in the public sector. It emphasizes the issues that public administrators need to know concerning the impact of information technology on their organizations. The course covers E-Democracy, E-Governance, Enterprise Architecture, Public Management Information Systems (PMIS), E-Procurement, and E-Commerce.

PA 5315. Public Performance Management.

This course examines public sector performance management and measurement as tools for improving strategic planning, resource allocation, organizational learning, and internal operational processes. It also examines accountability, managerial performance, and evaluation processes.

PA 5320. Organizational Theory, Change, and Behavior.

This course analyzes classic and contemporary literature on organizational theory and behavior in the public sector. Emphasis is placed on history and development of organizational theory and core concepts such as organizational culture, power, and change. The implications of organizational theory for democratic governance are explored.

PA 5330. Public Personnel Administration.

This course introduces students to public personnel functions from a managerial perspective. Examples of topics covered include: recruitment and selection, perfomance evaluation, discipline, collective bargaining, classification, and compensation. Constructive leadership of government personnel that encourages a more competent, motivated, and representative administration workforce is emphasized.

PA 5331. Labor Management Relations.

This course examines the historical development of public employee unions and the effects of collective bargaining agreements on personnel policy development. Public laws concerning collective bargaining procedures and strategy on the part of public managers are covered.

PA 5332. Management Practices in Public Personnel Administration.

This course is a seminar-based examination of selected topics in public personnel administration including job analysis, position classification, test construction, performance appraisal, succession planning, and affirmative action. The role of the personnel office as a strategic partner in accomplishing organizational goals is also explored.

PA 5340. Introduction to Public Law.

This course examines the regulatory environment, legal requirements, and constraints that public officials face when carrying out their durties. The use of online research tools to find adminstrative materials and analyze public law issues is emphasized.

PA 5350. Public Policy Processes.

This course is an overview of the process of public policymaking including policy formulation and implementation. Emphasis is placed on actors in the policy process and on the political environment.

PA 5351. Urban Sustainability Policy.

This course examines the basic components of urban transportation and land use policy. In addition to building an understanding of the historic foundation of urban policy and planning, students explore the underlying concepts related to sustainability to analyze underlying tensions and potential connections across policy spheres.

PA 5352. Comparative Public Administration.

This course examines differences in various national administrative systems and the role of international organizations. It explores differences that influence various public policy issues from countries around the world. Policy issues examined include poverty, human rights, health care, and the environment.

PA 5353. Ecology and the Politics of Sustainability.

This course is an exploration of problems and policies dealing with air, water, waste, energy use, natural resources, sustainability, and global environmental issues. This class highlights the historical drivers of environmental policy. Implementation strategies, policy mechanisms, and compliance adherence are also examined.

PA 5355. Environmental Policy.

This course will introduce students to the public policy process and the details of U.S. environmental policy and administration. Problems and policies dealing with air, water, solid waste, hazardous waste, energy use, natural resources, climate change, sustainability, and global environmental governance will be discussed.

PA 5361. Introduction to the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector.

This course provides a foundation for understanding the history, scope, and function of the American nonprofit and voluntary sector. It includes an examination of the conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of the sector, and assessment of the role of these organizations in society, and their impact on public policy.

PA 5362. Alternative Public Service Delivery Systems.

This course examines alternative delivery of public services. The reliance on market mechanisms, contracting out, and privatization are explored.

PA 5370. Public Management and Ethics.

This course explores issues of morality and ethics in the public sector. It also considers subjects such as administrative discretion, the public interest, democratic values, and dissent. The course aims to formulate a frame of reference for judging behavior and clarifying our role and responsibility as moral agents.

PA 5380A. Texas Water Law and Policy.

This course examines the chief policy issue that will determine the future of Texas: how state and local agencies administer the state’s ground- and surface water legal regimes. With the legal and regulatory framework in place, the course investigates pressing water policy issues that confront Texas.

PA 5380B. Environmental Litigation.

This course conducts an in-depth examination of researching, filing, and litigating claims under federal and state environmental statutes. The course focuses on the aspects of environmental litigation that make it different than its non-environmental counterparts.

PA 5387. Research Practicum.

This course uses structured group research to analyze a current policy, management, or administrative issue. A professor-led research team completes a final report detailing findings and recommendations for action. May be repeated once for additional credit. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

PA 5388. Directed Reading and Research.

This course guides students in directed reading and research on various topics in public policy and administration under the direction of a graduate faculty member. The course may be repeated once with a different emphasis for additional credit for a maximum of 6 credit hours. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

PA 5389. Internship in Government.

This course provides students with the opportunity to integrate classroom learning with practical experience. Students with little or no work experience related to public service are required to complete an internship. Students considering a career change should consider an internship. May be repeated once for additional credit. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

PA 5390. Applied Research Methodology.

This course is an introduction to applied research methods in the public sector. Topics include the scientific method, research design, measurement, qualitative research, and sampling. Data collection methods such as survey research, content analysis, and secondary data analysis are also covered.

PA 5397. Research Design and Proposal Development for Public Administration.

This course prepares students for the demands of academic and professional writing. Students learn how to identify a public problem, develop a research purpose statement, and complete a literature review around a conceptual framework. This course prepares the student for their Applied Research Project (ARP). Prerequisite: PS 5390 with a grade of "B" or better and instructor approval.

PA 5398. Applied Research Project.

This course serves as the capstone experience for MPA students. Students complete an original and empirical Applied Reserach Project (ARP), complete an oral defense of the ARP, and prepare the ARP for publication. Prerequisite: PA 5397 with a grade of "B" or better and instructor approval.

PA 5399A. Thesis.

This course represents a student’s initial thesis enrollment. No thesis credit is awarded until student has completed the thesis in public administration.

PA 5399B. Thesis.

PA 5599B. Thesis.

PA 5999B. Thesis.

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Scholarly/Academic & Peer Reviewed Articles

Academic article sources, getting articles from other libraries.

• Key Journals
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• Video and Audio
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All About Peer Review

CSUDH Library (2019, October 8). All about peer review [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH5OgdSW5dU .

Primary vs Secondary Sources

Primary vs Secondary Sources . (2020). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZRxYfWYEBI

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Scholarly (aka academic) articles are written by and for academics, researchers, and experts in the specific topic or broader subject area of the article. Typically involves commercial or professional association publishers.

Peer Reviewed (aka refereed) articles are those scholarly articles which have been reviewed prior to publication by other experts in the topic of the article. Often reviewers are external (not members of the journal's editorial staff or board).

Depending on your specific topic, one of these specialized databases may be helpful. For more online resources in areas such as the environment, education, and health, check out the complete Database List .

Most of these databases focus on academic articles, but some include other types of sources such as book chapters, government reports, and conference proceedings.

• PAIS (Public Affairs Information Service) Index This link opens in a new window Covers all subjects that bear on public affairs and public policy, including the policy-oriented literature of academic social sciences such as economics, finance, law, education, the military, political science, public administration, international law and relations. Indexes publications from and about all countries, PAIS Archive coverage: 1915-1976; PAIS International coverage: 1972-current
• Worldwide Political Science Abstracts This link opens in a new window Provides citations, abstracts, and indexing of the international serials literature in political science and its complementary fields, including international relations, law, and public administration. Dates of coverage: 1975-current
• Military & Government Collection This link opens in a new window Offers current news through a collection of periodicals, academic journals, and other content pertinent to the increasing needs for all branches of the military and government.
• Homeland Security Digital Library This link opens in a new window An open-source collection of documents related to homeland security policy, strategy, and organizational management from a wide variety of sources including federal, state and local governments; international governments and institutions; nonprofit organizations and private entities.
• EconLit with Full Text This link opens in a new window Coverage of over 400 major journals as well as essays, books, book reviews, dissertations, and working papers.
• Sociological Abstracts This link opens in a new window Abstracts and indexes the international literature in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. The database provides abstracts of journal articles and citations to book reviews drawn from thousands of serials publications, and also provides abstracts of books, book chapters, dissertations, and conference papers. Dates of coverage: 1952-current
• America: History and Life with Full Text This link opens in a new window Index to sources on the history of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present. Includes book and media reviews and citations to abstracts of dissertations as well as journal article citations. Dates of coverage: 1955-current
• Web of Science This link opens in a new window Facilitates research-level interdisciplinary search. Use the Basic Search to locate articles in high-impact scholarly journals in science, social science, arts, and humanities. Use the unique Cited Reference search for articles that cite an article you already know of, so you can track citations forward in time.

Click on the Check for UNH Full Text icon in the database record to see how to get a copy of the article: whether online, in print or from another library.

If the UNH Library doesn't have the article you want, request it through Interlibrary Loan.

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