M.P.A., Master of Public Administration
Dr. David Schecter, Department Chair
Dr. Kurt Cline, Graduate Program Coordinator
Program Design
The Master of Public Administration Program at California State University, Fresno provides a professional degree to individuals seeking to serve the public through the effective administration of public programs. To accomplish this, the program focuses on developing core competencies of public leadership. These competencies include: critical thinking, analytical skills, and an appreciation for ethical decision making. The program is open to individuals with or seeking careers in public and nonprofit sectors. The program is committed to the recruitment and education of a diverse student body.
Objective
The GPA program objectives reflect the central theme of our GPA mission statement, the department, and our university. We are committed to the following:
- Preparing administrative professionals who understand the place and role of public agencies and their staffs in the political, social, and economic systems of the United States.
- Providing the analytic tools, both quantitative and qualitative, to diagnose problems and analyze alternative courses of public action.
- Cultivating the leadership abilities necessary to develop and make effective use of the talents and abilities of agency staffs.
- Developing the abilities required to formulate, implement, and evaluate public policies which are responsible and effective.
- Encouraging responsible and effective management of the public's resources now and in the future.
Career Opportunities
While our primary emphasis has been on developing the skills of in-service professionals, we have increasingly sought to prepare pre-service students for general administrative and management positions in public and nonprofit organizations. Current students and MPA program alumni work in such organizations as the following: City of Fresno; County of Fresno; Fresno Police Department; Fresno County Sheriff's Department; Fresno Unified School District; California State University, Fresno; City of Madera; and various nonprofit organizations in the Central Valley.
Program Design | Objective | Career Opportunities | Faculty | Quick Facts