Public Administration
Graduate Program Coordinator: Xiao Hu Wang, Ph.D.
HPA 343, (407) 823-2604.
E-mail: xwang@mail.ucf.edu
Master of Public Administration
The Department of Public Administration’s Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree program provides opportunities for students to prepare for employment or advance their careers as public administrators. Our intention is to produce graduates equipped with the public management skills and analytical techniques needed for successful careers in government, nonprofit, and closely related business fields.Application Deadlines
| Fall admission | July 1 |
| Spring admission | December 1 |
| Summer admission | April 1 |
Admission
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all graduate students. Minimum requirements for regular admission are (1) a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 for the last 60 attempted semester hours of undergraduate study, (2) a grade point average of 3.0 in a previous graduate degree, or (3) a total score of 1000 or higher on the verbal-quantitative sections of the GRE. A limited number of students who do not meet these requirements but who do have at least a 2.5 GPA and an 800 GRE score may be admitted on a provisional basis. These students must demonstrate proven public sector leadership experience, present strong recommendations from either academic or professional advisers, and provide a clear statement of education goals. More specific information on provisional admissions may be obtained from the department. Individuals whose native language is other than English are required to have a minimum score of 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Students are expected to be computer literate upon entry to the program or are expected to obtain these skills immediately upon admission to the program.Degree Requirements
The M.P.A. Program consists of 42 hours. Each student completes a core of nine courses (27 hours), an advanced curriculum of four courses (12 hours) selected in consultation with the adviser, and a capstone experience equivalent to one course (3 hours).
Minimum Core Requirements—27 Semester Hours
PAD 6053 Public Administrators in the Governance Process (3 hours)
PAD 6035 Public Administration in the Policy Process (3 hours)
PAD 6700 Analytic Techniques for Public Administrators I (3 hours)
PAD 6701 Analytic Techniques for Public Administrators II (3 hours)
PAD 6037 Public Organization Management (3 hours)
PAD 6207 Public Financial Management (3 hours)
PAD 6227 Public Budgeting (3 hours)
PAD 6417 Human Resource Management (3 hours)
PAD 6335 Strategic Planning and Management (3 hours)
Advanced Curriculum—12 Semester Hours
An advanced curriculum of at least four courses that concentrate on a specific area germane to the
practice of public administration may be taken within the Department of Public Administration or
from other departments. Those elective courses offered within the department will provide an
emphasis on state and local government; however, other emphases may be developed in consultation
with the adviser. (Those students without practical administrative experience in the public sector
are strongly advised to complete an internship (3 hours) as part of the advanced curriculum. A
research report option (3 hours) is available for students wishing to complete a more substantial
research project than might be accommodated in the other courses).
Capstone Experience—3 Semester Hours
Students will engage in a capstone experience intended to bring together the various areas of
knowledge and skills covered in the MPA program. Students will complete this requirement through
enrollment in PAD 6062, Advanced Concepts and Applications in Public Administration.
Exit Requirements
Students must achieve a grade of “B” or better in every course listed under minimum core
requirements.
Minimum Hours Required for M.P.A.—42 Semester Hours
Graduate Certificate in Public Administration
In recognition of the special needs of the Central Florida community, the University of Central Florida has introduced a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration.The certificate program provides graduate-level continuing education for both in-service and pre-career students. The program will (1) emphasize managerial skills essential to a local government program oriented toward an evolving metropolitan environment and (2) strengthen the student’s professional standing and help open doors to management and support positions.
The certificate program is affiliated with the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program and will be administered by the Department of Public Administration. The program follows the UCF policies and procedures for graduate certificate programs.
Who may be interested?
The certificate program may be of particular interest to students who:
- Do not have post-baccalaureate degrees and are not ready for the regular graduate program in public administration
- Are public employees and have post-baccalaureate degrees in other disciplines and are interested in learning advanced knowledge and skills in public administration; and
- Are enrolled in other programs at UCF and are interested in expanding the scope of their graduate education and enhancing their professional credentials.
Admission Requirements
Any student with an undergraduate baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited university may apply. The GRE or any other graduate-level test is not required for enrollment in the certificate program.How is the program structured?
The program consists of 18 semester hours at the graduate level, including 5 required core courses and 1 restricted elective course. Course descriptions are available in the graduate student handbook.
Required Courses—15 Semester Hours
Students are required to take the following 5 courses.
PAD 6035 Public Administration in the Public Process
PAD 6037 Public Organization Management
PAD 6053 Public Administrators in the Governance Process
PAD 6227 Public Budgeting
PAD 6417 Human Resource Management
Restricted Elective Course—3 Semester Hours
This course must be taken from the Public Administration Department with the approval from the
graduate certificate program coordinator.
PAD 5425 Dispute Resolution in the Public Sector
PAD 5427 Labor Relations in the Public Sector
PAD 5806 Local Government Operations
PAD 5807 Administrative Practice in the Public Sector
PAD 5850 Grant and Contract Management
PAD 6307 Policy Implementation
PAD 6327 Public Program Evaluation Techniques
PAD 6335 Strategic Planning and Management
Certificate Requirements
- Students must receive a grade of B or better in all six (6) courses required for the certificate.
- No graduate credit hours taken at other institutions can be applied to a certificate program at UCF.
- No internship or independent study courses may be used in a certificate program.
- Student admitted to a graduate degree program or to non-degree-seeking status are eligible to take certificate programs. Non-degree-seeking students who are enrolled in a certificate program are not eligible for tuition waivers, assistantships, fellowships, or federal financial aid.
- All courses that are offered as part of a certificate program must be graduate-level courses. All courses that count toward a certificate must receive a grade of B or better. Courses may be retaken to achieve a better grade, with the consent of the program.
- A certificate program must be completed within three years of the start of the first course in the certificate program.
Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management
Graduate Program Coordinator: Mary Ann Felheim, Ph.D.(407) 823-2604.
E-mail: mfeldhei@mail.ucf.edu
This certificate program offers specialized, graduate-level knowledge in nonprofit management, resource development, strategic planning, and program evaluation to those currently working in the nonprofit sector or in organizations that partner with the nonprofit sector.
Required Courses—18 Semester Hours
PAD 5XXX Nonprofit Organizations (3 hours)
PAD 5XXX Nonprofit Financial Management (3 hours)
PAD 6335 Strategic Planning and Management (3 hours)
SOW 5XXX Nonprofit Resource Development (3 hours)
Choose one course:
PAD 6327 Public Program Evaluation Techniques (3 hours)
SOW 5432 Evaluating Social Work (3 hours)
Graduate Certificate in Urban and Regional Planning
Graduate Program Coordinator: K. Tom Liou, Ph.D.(407) 823-2604.
E-mail: kliou@mail.ucf.edu
This certificate program provides graduate courses to students who are interested in enhancing their knowledge, skills, and career development in the field of community, urban, and regional planning. Planning has been identified as one of the major policy issues in our community as Central Florida is considered one of the major growth areas in the state of Florida.
Required Courses—12 Semester Hours
PAD 5336 Introduction to Planning (3 hours)
PAD 5337 Urban Design (3 hours)
PAD 5338 Land Use and Planning Law (3 hours)
PAD 6XXX Special Topics in Planning (3 hours)
Restricted Electives—3 Semester Hours (choose 1 course)
CGN 6655 Regional Planning, Design, and Development (3 hours)
ECP 6605 Economics of Urban and Regional Problems (3 hours)
PAD 5356 Managing Community and Economic Development (3 hours)
PAD 5XXX Transportation Policy and Planning (3 hours)
PAD 6353 Environmental Program Management Research (3 hours)
PAD 6655 Regional Planning, Design, and System (3 hours)
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