Public Administration

GRADUATE FACULTY
Full Members
Professors
Glenn C. Blomquist, David Freshwater, Merlin Hackbart, William H. Hoyt, Edward T. Jennings, Mark Peffley, Robert Rodgers, Eugenia Toma, David F. Wildasin.
Associate Professors
Matt Gabel, Donald A. Gross, Jeffery C. Talbert.
Associate Members
Adjunct Professors
Tom Greider, Gregory L. Hager, Len Heller, Rhonda Trautman, Virginia Wilson.
Associate Professors
Karen Blumenschein.
Assistant Professors
Samuel Brown, Richard Fording, Sarah Wackerbarth.
Emeritus Professors
Philip K. Berger.

The Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, a research, academic and service unit of the Graduate School, offers the Ph.D., the MPA, and the MHA degrees. The Ph.D. in Public Administration is designed to prepare students to function at a high level of analytic sophistication in academic and administrative positions. The Master of Public Administration is a 45-credit-hour program designed for those seeking careers in the public, non-profit, and private sectors.

The interdisciplinary faculty have primary or joint appointments in the Martin School and in one of the academic departments of the College of Business and Economics, the College of Arts and Sciences, or the Medical Center.

Doctor of Philosophy

The curriculum of the Ph.D. program provides knowledge of the principles of organizational behavior, an understanding of the public policy process and policy issues, and an ability to analyze policy and administrative problems through research and analytical methods.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit the following items to be considered for admission to Doctoral program in Public Administration.

A Graduate School application form and application fee
Official GRE or GMAT scores of at least 1200 (GRE) in the quantitative and analytical sections and a strong showing on the analytical section or a minimum score of 600 on the GMAT.
Two official transcripts from all universities attended, showing an undergraduate g.p.a. of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on undergraduate work and at least a 3.5 grade point average on previous graduate work
International Students only: Official TOEFL scores.
Three letters of recommendation addressing the student's capacity for Doctoral level graduate work.
The Martin School Applicant Information Form
A personal statement from the candidate explaining his or her career plans and interest in the program
A writing sample - preferably an article or project in an area related to Public Administration.

Entering students are expected to have at least a 3.0 grade point average in undergraduate work (on a 4.0 scale), a 3.5 in all graduate level work, a cumulative score of 1200 or more on the quantitative and verbal sections of the GRE, a, or a minimum of 600 on the GMAT, and 3 letters of recommendation that provide convincing evidence about the applicant's ability and potential. However, the Martin School considers all aspects of the student's record, including evidence of improving performance during the student's academic career.

Pre-requisites and Exemptions:
Many incoming students will hold a master's degree in public administration from a NASPAA-accredited program. Other students with master's degrees in such areas as political science, economics, agricultural economics or business administration will be evaluated with respect to their background in public administration. All students are expected to have taken four University of Kentucky courses: PA 652 (Public Policy Economics), PA 631 (Public Financial Management), PA 642 (Public Organizational Theory and Behavior), and PA 651 (The Policy Process), or their equivalents from a NASPAA accredited program. All students are also expected to have strong background in research methodology.

All Ph.D. students must demonstrate proficiency in basic computer skills. This requirement may be met by passing a self-administered diagnostic examination or by completing a computer assisted instructional module administered by the Martin School. These basic computer skills will be supplemented by computer-based assignments throughout the curriculum.

Degree Requirements

Students are required to take 42 hours of graduate course work beyond the master's degree or its equivalent. The program of study includes a 27-hour Core covering:

Public Policy Management
Research Methods
Theory
and a 15-hour Area of Concentration selected from one of the following:

Health Finance
Public Policy
Public Financial Management

Areas are designed by students in conjunction with their faculty advisers.

The dissertation involves research on a public management or public policy issue. An internship is necessary for students without significant public experience.

Financial support is available to qualified students through fellowships, assistantship, and research grants.

Inquiries should be made through the Director of Graduate Studies, 415 Patterson Tower.

Core Courses

Public Policy and Management (12 hours)
PA 731 Fiscal and Budgetary Policy (3)
PA 742 Theory of Public Organizations (3)
PA 751 Public Policy Formulation (3)
PA 752 The Economics of Policy Analysis (3)

Research Methods (9 hours)
Nine hours of research methods are chosen by the student with the approval of the Advisory Committee.

Theory (6 hours)
Six hours of theory courses are selected with the apporval of the Advisory Committee.

Master of Public Administration

Admission Requirements

The MPA program offers a professional degree that prepares students for careers of leadership in the public service as analysts and managers in the public, not-for-profit, and private sectors. Students enter the program with diverse set of academic backgrounds. Applicants must meet the admission standards of both the Graduate School and the Martin School. Applicants must submit the following items to be considered for admission to the Master of Public Administration program.

A Graduate School application form and application fee
Official GRE or GMAT scores of at least 1000 (GRE) or 600 (GMAT)
Two official transcripts from all universities attended, showing an undergraduate g.p.a. of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale on undergraduate work and at least a 3.0 grade point average on previous graduate work
International Students only: Official TOEFL scores.
Three letters of recommendation addressing the student's capacity for Master's level work and their assessment of the student's suitability for a career in Public or non-profit administration.
The Martin School Applicant Information Form
A personal statement from the candidate explaining his or her career plans and interest in the program

The final selection of students for admission will be subject to the discretion of the admissions committee of the MPA program. Competitive admission is based on a consideration of the documents listed above. Provisional admission may be offered to students who do not meet the above criteria but who show the potential to succeed in the program.

Students are admitted from various academic disciplines. If not previously exposed to business disciplines, students should develop an understanding of the concepts macroeconomics.

Deadlines:
Deadlines for the program are the same as the Graduate School admission deadlines. Applications completed by March 1 will have priority for financial aid.

Generally, courses are offered in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate working students.

The Martin School MPA program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Administration (NASPAA). For additional information contact:

Student Affairs Office - The Martin School
413 Patterson Office Tower
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0027

Two joint degree programs are offered: a joint JD/MPA degree and a joint PharmD/MPA degree. Separate information is available about those programs.

The MPA program incorporates:

1. an Administrative Core of 27 semester hours covering the areas of public policy formulation and analysis, public policy economics, organization and management, budgeting, finance, and analytical methods.

2. an area of concentration of 9 semester hours in one of six areas of specialization (public financial management, policy analysis, environmental management, health policy, gerontology, or transportation systems management) or in an individually designed concentration;

3. one 3-hour elective class selected to complement the area of concentration or enhance skills and knowledge acquired in the core curriculum;

4. a 3-hour Capstone Course and Capstone Project;

5. an administrative internship for 3 semester hours of credit. Students with a significant professional paper may substitute an independent study policy paper or an additional graduate course.

Course Requirements

Completion of a minimum of 45 semester hours of graduate work is required.

A. Administrative Core (30 semester hours)

PA 621 Quantitative Methods of Research (3)
PA 622 Public Program Evaluation (3)
PA 623 Decision Analysis (3)
PA 631 Public Financial Management (3)
PA 632 Public Funds Management (3)
PA 641 Political Environment of Public Organizations (3)
PA 642 Public Organization Theory and Behavior (3)
PA 651 The Policy Process (3)
PA 652 Public Policy Economics (3)
PA 681 Capstone in Public Administration (3)

B. Area of Concentration (9 semester hours)

Public Financial Management

Students completing this specialization will be prepared for an entry-level professional position in public and not-for-profit organizations.

Select 9 hours from:

ACC 410G Not for Profit Accounting (3)
FIN 585 Bank Management (3)
FIN 680 Money, Interest and Capital (3)
ECO 485G Monetary Economics (3)
ECO 611 Business Conditions Analysis (3)

Policy Analysis

This concentration provides students the ability to analyze and interpret qualitative and quantitative data, conduct and present results of quantitative and qualitative analyses, and communicate complex ideas in a concise, straightforward manner.

Select 9 hours from:

PA 680 Benefit-Cost Analysis (3)
A course in quantitative or qualitative methods (3)
A course in substantive policy area, PA 775, PA 796, or PA 722 (3)

Environmental Management

Martin School graduates with a concentration in environmental management will be ready to contribute to the design and implementation of environmental policy.

Complete the following 9 hours:

PA 727 Environmental Economics, Regulation and Policy (3)
ES 610 Engineering and Physical Science in Environmental Systems (3)
ES 620 Natural, Biological, Medical Sciences in Environmental Systems (3)

Health Policy

The health policy concentration prepares students for careers as managers and analysts of health policy in federal, state, and local agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and the private sector.

Select 9 hours from:

PA 636 Health Economics (3)
PA 673Health Policy Development (3)
PA 785Independent Study in Health Administr Certificate selected in consultation with a faculty adviser.

Transportation Systems Management

This area of specialization consists of 9 semester hours of classes offered through the Interdisciplinary Certificate in Transportation. It prepares students for careers as policy analysts and managers working in diverse transportation settings, including consulting firms, not-for-profit organizations, and government agencies at the federal, state, and local level.

C. Elective Course (3 semester hours)

A course selected in consultation with a faculty adviser.

D. Capstone Course and Capstone Project (3 semester hours)

All students must take the 3-hour capstone class and successfully complete and defend a capstone project developed in that class. The purpose of the course and the project is to integrate the learning experience of the MPA program and apply knowledge and skills acquired in the program to a policy issue or management problem.

PA 681 Capstone in Public Administration (3)

E. Internship (3 semester hours)

PA 711 Internship in Public Administration (3)

PA 621 QUANITITATIVE METHODS OF RESEARCH (SAME AS HA 621) (3)

PA 622 PUBLIC PROGRAM EVALUATION (3)

PA 623 DECISION ANALYSIS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS (SAME AS HA 623) (3)

PA 625 PUBLIC MANAGEMENT COMPUTER APPLICATIONS (3)

PA 628 PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR (3)

PA 631 PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (3)

PA 632 PUBLIC FUNDS MANAGEMENT (SAME AS HA 632) (3)

PA 633 MUNICIPAL SECURITIES (3)

PA 636 HEALTH ECONOMICS (SAME AS HA 636, ECO 653) (3)

PA 637 HEALTH FINANCE (SAME AS FIN/HA/HSM 637/SPH 852) (3)

PA 639 MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS IN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS (3)

PA 641 POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT OF PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS (3)

PA 642 PUBLIC ORGANIZATION THEORY AND BEHAVIOR (SAME AS HA 642) (3)

PA 651 THE POLICY PROCESS (3)

PA 652 PUBLIC POLICY ECONOMICS (SAME AS ECO/HA 652) (3)

PA 653 LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (SAME AS AEC 653) (3)

PA 656 HEALTH PROGRAM EVALUATION (SAME AS HA 656) (3)

PA 671 OVERVIEW OF THE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM (SAME AS HA /HSM 601/ SPH 602) (3)

PA 673 HEALTH POLICY DEVELOPMENT (SAME AS HA 673) (3)

PA 680 BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS (SAME AS ECO 654) (3)

PA 681 CAPSTONE IN PUBLIC ADMINIS-TRATION (3)

PA 711 INTERNSHIP IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3)

PA 724 PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (3)

PA 727 ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS, REGULATION AND POLICY (SAME AS ECO 721) (3)

PA 731 FISCAL AND BUDGETARY POLICY (3)

PA 742 THEORY OF PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS (3)

PA 749 DISSERTATION RESEARCH (0)

PA 751 PUBLIC POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION (3)

PA 752 THE ECONOMICS OF POLICY ANALYSIS (SAME AS ECO 752) (3)

PA 769 RESIDENCE CREDIT FOR THE DOCTOR’S DEGREE (0-12)

PA 775 SPECIAL TOPICS IN HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (SAME AS HA/HSM 775) (1-3)

PA 785 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (SAME AS HA/HSM 785) (1-3)

PA 795 SPECIAL TOPICS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (1-3)

PA 796 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (1-3)