Dear Prospective Student:
It is my pleasure to tell you about the Public Affairs master's degree program offered by the Political Science Department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Our department has sponsored this very fine program for more than25 years. We are proud of this program, and we are also proud of the contributions its graduates have made to this region, the state, and the nation. Rest assure that the faculty and the staff of the Graduate School will do everything in their power to make your educational experience at Indiana University of Pennsylvania productive and energizing.
This program is oriented toward practitioners; that is, it assumes that students seek a degree that would facilitate entrance into, or promotion within, the public or private sector. The M.A.P.A. is also viewed primarily as a terminal degree. After completion, graduates possess the needed background and skills to assume positions as public administrators at local, state, national, and international levels. A new International Development Administration field specialization is aimed at those students interested in international and comparative studies. In all cases, our faculty members provide students classroom time, research, and practicum opportunities that are designed to enhance the student's success in securing and developing job positions. This educational background is also appropriate for students seeking additional or future education at the doctoral level.
The degree program described herein will provide students with interdisciplinary education in "core" public administration skills such as policy analysis, administrative management, budgeting, and public administration. Students of this program also complete basic and advanced coursework in research methods. Finally, students complete a directed research requirement consisting of either a practicum or the traditional master's thesis. Since governance and administration at all government levels have become more complex during the last15 years, coursework of this master's program reflects the latest trends and emerging issues of public concern. In particular, the program emphasizes: (1) the shift of responsibilities for programs, services, and funding from the federal government to the state and local governments; (2) an increase in citizen expectations for services and programs coupled with demands for lower taxes; and (3) a greater use of technology to support and implement public services.
I hope you consider choosing IUP for your graduate academic needs. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (724) 357-7901 or e-mail SarahM.Wheeler@iup.edu.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sarah M. Wheeler
Graduate Coordinator, M.A.P.A. Program