MPA Areas of Specialization

The MPA program offers fields of specialization in nonprofit management, natural resources policy and administration, local government, global leadership and management, and human resource management.  Students declare an intended field of specialization upon admission to the program, and enroll in 5 courses (15 credits) to create the field.  They are required to complete a "field of specialization" form with a proposed program of study by the time they complete 30 credits of the MPA program; this must be signed by the faculty advisor and submitted to the Division office.  The declared specialization and specific program of study may be changed based upon consultation with the faculty advisor.  On occasion, a student may create a unique field of specialization with advisor approval, which must be documented in the student's file. 

Each specialization has required and recommended elective courses. In addition, certain skill development courses are recommended (9 credits of the 60 credit MPA).  Additional suggested preparation and/or courses in other academic units, as well as other professional experiences, may be appropriate.  In all cases, consult with your advisor for further information and specific guidance relevant to your particular interests.

Courses listed reflect those that are currently offered or projected for the next two years; see the PA two-year schedule for information on specific offerings and timing  (http://www.pdx.edu/hatfieldschool/course-planning).

Global Leadership and Management
Required courses:
PA 514 Global Leadership and Management
PA 542 Sustainable Development Implementation

Choose three courses from the following: (others may be approved by your advisor)
PA 523 Nongovernmental Organizations: Nonprofits on the World Stage
PA 529 Oaxaca Field Study
PA 549 Crosscultural Communications in the Public Sector
PA 550 Managing Information Resources
PA 558 Managing Public Projects and Programs
PA 565 Natural Resources Policy and Administration
Courses from this list may be taken as skill development courses if not counted as specialization courses.
Other courses with the PA 510 course prefix may also be relevant; check with your advisor.

Recommended skill development courses:
PA 517 Leadership Development for Public Organizations
PA 525 Grantwriting for Nonprofit Organizations
PA 536 Strategic Planning
PA 543 Creating Collaborative Communities
PA 545 Organizational Development
PA 553 Sustainable Development Policy and Governance
PA 554 Policy Analysis Research
PA 555 Program Evaluation and Management

Local Government
Required courses:
PA 560 Local Government Administration (course number effective Fall 2011)
PA 561 Intergovernmental Relations (course number effective Fall 2011)

Choose three courses from the following: (others may be approved by your advisor)
PA 517 Leadership Development in Public Organizations
PA 519 Civic Capacity
PA 542 Sustainable Development Implementation
PA 543 Creating Collaborative Communities
PA 545 Organization Development
PA 546 Supervision in the Public Sector
PA 563 Citizens and Administration
PA 564 Issues in Environment Policy and Administration
PA 583 Advanced Budgeting Concepts and Techniques
PA 593 Civil Rights for Public Managers
USP 531 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Planners
USP 542 Land Use Implementation 
USP 551 Community Economic Development
USP 568 Oregon Land Use Law
Courses from this list may be taken as skill development courses if not counted as specialization courses.
Other courses with the PA 510 course prefix may also be relevant; check with your advisor.

Recommended skill development courses:
PA 514 Global Leadership and Management
PA 536 Strategic Planning
PA 549 Crosscultural Communications in the Public Sector
PA 550 Managing Information Resources
PA 555 Program Evaluation and Management
PA 556 Public Contract Management
PA 557 Operations Research in Public Administration
PA 558 Managing Public Projects and Programs
USP 591 Geographic Information Systems I:  Introduction
USP 592 Geographic Information Systems II: Applications

Human Resource Management
Required courses:
PA 510 Labor Relations in the Public Sector
PA 593 Civil Rights for Public Managers

Choose three courses from the following: (others may be approved by your advisor)
PA 546 Supervision in the Public Sector
PA 562 Managing Employee Performance in the Public Sector
PA 591 Employment Law and Policy (course title effective Fall 2011)
PA 594 Enhancing Diversity in the Workplace
Other courses with the PA 510 course prefix may also be relevant; check with your advisor.

Recommended skill development courses:
PA 517 Leadership Development for Public Organizations
PA 525 Grantwriting for Nonprofit Organizations
PA 529 Oaxaca Field Study
PA 536 Strategic Planning
PA 545 Organizational Development
PA 548 Advocacy Roles in Public Management
PA 549 Crosscultural Communication in the Public Sector
PA 550 Managing Information Resources
PA 555 Program Evaluation and Management
PA 556 Public Contract Management
PA 598 Values Based Management

Natural Resources Policy and Administration
Required course:
PA 565 Natural Resources Policy and Administration

Choose four courses from the following: (others may be approved by your advisor)
PA 539 National Policy Process
PA 542 Sustainable Development Implementation
PA 553 Sustainable Development Policy and Governance
PA 564 Issues in Environmental Policy and Administration
PA 566 Water Policy and Administration
PA 567 Energy Resources Policy and Administration
PA 568 Forest Policy and Administration
PA 569 Fish and Wildlife Policy and Administration
USP 571 Environmental Policy
Other courses with the PA 510 course prefix may also be relevant; check with your advisor.

Recommended for those students without an economics background:
EC 532 Advanced Environmental Economics
EC 533 Advanced Natural Resources Economics

Recommended skill development courses:
EC 522 Economics of Sustainability: Theory and Practice      
ESM 588 Environmental Sustainability
PA 514 Global Leadership and Management
PA 519 Civic Capacity
PA 525 Grantwriting for Nonprofit Organizations
PA 536 Strategic Planning
PA 543 Creating Collaborative Communities
PA 548 Advocacy Roles in Public Management
PA 549 Crosscultural Communication in the Public Sector
PA 550 Managing Information Resources
PA 554 Policy Analysis Research
PA 555 Program Evaluation and Management
PA 556 Public Contract Management
PA 557 Operations Research in Public Administration
PA 558 Managing Public Projects
SOC 588 Social Sustainability: Theory and Practice
USP 543 Geographic Applications to Planning
USP 584 Negotiation in the Public Sector
USP 588 Sustainable Development Practices
USP 591 Geographic Information Systems I: Introduction
USP 592 Geographic Information System II: Applications

Nonprofit Management
Required courses:
PA 520 Introduction to Nonprofit Management
PA 521 History and Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector
PA 522 Governance of Nonprofit Organizations
PA 524 Financial Management in Nonprofit Organizations
NOTE: PA 524 is taken by nonprofit students in lieu of PA 585; nonprofit students must take one additional course approved by their advisor to complete the 60 credit degree.

Choose one course from the following: (others may be approved by your advisor)
PA 523 Nongovernmental Organizations: Nonprofits on the World Stage
PA 527 New/Emerging Nonprofits: Development and Management
PA 528 Organizational Leadership and Decision Making in Nonprofit Organizations
PA 529 Oaxaca Field Study
PA 538 Advocacy and Political Participation by Nonprofit Organizations
PA 541 Social Entrepreneurship (course number effective Fall 2011)
Courses from this list may be taken as skill development courses if not counted as specialization courses.
Other courses with the PA 510 course prefix may also be relevant; check with your advisor.

Recommended skill development courses:
PA 514 Global Leadership and Management
PA 525 Grantwriting for Nonprofit Organizations
PA 526 Fundamentals of Fundraising in Nonprofit Organizations
PA 536 Strategic Planning
PA 543 Creating Collaborative Communities
PA 545 Organizational Development
PA 549 Crosscultural Communication in the Public Sector
PA 555 Program Evaluation and Management
PA 556 Public Contract Management
PA 581 Advanced Fundraising
PA 592 Volunteerism and Volunteer Management
PA 598 Values-Based Management

*Follow this link for information on Peace Corps Masters International: MPA with a Nonprofit Specialization.