Sonoma State University
Rolling hills

MPA Program Overview

Common Core

20 Units
 

  • POLS 502 Organizational Theory and Analysis (4 units)

  • POLS 503 Budget and Fiscal Administration (2 units)

  • POLS 505 Research Methods (4 units)

  • POLS 539 Program Implementation (4 units)

  • POLS 550 Planning and Evaluation (4 units)

  • POLS 580 Nonprofit Dynamics: Politics and Community Environment (2 units)

Public Management

16 Units

  • POLS 501 – Organizational Theory and Analysis (4 units)

  • POLS 503A – Public Finance (2 units)

  • POLS 504A – Public Personnel Administration (2 units)

  • POLS 506 – Public Policy Process (4 units)

  • POLS 511 – Labor Relations (2 units)

  • POLS 538 – Administrative Law (2-4)

Nonprofit

16 Units

  • POLS 503B – Fiscal Management of Nonprofit Agencies (2 units)

  • POLS 504B – Personnel Administration for Nonprofit Organization (2 units)

  • POLS 581 – Nonprofit Governance and Legal Issues (2 units)

  • POLS 582 – Planning and Nonprofit Agencies (2 units)

  • POLS 583 – Resource Development for Nonprofit Agencies (4 units)

  • POLS 585 – Marketing and Public Relations for Nonprofit Agencies (2 units)

  • POLS 587 – Grant Writing and Administration (2 units)

Electives

4 Units Total, can include:

  • POLS 507 – Ethics in Administration (4 units)

  • POLS 512 – Organizational Development (4 units)

  • POLS 513 – Leadership and Supervision (4 units)

  • POLS 560 – Special Issues in Public Policy (4 units)

  • POLS 588 – Issues in Nonprofit Administration (4 units)

  • POLS 597 – Graduate Internship 1-4 (4 unit(s) Required)

  • POLS 598 – Capstone Project 1-4 (4 unit(s) Required)

  • POLS 599 – Master’s Thesis 2-4 (4 unit(s) Required)

Culminating Experience

All students in the M.P.A. program are required to complete either a thesis, a comprehensive examination, or a capstone project prior to award of the degree. Those opting for a thesis as their culminating experience are required to complete 40 units of coursework, exclusive of prerequisites, and can include 4 units of 

POLS 599

;(Thesis Prep) as an elective. Students electing to take the comprehensive exam must complete 40 units of total coursework exclusive of prerequisites and 

POLS 596

;(Capstone Project) as an elective.