I.
What is changing?
1. The Capstone Comprehensive Examination is being phased out and
being replaced by PAD 871, the new MPA Capstone Seminar. PAD 871
is the replacement for PAD 751 and will require a major project on
a topic selected by the student. Students must complete PAD 715 before
taking this course, and the completion of all required courses is
strongly recommended. No more than two required courses may be outstanding
when registering for PAD 871, and those must be taken concurrently
with PAD 871. Any exception must be made in consultation with the
Program Director.
2. PAD 751 is being phased out and will not appear in the new bulletin
that will be in place as of September 2007.
3. PAD 739 is being revised to combine policy analysis with the political
setting of public administration.
4. PAD 747 and PAD 770 are being revised, changing the emphasis from
computer applications to policy analysis. There is no prerequisite
for PAD 747 and PAD 770. However, basic computer skills and experience
are assumed for both of these courses. Students who need additional
computer skills will be directed by the Program Director to other
places in the College where they may be obtained. PAD 715 is a prerequisite
for PAD 745.
5. In the IG Program, the Organizational Performance Assessment and
Political and Regulatory Oversight Specializations are merged and
a new specialization is created that encompasses what was in both
of them. The new specialization is called Assessment and Monitoring
and reflects the shared focus of the two specializations being replaced.
6. A new IG specialization in International Inspection and
Oversight is created.
7. The Fiscal Policy Analysis and Oversight specialization
is revised to emphasize more content related to accounting
and forensics.
II. When do these changes become effective?
Students who enroll for the first time at the College in Fall
2007 or thereafter must complete the program in the new form.
Students
who enrolled prior to that date and who have consistently maintained
matriculation, may choose the revised form of the MPA Program
OR the version of the program in place at their time of enrollment.
III. Do I still have to take the comps?
The Foundations Comprehensive Examination covering PAD 700,
PAD 702 and PAD 705 is retained and must be completed. Students
are required
to register for these three foundation courses within their
first 15 credits of course work, and to take the examination
no later than
the end of the semester following completion of the three courses.
IV. Do I still have to take the capstone?
If you enroll in September 2007 or thereafter, you do not have
to take the capstone comprehensive exam. You will be required
to take
the MPA Capstone Seminar. If you enrolled in the program prior
to September 2007, you have two choices. If you choose to fulfill
the
requirements that were in place at your time of enrollment,
you must take the Capstone comprehensive exam as well as PAD
739 and 751.
If you choose to take the Capstone Seminar, you do not have
to take the Comprehensive Exam.
V. What if I have already taken PAD 739 and PAD 751?
PAD 739 is still required in the revised MPA program. PAD 751
is no longer required. If you took PAD 751 and would like to
take the
MPA Capstone Seminar in lieu of the Capstone Exam, PAD 751
may be used as an elective course in all specializations.
VI. What happens if I register for both PAD 739 and PAD 751
in the Fall 2007 semester?
You have two choices. You may take the Comprehensive Exam OR
you may use PAD 751 as an elective and take the MPA Capstone
Seminar
either in Fall 2007 or in a later semester.
VII. What if I already took the capstone and failed?
If you have already taken PAD 739 and PAD 751 (as well as PAD
715), you may retake the part(s) of the capstone that you failed.
OR, you
may use PAD 751 as an elective (in any specialization) and
take MPA Capstone Seminar.
VIII. Where can I get more information?
For further clarification of these guidelines, please see Dr.
Marilyn Rubin, Director of the MPA Program, Dr. Ned Benton,
Director of the
MPA-IG Program, or any member of the MPA Program faculty.