Criminal Justice Concentration

An introduction to the development of the discipline of public administration, the evolution of institutional forms both in the United States and in international settings, concepts of decision-making, ethics in the public sphere, human resource management in the public and non-profit sector and society.

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of public budgeting and financial management. Students will learn the fundamentals of budgeting for government and non-profit organizations. The course will adopt a problem solving approach as students gain an understanding of how to use budgetary information in organizational planning, control, reporting, and analysis.

An introduction to the knowledge and practical skills that public leaders need to strategically deploy human resources in government and non-profit organizations. Topics include managing teams, discrimination and labor law, working with unions, motivating employees, privatization, recruitment, the aging workforce, and performance evaluations. Particular emphasis is given to developing human resources practices that support core organizational mission and objectives.

An overview of the use and leveraging of data in order to allow government and nonprofit organizations to make better decisions and improve operations. Topics to be covered will include the concepts of data management and governance; the latest trends in terms of data-related technologies, tools, and practices; challenges such as privacy and security; and developing data capacity awareness.

This course is an introduction to the theory and practice of public policy as a means to address societal problems.  Topics include: the political, historical, institutional, and legal contexts of public policy; policymaking theories and approaches; how solutions to societal problems are selected and evaluated; and how political polarization impacts public policy.  These concepts are applied through research, analysis, and recommendations on a public policy issue.

While American institutions of all kinds are experiencing declining public trust, public sector entities face particularly strong challenges. Students will learn effective techniques and strategies designed to foster greater trust and engagement with the public.

The capstone course is the culminating experience of the MPA and where students demonstrate mastery of the full range of competencies. During the capstone seminar, students work with a client in a public service or non-profit agency to identify a problem and write a paper to address the problem integrating what they have learned using the knowledge and skills acquired during the program.

This course provides students with the framework for understanding how diversity characterizes and shapes the human experience and is critical to the formation of identity.

This course examines the current problems and issues facing the American criminal justice system. The course explores the role of the courts and correctional system, access to the justice system, controversial policies such as the use of force and discretion, and organizational and legal issues related to decision-making within the criminal justice system.

This course focuses on constitutional and ethical issues as they affect the operation of the criminal justice system. Topics examined include legal issues related to punishment and the ethical responsibilities of criminal justice agents.

This course explores the operation and nature of the American correctional system. The course examines the juvenile justice system as well as the adult correctional system. Theories and philosophies of correctional administration and the conditions that generate delinquent behavior are examined as well as current critical issues such as overcrowding, alternatives to incarceration, and efforts to maintain family cohesion.

The demand for evidence-based practices requires leaders in criminal justice to have the skillset necessary for proper program evaluation. This course allows for that skillset by allowing students the opportunity to think critically about planning and evaluation.