MPA Curriculum

MPA Curriculum (36 Credits)

The MPA curriculum consists of 27 hours of core classes and 9 hours of elective classes required for a total of 36 credits. There are four professional emphases: general public administration, health agency administration, nonprofit management and leadership, and fire and emergency administration and management. Students must select one of the three emphases to fulfill the 9 hours of elective courses.

  • Core Courses (27 credits)
  • Professional Emphasis Elective Courses (9 credits)
MPA Core Courses (27 credits)

MPA students must complete nine core courses. With a strong foundation in academic theory and applied research, students will learn the tools of visionary, results-based leadership and effective management.

MPA 711 | 3 credits
Introduction to Public Administration
The purpose of this course is to explore the fundamental theories, practices and concepts that contribute to the field of public administration. Students will become familiar with the four pillars of the field: efficiency, effectiveness, economy, and equity. The course has five primary goals: review the heritage of political and managerial values that affect the theory and practice of public administration in the United States; explore of the development of major administrative systems and processes of government; examine major issues facing public administrators; enable students to practice critical analysis of administrative approaches to public service delivery; and consider new forms of administrative practices that have received increasing emphasis in recent years, or are receiving attention today.
MPA 715 | 3 credits
Leadership and Ethics
The goal of this course is to provide a basic introduction to leadership by focusing on what it means to be an effective and ethical leader in diverse public and nonprofit organizations. The course will challenge the students to examine topics, such as the nature of leadership, effective leadership traits, important leadership skills and styles, managing complex ethical issues, and the values and ethics in leadership. Students will also be introduced to concepts, metrics and tools that will augment their self-leadership and enable them to study leadership practices in organizations. The course will allow students to challenge the ‘conventional wisdom’ of current leadership thought through academic and experiential research and help them appreciate both the science and art involved in leadership.
MPA 721 | 3 credits
Public Policy Analysis
This course introduces students to the study and application of public policy analysis. Students will become familiar with basic theories of the policy process and the practice of conducting policy analysis. Although the term policy analysis covers a wide range of activities and perspectives, its essence involves the development, design and assessment of public policies. A good policy analyst should be able to function as a generalist; thus, the objective of the course is to help prepare students to offer evidence-based recommendations to decision-makers on a wide range of issues. Students will learn practical policy analysis skills, how to conduct policy work in a group setting, writing styles applicable to policy research, and presentation and oral communication skills.
MPA 723 | 3 credits
Organization Theory and Practice
The purpose of the course is to help students understand organizations to take effective action in them. The course focuses on four major views of organizations (frames) that comprehend much of the existing theory and research on organizations and human behavior: a structural frame, a human resource frame, a symbolic frame, and a political frame. Students will not only learn to use each frame as a diagnostic tool, but they will also be challenged to integrate frames simultaneously for a more holistic analysis of organizational and behavioral issues in a variety of public and nonprofit organizations. The course will also enable students to challenge the ‘conventional wisdom’ of organization and behavioral theories through academic and experiential research.
MPA 732 | 3 Credits
Analytic Methods in Public Administration
This course is designed to familiarize students with the collection and analysis of data for public administration purposes. The intent of the course is to provide students with an opportunity to define, conceptualize, design, and implement research projects relating to issues of current public interest. Students will be exposed to each phase in the research design process, including specification of a research question, theory-based data analysis, literature review, methodology, discussion of results and conclusion.
MPA 734 | 3 Credits
Applied Economics for Public Administration
This course applies an economic lens to evaluate the role of government and issues of public policy; in particular, public finance. This course addresses economic analysis in public administration by introducing basic concepts and conceptualizations of the world. The intent is to expose public administration students to microeconomic concepts commonly utilized in the analysis of public policy issues. Particular attention is given to the application of microeconomic concepts, such as market failures, public goods, redistribution, tax incidence, and fiscal federalism. Students will examine these concepts while becoming familiar with practical assessment techniques such as cost-benefit analysis.
MPA 742 | 3 Credits
Human Resource Management in the Public Sector
This course is designed to acquaint the student with human resources management in the public and nonprofit organizations. It provides students with an understanding of the legal and diversity aspects of human resources management, as well as examines the role of contemporary societal issues and trends that influence human resources management practices. The course also covers major human resources management methods and functions, including recruitment and selection, job analysis, performance management, compensation and benefits, training and career development, and labor management relations. These topics are discussed from their technical and value-oriented perspectives. The course enables students to challenge the ‘conventional wisdom’ of human resources management theories and practices through academic and experiential research.
MPA 752 | 3 Credits
Public Budgeting and Financial Management
This course is an introduction to public and nonprofit budgeting systems and principles and practices of financing with an emphasis on state and local governments. The emphasis is on budget formulation, design, techniques and evaluation. The primary goal is get students comfortable with examining and evaluating public budget documents and financial statements. This will be done by acknowledging and examining the political context surrounding public and nonprofit budgeting, different accounting methodologies, budget design, fiscal condition evaluation and exposure to finance theory.
MPA 780 | 3 credits
Capstone Experience
The Capstone Experience is a culminating experience where students are expected to conduct an analytical research project designed to demonstrate knowledge and skills gained in the core MPA courses. The project must produce either a solution to a public management question, a policy problem or applied academic research question. Other forms of professional inquiry and analysis may be acceptable if approved by the instructor. Through the Capstone, students are expected to not only demonstrate administrative competences, but also key Program learning outcomes such as the ability to analyze, think critically, evaluate, solve problems and make decisions in the public interest; demonstrate proficiency in oral and written expression; and demonstrate research skills through a selected method of inquiry. Pass/fail staring Fall 2013.
or MPA 790 | 3 credits
Field Project
Field study of a specific professional problem of interest to the student, culminating in the preparation of an appropriate summary document. The field project may take several forms, such as an analysis of a current policy issue, a bibliographic essay, a complex grant proposal or a program evaluation. All projects should exhibit an understanding of public administration from both theoretical and applied perspectives, an ability to analyze problems and formulate policy alternatives and an ability to demonstrate these capabilities through the preparation of a significant written document. Pass/fail course.
or MPA 792 | 3 credits
Thesis
The purpose of MPA 792 Thesis is to give students experience conducting the kind of inquiry that will be useful in their professional or future academic career. Because professional goals differ, each thesis will have its own character. Some students may wish to conduct an original research project while others may want to conduct an evaluation of a policy or program that exists in their current workplace. The thesis project may be especially the right choice for those who would like to pursue an advanced academic degree. Pass/fail.
NOTE: Students need to have a department consent before they can register in MPA 780 Capstone Seminar. Please contact the instructor teaching the course to get information about the course and to get permission to register in the class.
 
Please contact the Department Chair, Dr. Michael Ford, for more information regarding MPA 790 and MPA 792 culminating experience options at fordm@uwosh.edu or (920) 424-2030.
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General Public Administration Emphasis

When applying, MPA students must select one of four emphases to complete the MPA program: General Public Administration Emphasis or Health Agency Administration Emphasis, Nonprofit Management and Leadership, or Fire and Emergency Administration and Management Emphasis.

Professional Emphasis (9 credits)

The general public administration emphasis enhances the capacity of students to administer diverse public service organizations, including state and local government institutions. Students must select 3 courses (9 credits) from the following list of elective MPA courses: 

MPA 718 | 3 credits
Revisiting Bureaucracy
Organizations, whether they be public bureaucracies or private firms, are the fundamental building blocks for public administration and, indeed, of much of contemporary industry and post-industrial society. To understand how public administration as a discipline has evolved is to understand how the study of public organizations has evolved. This is particularly the case at a time when there are major efforts to “reinvent” or “re-engineer” government.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 726 | 3 credits
State and Local Government
This course exposes students to contemporary issues in Wisconsin with a focus on the relationship between state and local government. The first half of the course gives students a foundation in theories of intergovernmental relations and urban policy, while the second half of the course explores K-12 education, health care, higher education, economic development, and collective bargaining policies in Wisconsin.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 727 | 3 credits
Municipal Management
Management functions in cities, villages and towns; organization and operation of municipal services with emphasis on planning, protective services, economic development, public works, finance and other selected services; relationship between managers, elected officials and citizens; intergovernmental relations; productivity.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 723 or Instructor Consent.
MPA 729 | 3 credits
Health Care Organization and Management
This course focuses on health care management in a wide variety of healthcare settings, from hospitals to nursing homes and clinics. It uses the functions of management as the primary framework: planning, organizing, staffing, influencing and controlling. The course also integrates a variety of organization theory and behavioral concepts in the conceptual framework of managing. Students will be acquainted with a variety of analytical and decision-making tools and techniques that they can use in their daily management practice.

Prerequisites: MPA 723 or Consent of Instructor

*Not valid for students who take the Health Care Graduate Certificate.
MPA 730 | 3 credits
Privatization and Public-Nonprofit Partnerships
The purpose of this course is to expose the student to the background, theories, complexities and results of the use of private entities to administer programs traditionally associated with the public sector, including waste management, welfare, and education. Particular emphasis will be placed on the often-competing goals of fiscal austerity and program effectiveness.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor.
MPA 738 | 3 credits
Intergovernmental Management
The course will explore debates over federalism, and issues/challenges for management and policy. This course will examine the constitutional origins of federalism in the United States, the evolution of federalism over time, the role of state and local governments in the federal system, competition and cooperation among sub-national governments, intergovernmetal relations and public finance, and global federalism. Emphasis will be placed on the student's analysis and application of intergovernmental management concepts in the context of American public policy and administration.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 743 | 3 credits
Grant Writing for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (NEW!)
Public and nonprofit sector agencies rely on grant monies to financially support programs and are always in need of enthusiastic grant writers who can use their specialized knowledge and skills to promote fund development. This course is designed to introduce the student to the grant proposal process, including searching for funding, grant writing steps, and the role that creativity and relationship building has in successful grant seeking. Students will get hands-on experience in preparing an actual grant proposal during the semester in partnership with an agency of their choice.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 744 | 3 credits
Nonprofit Management and Leadership
This course examines the role of the nonprofit sector in the United States, and identifies the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics that managers working in it need to process.

The course is particularly recommended for students who work in nonprofit organizations.
MPA 747 | 3 credits
Labor Management Relations in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
This course focuses on employment relations among employers, employees, and governments, including school districts, in the public and nonprofit sectors, with particular attention to labor unions and collective bargaining practices. Prerequisite: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor.

Prerequisites:
MPA 750 | 3 credits
Strategic Planning in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
The course focuses on the dynamics of strategic planning. It introduces the concept of strategic planning and why such planning is important for governments, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, health care organizations, and communities. It presents conceptual models that guide strategic planning and connect it to strategic thinking, implementation, and evaluation. Students will become acquainted with a variety of practical strategic thinking maps, tools and techniques for conducting an organization direction and situation analyses, for formulating and evaluating strategic alternatives, and for developing and evaluating implementation strategies, and how these are translated into action plans.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 732 or Instructor Consent.
MPA 751 | 3 credits
Program Evaluation
This course is designed to achieve four primary learning objectives: (1) to develop proficiency with processes and methods associated with evaluation research; (2) to become familiar with major evaluation models, involving needs assessments, process studies, case studies, and impact analysis; (3) to acquire a more sophisticated understanding of the role of evaluation research in public and nonprofit agencies; and (4) to apply the major theories, concepts and methods in conducting a program evaluation. Students will become familiar with the steps necessary in planning and designing useful evaluations, practical data collection procedures, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and best practices for using evaluation studies in public and nonprofit settings.

Prerequisites: MPA 732 or Instructor Consent.
MPA 755 | 3 credits
Managing Economic Development
The purpose of the course is to provide an exposure to economic development in a community and insight on programs and assistance for the management of the growth. It addresses the resources and programs that are available locally and statewide to assist in the attraction, recruitment, and retention efforts necessary to increase the tax base of a community, an effort necessary in these days of waning shared revenue. It explores the components of what makes a sound economic development strategy in a community including financial incentives, tax policies, non-financial incentives, business retention strategies, and technology related factors.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 760 | 3 credits
Administrative Law
Basic principles of administrative law, introduction to Federal and State Administrative Procedure Acts, role of law in the politico-administrative system. Survey of equal opportunity/affirmative action for administrators.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 762 | 3 credits
Health Care Administration Law
This course presents a comprehensive and illustrative overview of legal and ethical issues facing the health care industry. Students will learn how to identify situations that raise potential legal issues and how to avoid or minimize the risk of liability. Among the topics covered in the course are professional negligence and intentional torts, liability of healthcare organizations, consent for treatment and withholding consent, emergency care, medical staff appointments and privileges, protecting the privacy of medical information, anti-trust laws, and legal issues in managed care.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 773 | 3 credits
Health Care Policy
This course introduces students to the health care policy environment, the health care policy actors, and the economics underlying the issues and politics of health care. It examines various factors that have shaped health care policy over time in achieving the goals of accessibility, equity, quality, cost containment, and efficient provision and use of health care services. Students will be engaged in the discussion of a variety of critical, contemporary policy issues such as health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, the increase of medical expenditures, the malpractice crisis, the evolution of managed care, and comparison of other nations’ healthcare systems.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 795 | 3 credits
Internship
The purpose of the public administration internship is to give students real-world experience in the public, nonprofit, or health care organizations.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 796 | 1-3 credits
Independent Study
Each registration with a maximum accumulation of 6 cr. Directed reading and written reports in areas not covered by current course offerings. Open to MPA students only. Independent Study/Related Readings form must be filed at the time of registration.
MPA 797 | 3 credits
Seminar in Current Topics
Current topics in one area of public administration are offered. Course content is expected to vary offering to offering.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor

Health Agency Administration Emphasis

The health agency administration emphasis enhances the capacity of students to lead diverse types of health care organizations, including primary providers of health services (hospitals, long-term care facilities, state public health departments, etc.), secondary providers of resources (government, insurance companies, pharmaceutical and medical supply companies) and organizations that regulate or represent primary and secondary providers. 

Health Agency Administration Emphasis Required Courses (9 credits)

Students must take the following 3 courses (9 credits)

MPA 729 | 3 credits
Health Care Organization and Management
This course focuses on health care management in a wide variety of healthcare settings, from hospitals to nursing homes and clinics. It uses the functions of management as the primary framework: planning, organizing, staffing, influencing and controlling. The course also integrates a variety of organization theory and behavioral concepts in the conceptual framework of managing. Students will be acquainted with a variety of analytical and decision-making tools and techniques that they can use in their daily management practice.

Prerequisites: MPA 723 or Consent of Instructor

*Not valid for students who take the Health Care Graduate Certificate.

MPA 762 | 3 Credits
Health Care Administration Law
This course presents a comprehensive and illustrative overview of legal and ethical issues facing the health care industry. Students will learn how to identify situations that raise potential legal issues and how to avoid or minimize the risk of liability. Among the topics covered in the course are professional negligence and intentional torts, liability of healthcare organizations, consent for treatment and withholding consent, emergency care, medical staff appointments and privileges, protecting the privacy of medical information, anti-trust laws, and legal issues in managed care.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor


MPA 773 | 3 Credits
Health Care Policy
This course introduces students to the health care policy environment, the health care policy actors, and the economics underlying the issues and politics of health care. It examines various factors that have shaped health care policy over time in achieving the goals of accessibility, equity, quality, cost containment, and efficient provision and use of health care services. Students will be engaged in the discussion of a variety of critical, contemporary policy issues such as health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, the increase of medical expenditures, the malpractice crisis, the evolution of managed care, and comparison of other nations’ healthcare systems.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor

Nonprofit Management and Leadership Emphasis

The nonprofit management and leadership emphasis enhances the capacity of students to administer diverse types of nonprofit organizations including public and private charities, beneficiary societies and organizations, cooperatives, and others. 

Nonprofit Management and Leadership Emphasis (6 credits)

Students must take a required 3-credit course and select two elective courses (6 credits):

Required Courses | 3 Credits:
MPA 744 | 3 credits
Nonprofit Management and Leadership
This course examines the role of the nonprofit sector in the United States, and identifies the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics that managers working in it need to process.
The course is particularly recommended for students who work in nonprofit organizations.
Elective Courses | 6 Credits:
MPA 730 | 3 credits
Privatization and Public-Nonprofit Partnerships
The purpose of this course is to expose the student to the background, theories, complexities and results of the use of private entities to administer programs traditionally associated with the public sector, including waste management, welfare, and education. Particular emphasis will be placed on the often-competing goals of fiscal austerity and program effectiveness.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor.
MPA 743 | 3 credits
Grant Writing for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (NEW!)
Public and nonprofit sector agencies rely on grant monies to financially support programs and are always in need of enthusiastic grant writers who can use their specialized knowledge and skills to promote fund development. This course is designed to introduce the student to the grant proposal process, including searching for funding, grant writing steps, and the role that creativity and relationship building has in successful grant seeking. Students will get hands-on experience in preparing an actual grant proposal during the semester in partnership with an agency of their choice.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 750 | 3 credits
Strategic Planning in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
The course focuses on the dynamics of strategic planning. It introduces the concept of strategic planning and why such planning is important for governments, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, health care organizations, and communities. It presents conceptual models that guide strategic planning and connect it to strategic thinking, implementation, and evaluation. Students will become acquainted with a variety of practical strategic thinking maps, tools and techniques for conducting an organization direction and situation analyses, for formulating and evaluating strategic alternatives, and for developing and evaluating implementation strategies, and how these are translated into action plans.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 732 or Instructor Consent.
MPA 751 | 3 credits
Program Evaluation
This course is designed to achieve four primary learning objectives: (1) to develop proficiency with processes and methods associated with evaluation research; (2) to become familiar with major evaluation models, involving needs assessments, process studies, case studies, and impact analysis; (3) to acquire a more sophisticated understanding of the role of evaluation research in public and nonprofit agencies; and (4) to apply the major theories, concepts and methods in conducting a program evaluation. Students will become familiar with the steps necessary in planning and designing useful evaluations, practical data collection procedures, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and best practices for using evaluation studies in public and nonprofit settings.

Prerequisites: MPA 732 or Instructor Consent.
MPA 796 | 1-3 credits
Independent Study
Each registration with a maximum accumulation of 6 cr. Directed reading and written reports in areas not covered by current course offerings. Open to MPA students only. Independent Study/Related Readings form must be filed at the time of registration.
MPA 797 | 3 credits
Seminar in Current Topics
Current topics in one area of public administration are offered. Course content is expected to vary offering to offering.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor

Fire and Emergency Administration and Management Emphasis

MPA with FEAM Emphasis Receives Initial Accreditation from IFSAC

The UW Oshkosh Master of Public Administration (MPA) program with a Fire and Emergency Administration and Management (FEAM) emphasis received accreditation from the Degree Assembly Board of Governors of the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) for the first time. The accreditation is in place for five years.

The Fire and Emergency Administration and Management (FEAM) emphasis enhances the capacity of students to effectively lead and manage fire and emergency service organizations.

The Degree Assembly Board of Governors of the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress voted on June 9, 2020, to accredit MPA with FEAM at the UW Oshkosh. This initial accreditation for the MPA with FEAM emphasis is for a period of 5 years.

Effective December 9, 2019, the PA Department has approved the transfer of up to 9 credits towards the MPA FEAM emphasis from the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy for students who have taken graduate courses in that institution. Please contact the department chair, Dr. Filipova, at filipova@uwosh.edu for  more information.

Fire and Emergency Administration and Management Emphasis

MPA students must complete nine core courses. With a strong foundation in academic theory and applied research, students will learn the tools of visionary, results-based leadership and effective management.

Required Courses | 3 credits
MPA 764 | 3 credits
Fire and Emergency Services Administration
This course is designed to build upon the experiential knowledge of the firefighter who is seeking to become a member of the executive management or administration. The course demonstrates the importance of the knowledge and skills necessary to manage and lead a fire and emergency services department through the challenges and changes of the 21st century. Topics covered will include the responsibilities and role of the executive team, accountable budgeting, anticipation of future changes and challenges, and specific management tools for analyzing and solving problems.
Elective Courses | 6 credits
MPA 765 | 3 credits
Supervisory Skills for Fire and Emergency Personnel
In this course, students will learn about the skills necessary to supervise other staff and how to handle various situations (personnel, scheduling, communication, fiscal management, etc.). The course will focus on what administration is, how to lead change, defining customer service, ethics, government regulations and the public policy analysis skills needed when you are in a position of leadership or supervision.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 766 | 3 credits
Multicultural and Diversity Strategy for the Fire Service
In this course, students will discuss and learn about multicultural and diversity strategies that today's fire and emergency services use. Students will explore and define race, culture, and ethnicity, and how they shape fire and emergency services now and in the future. Questions to be addressed include: "How do race, culture, and ethnicity shape my department and community? What training is needed to understand and bridge cultural differences? How does one understand and communicate cultural practices of diverse groups and approach specific cultures when handling a fire and emergency situation?"

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 767 | 3 credits
Crisis Management and Leadership
This course will introduce students to the process of crisis management, including reviewing the stages of crisis management and developing the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively handle organizational crisis and prepare for the future. The course will include the review of case studies, lessons learned from each crisis, and management strategies adopted in each crisis.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 768 | 3 credits
Strategic Planning for Fire Departments
This course will assist students in developing, reviewing, and/or revising a strategic plan. The components needed in a strategic plan will be reviewed as well as how to lay the foundation for organizational success. This will include reviewing present and future strategic plans and recommendations and how to close the "developmental gap."

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 726 | 3 credits
State and Local Government
This course exposes students to contemporary issues in Wisconsin with a focus on the relationship between state and local government. The first half of the course gives students a foundation in theories of intergovernmental relations and urban policy, while the second half of the course explores K-12 education, health care, higher education, economic development, and collective bargaining policies in Wisconsin.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 727 | 3 credits
Municipal Management
Management functions in cities, villages and towns; organization and operation of municipal services with emphasis on planning, protective services, economic development, public works, finance and other selected services; relationship between managers, elected officials and citizens; intergovernmental relations; productivity.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 723 or Instructor Consent.
MPA 738 | 3 credits
Intergovernmental Management
The course will explore debates over federalism, and issues/challenges for management and policy. This course will examine the constitutional origins of federalism in the United States, the evolution of federalism over time, the role of state and local governments in the federal system, competition and cooperation among sub-national governments, intergovernmetal relations and public finance, and global federalism. Emphasis will be placed on the student's analysis and application of intergovernmental management concepts in the context of American public policy and administration.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
MPA 729 | 3 credits
Health Care Organization and Management
This course focuses on health care management in a wide variety of healthcare settings, from hospitals to nursing homes and clinics. It uses the functions of management as the primary framework: planning, organizing, staffing, influencing and controlling. The course also integrates a variety of organization theory and behavioral concepts in the conceptual framework of managing. Students will be acquainted with a variety of analytical and decision-making tools and techniques that they can use in their daily management practice.

Prerequisites: MPA 723 or Consent of Instructor

*Not valid for students who take the Health Care Graduate Certificate.
MPA 762 | 3 credits
Health Care Administration Law
This course presents a comprehensive and illustrative overview of legal and ethical issues facing the health care industry. Students will learn how to identify situations that raise potential legal issues and how to avoid or minimize the risk of liability. Among the topics covered in the course are professional negligence and intentional torts, liability of healthcare organizations, consent for treatment and withholding consent, emergency care, medical staff appointments and privileges, protecting the privacy of medical information, anti-trust laws, and legal issues in managed care.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor

MPA 773 | 3 credits
Health Care Policy
This course introduces students to the health care policy environment, the health care policy actors, and the economics underlying the issues and politics of health care. It examines various factors that have shaped health care policy over time in achieving the goals of accessibility, equity, quality, cost containment, and efficient provision and use of health care services. Students will be engaged in the discussion of a variety of critical, contemporary policy issues such as health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, the increase of medical expenditures, the malpractice crisis, the evolution of managed care, and comparison of other nations’ healthcare systems.

Prerequisites: Master of Public Administration 711 or consent of instructor
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Elective Courses from Other UW Oshkosh Programs

The following courses from other UW Oshkosh graduate programs can also be considered as elective courses toward the MPA program degree, only if applicable to students’ professional careers and only with the department chair’s consent. The prerequisite courses for these courses do not count towards the MPA degree.

Elective Courses
Geography 
  • GEOG 540 Mapping and Visualization (prerequisite: GEOG 240 or 241) (3 credits)
  • GEOG 541 Spacial Analysis in GIS (prerequisite: GEOG 241 or 540) (3 credits)
  • GEOG 641 Advanced GIS (prerequisite: GEOG 541)(3 credits)
 
Economics
  • ECON 704 Managerial Economics (1.5 credits)

 

Business Administration

  • BUS 700 Financial Reporting for Executives (1.5 credits)
  • BUS 762 Organizational Reward Systems (1.5 credits) 
  • BUS 763 Employee Relations (1.5 credits)
 
Nursing
  • Nursing 701 Translational Scholarship (3 credits)
  • Nursing 702 Health Care Systems Policy and Advocacy (3 credits)
 
Education and Human Services
  • EDL 730 Leadership in Educational Systems (3 credits)
  • EDL 729 Dialogues in Social Justice (3 credits)
 

 

Public Administration

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Oshkosh, WI 54901

 

 

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Contact Us

Phone: (920) 424-2030
Program Coordinator:
Dr. Michael Ford | fordm@uwosh.edu
Hours: 7:30am - 3:30pm