Texas Tech University

Public Administration Mission and Objectives

MPA Program Vision Statement:

The Texas Tech University Master of Public Administration Program addresses public service in an integrated manner. We prepare the next generation of public service leaders who administer domestic and international governmental, non-profit, environmental, and healthcare organizations with professional and disciplinary expertise. We prepare public administrators to: (1) practice skillful and evidence-based public service; (2) conduct and communicate program evaluations and policy analyses that inform the diverse fields within public service; and (3) provide interdisciplinary expertise in the service of academic, professional, and community-based public service organizations.

MPA Program Mission Statement:

The Master of Public Administration Program is designed to provide students with the highest quality education in preparation for careers, or advancement of careers, in public, non-profit, environmental, and healthcare organizations. The program stresses the acquisition of academic theory and practical skills to foster an ethical and enduring commitment to the public service values of serving the public interest with accountability and transparency; serving professionally with competence, efficiency, and objectivity; acting ethically to uphold the public trust; and demonstrating respect, equity, and fairness in dealings with the public and fellow workers.

The program provides students with a public service perspective to:

• Lead and manage organizations
• Understand and contribute to public policy
• Critically analyze policies, programs, problems, and issues and make pertinent recommendations
• Communicate effectively in oral and written discourse with a diverse and changing workforce and public 

MPA Core Course Learning Objectives and Areas of Emphasis

Core Courses

Outcome 1: Graduates will demonstrate basic understanding of theories, concepts and practices relevant to public administration and its sub-fields.

Outcome 2: Graduates will have acquired critical thinking and problem solving skills that are applied in the public service realm.

Outcome 3: Graduates will demonstrate the appropriate skills to be able to administer public programs in their chosen subfield of public administration in particular public management, healthcare administration, nonprofit management, and environmental administration.

Outcome 4: Graduates will assess their knowledge and experience of ethics and integrity in public service and reflect on ways to incorporate public service values in administering agencies, policies and programs.

Outcome 5: Graduates will demonstrate proficiency in clear oral and written communication by presenting succinct, well-organized materials and analysis tailored to the needs of their audience.

Areas of Emphasis

Public Management
  1. Students will demonstrate understanding of the environment in which governmental organizations operate.
  2. Students will provide theoretical as well as practical knowledge on management of public organizations, including personnel and financial management that are necessary for public officials.
  3. Students will show capacity to become an ethical and effective leader with appropriate communication skills.
  4. Students will demonstrate understanding of current issues and trends in government administrative settings and provide knowledge on addressing challenges created by those changes.
Healthcare Administration
  1. Students will understand the US healthcare environment and healthcare systems and organizations.
  2. Students will demonstrate appropriate administrative and managerial knowledge and skills required in the healthcare sector.
  3. Students will understand the healthcare policy process and demonstrate the ability to contribute to healthcare policy.
  4. Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate and interact productively with diverse and changing healthcare workforce and patients.
Nonprofit Management
  1. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of how the nonprofit sector relates to society.
  2. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the role of the nonprofit sector in advancing public policy.
  3. Students will be able to demonstrate substantive knowledge in management, finance and leadership unique to the nonprofit sector.
Environmental Policy and Administration
  1. Students will demonstrate understanding of environmental-based theories, concepts, science, laws, and regulations that guide natural resource agencies and organizations.
  2. Students will demonstrate critical analytical proficiency and skillful application of environmental science and principles of sustainability.
  3. Students will demonstrate practical knowledge and understanding of varied research methods and models that contribute to the environmental policymaking process.
  4. Students will demonstrate expertise and proficiency in communicating and interacting productively across academic disciplines, private and public organizations, and diverse public audiences regarding contemporary issues of environmental importance.