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2020-2021 Academic Catalog [Published Catalog]
Master of Public Administration
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Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is triple accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA); the European Association for Public Administration Accreditation (EAPAA); and the International Commission on the Accreditation of Public Administration Education and Training (ICAPA). The Master of Public Administration is administered by the Department of Public Policy and Administration in the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. The program prepares students for leadership and upper management positions in public service. Students, who are generally mid-career at entry, pursue careers in government, nonprofit organizations, international development agencies, academia, and the private sector.
Program objectives
The mission of the MPA Program is to support effective and efficient administration of government and nonprofit organizations and better public governance in Egypt and the Middle East by preparing professionals for careers in public service with the highest ethical standards, strong competencies in public governance, excellent leadership and communication skills, a sound understanding of the use of evidence and analysis in public service settings, and a commitment to building a better future for the people of Egypt and the region.
Admission
All applicants must satisfy the university’s graduate admission requirements. Candidates for the MPA or DPA are recommended but not required to have two or more years of relevant professional experience.
Courses (33 credit hours)
Students seeking the degree of Master of Public Administration must complete 33 credit hours plus a thesis or 39 credit hours and a comprehensive examination. The program core, required of all students, consists of 6 courses (18 credits). Students must complete a concentration of 5 courses (15 credits). Students may elect either the concentration in Nonprofit Management, Human Resources Management in the Public and Nonprofit Organizations and Public Sector Reform and Innovation. Students are required to declare their concentration before beginning their second semester of enrolment in the program. In addition to coursework, students must complete a thesis, or opt to sit for a comprehensive examination after taking two additional courses. Students who choose to write a thesis, must do so in accordance with department and university guidelines for theses preparation. Additionally, students have the option to complete at least one enrolment in thesis courses (PPAD 5298 or PPAD 5299 , both non-credit).
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Core Requirement (18 credit hours):
Students must complete 6 courses in total under the Core requirements.
Concentration Requirement (15 credit hours):
Students must complete 5 courses in one of the concentrations below. Students may substitute up to two courses for those shown in a concentration with permission of the department.
Concentration One: Nonprofit Management - 5 courses (15 credits) required
Concentration Two: Human Resources Management in the Public and Nonprofit Organizations- 5 courses (15 credits) required
Concentration Three: Public Sector Reform and Innovation - 5 courses (15 credits) required
Internship (PPAD 5198): 3 credits Graded Pass-Fail
Students are strongly encouraged to undertake an internship within their concentration, ideally in conjunction with their thesis work. This course is considered as one of the elective courses (Group 2).
Thesis
Students are required to write a thesis on some aspect of public administration relevant to their concentration. The preparation of the thesis and the thesis itself must comply with Departmental and AUC guidelines with regard to content, format, dates, and the review and supervision process. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with these guidelines and meeting formal deadlines. Students preparing the thesis normally develop a preliminary thesis proposal during PPAD 5201, a required core course, but may prepare an alternative thesis proposal if desired. Once the proposal is approved, students may enrol in PPAD 5298 (optional), the thesis research seminar, in the first semester in which they are working on the research component and write-up of their thesis. Thereafter, if additional work is required to complete the thesis, students can enrol each semester in PPAD 5299 . Students who choose to enrol in PPAD 5298 (optional) and PPAD 5299 must pay 3 credits of tuition for the first enrolment and thereafter pay 1 credit of tuition each semester, until the thesis is successfully defended and approved by the Dean. PPAD 5298 , the thesis research seminar, is optional and is designed to support the applied research required for the thesis and the writing of the thesis itself. Students will be required to read and comment on the work of other students, both orally and in writing, and to present draft thesis chapters.
Non-Thesis Track
Students who do not wish to undertake a thesis can choose to substitute the thesis with two additional PPAD 3 credit courses, with the approval of the program director, and then sit for a comprehensive examination after completing all program course requirements. A comprehensive examination is usually offered in mid-December and mid-April. Students not registered for courses or thesis credit hours and planning to sit for the comprehensive examination in any semester must register for comprehensives (PPAD 5288 ) in that semester and pay tuition equivalent to one graduate credit hour.
Comprehensive examination may be repeated once. A student who fails the comprehensive examination a second time would be dismissed from the degree program after the end of the semester in which the examination was retaken.
Dual Degree Option BSc/CENG-MPA
Students enrolled in the School of Science and Engineering may apply to complete the MPA on an accelerated basis in conjunction with completion of the BSc. in Construction Engineering. At present, this option is open only to students completing the BSc. in Construction Engineering. Students interested in this option should consult with their advisors during the Fall of their fourth year for potential admission to the program in their fifth year. The program is jointly administered by the Department of Public Policy and Administration in the School of Public Affairs and the School of Sciences and Engineering. Admission is based on the recommendation of the student’s SSE advisor and review by the PPAD department. Students who wish to be admitted to this dual degree should have a minimum GPA of 2.75. The program prepares students for careers in the public sphere with the highest ethical standards, strong competencies in environmental analysis and management as well as public governance, excellent leadership and communication skills, a sound understanding of the use of evidence and analysis in public service settings, and a commitment to building a better future for the people of Egypt and the region. Students pursue careers in government, nonprofit organizations, international development agencies, academia, and the private sector.
Students electing the dual degree option usually begin taking graduate courses in their ninth semester and receive both the BSc. and the MPA upon the completion of their coursework and master’s thesis, normally at the end of their 6th year.
Students who seek to register in this dual degree should complete four 400-level CENG-required courses that address issues of management or public administration. Courses will need to be approved by the department prior to registration.
Additionally, students must take at least seven PPAD graduate courses and write a thesis; or take the non-thesis track of two additional courses and a comprehensive examination administered by the Public Policy and Administration Department.
Complete all following five (5) courses:
Group 2: Complete one (1) of the following:
Group 3: Complete one (1) of the following:
Thesis Track
Students are required to write a thesis on some aspect of public administration relevant to their concentration. The preparation of the thesis and the thesis itself must comply with Departmental and AUC guidelines with regard to content, format, dates, and the review and supervision process. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with these guidelines and meeting formal deadlines. Students preparing the thesis normally develop a preliminary thesis proposal during PPAD 5201 , a required core course, but may prepare an alternative thesis proposal if desired. Once the proposal is approved, students may enroll in PPAD 5298 (optional), the thesis research seminar, in the first semester in which they are working on the research component and write-up of their thesis. Thereafter, if additional work is required to complete the thesis, students can enroll each semester in PPAD 5299 . Students who choose to enroll in PPAD 5298 (optional) and PPAD 5299 must pay 3 credits of tuition for the first enrolment and thereafter pay 1 credit of tuition each semester, until the thesis is successfully defended and approved by the Dean. PPAD 5298 , the thesis research seminar, is optional and is designed to support the applied research required for the thesis and the writing of the thesis itself. Students will be required to read and comment on the work of other students, both orally and in writing, and to present draft thesis chapters.
Non-Thesis Track
Students who do not wish to undertake a thesis can choose to substitute the thesis with two additional PPAD 3 credit courses, with the approval of the program director, and then sit for a comprehensive examination after completing all program course requirements. A comprehensive examination is usually offered in mid-December and mid-April. Students not registered for courses or thesis credit hours and planning to sit for the comprehensive examination in any semester must register for comprehensives (PPAD 5288 ) in that semester and pay tuition equivalent to one graduate credit hour.
Comprehensive examination may be repeated once. A student who fails the comprehensive examination a second time would be dismissed from the degree program after the end of the semester in which the examination was retaken.
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