Upon graduation, students within the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree programs at Marxe are expected to obtain knowledge and demonstrate skills associated with the following Program Learning Goals approved by the faculty and fall under five Universal Competencies established by NASPAA.
Competency 1: To lead and manage in public governance
Learning Goal A: Distinguish among, and apply, the concepts of management, leadership and governance in public and nonprofit organizations.
Learning Goal B: Use management and leadership theories to analyze and improve the design and governance of public and nonprofit organizations.
Learning Goal C: Develop recommendations for action by public and nonprofit organizations based on the analysis of their strategic and ethical choices.
Competency 2: To participate in and contribute to the policy process
Learning Goal A: Distinguish and effectively employ the steps in the policy process: problem/goal identification; stakeholder identification and analysis; financing; approval; implementation and evaluation.
Learning Goal B: Identify alternative policy options; assess their potential feasibility and effectiveness; describe how the policy options are expected to affect outcomes (mechanisms).
Competency 3: To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions
Learning Goal A: Analyze, evaluate, and draw valid conclusions from social science research such as policy, applied, or evaluation research.
Learning Goal B: Design social science research such as policy, applied, or evaluation research using qualitative or quantitative methods.
Learning Goal C: Conduct social science research such as policy, applied, or evaluation research.
Learning Goal D: Apply social science or evaluation research findings to public policy questions and decision making situations.
Competency 4: To articulate and apply a public service perspective
Learning Goal A: Understand how to assess and maximize the values of diversity and inclusiveness; equity; integrity and ethical conduct; compassion/empathy; and effectiveness and efficiency in the formulation of public policy and in management/implementation.
Competency 5: To communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry
Learning Goal A: Prepare clear, concise, well-organized, accurate and persuasive written materials that are tailored to an audience’s level of experience and needs.
Learning Goal B: Prepare clear, concise, well-organized, accurate and persuasive oral presentations that are tailored to an audience’s level of experience and needs.
Learning Goal C: Recognize and value the diversity of organizational structures and cultures, as well as organizational complexity, in order to communicate effectively.
