The OE-MPA introduces students to the fundamental elements of public policy and administration. These elements include disciplinary knowledge of public policy and administration, public service, and technology learning and applications. Our emphasis on applied learning teaches students to think critically and creatively, while engaged in problem solving activities that address both real and theoretical situations. The OE-MPA requires 70 units and may be completed in two years. The curriculum consists of 11 seminars (5 units each), a summer practicum (10 units), four public management skill workshops (1 unit each), and the portfolio (1 unit).

Seminars are scheduled two per quarter during the academic year. Regular face-to-face class meetings are held at monthly weekend residencies at the Athens campus, with the remainder of the coursework completed on-line. At the residencies, seminar meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and 9:00 am Sunday. Guest speakers from the public sector will be invited to join us for lunch on occasional Saturdays. Students beginning the program in January 2007 follow the following sequence:

Some of the first-year residencies will feature one-day skill workshops. The four workshops (POLS 594 A-D) cover diverse topics ranging from academic writing to project management.

The Summer Practicum involves students in a ten-week, intensive quality improvement project either at their own workplaces or at internship placements. Students will draw on skills learned during the project management workshop to plan and manage their projects and will apply theories and tools acquired during the coursework to the design and implementation of the practicum. They will document their project in a final report due at the end of the program of study.

The culminating experience requires students to complete a writing portfolio of superior quality. Materials for the portfolio are assembled throughout the student's period of graduate study in consultation with their advisors and individual faculty members for who they do course work. The completed portfolio is reviewed by a faculty committee. The portfolio is designed to accomplish several purposes for the student. First, it indicates students are capable of Master's level research and writing. Second, it indicates mastery of important professional skills (e.g., quantitative analysis or strategic management). Third the portfolio should demonstrate students' professional growth and development over the span of the MPA program.