Graduate Programs

Master of Public Administration: Public Policy and Administration

The online Master of Public Administration: Public Policy and Administration program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice is designed to prepare students for positions in government and non-profit organizations committed to public service and social change. The program offers students the opportunity to acquire professional and political knowledge and skills based on academic instruction and study, public service experience and partnership with faculty in scholarly endeavors. 

Values of diversity, equity, integrity and transparency are the core of this curriculum. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), this 42 credit program offers specializations in several key areas of this study: 

  • Criminal Justice Policy and Administration
  • Emergency Management
  • Human Resources Management
  • Management and Operations

 

Learn more about our specialized curriculum, or apply today!

Curriculum

The online Master of Public Administration: Public Policy and Administration program can be completed in two years of study, three years or more. Students enrolled in the Master of Public Administration Program in Public Policy and Administration are required to complete 42 course credits.  Students are also required to pass the MPA qualifying examination, which is administered as a part of PAD 700.  Complete information about the MPAQE is found at the MPA section of the John Jay College website.  Students are advised to complete PAD 700 and the two other core foundation courses PAD 702 and PAD 705 within the first 15 credits of matriculation.  Note: Specializations also include required courses. Each specialization is listed below with required courses highlighted.

Curriculum Courses


REQUIRED COURSES (21 CREDITS)
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PAD 700 Public Administration
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PAD 702 Human Resources Management
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PAD 704 Economic Principles for Public Administration
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PAD 705 Organization Theory and Management
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PAD 739 Policy Analysis
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PAD 743 Public Sector Financial Management
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PAD 771 MPA Capstone Seminar

Students who have completed three courses in economics with a grade of B or better at the undergraduate or graduate level may request a waiver of PAD 704 from the program director. 
A course cannot be used to satisfy both a core course requirement and a specialization requirement.


REQUIRED COURSES (6 CREDITS)
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PAD 715 Research Methods in Public Administration
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PAD Quantitative Methods and Information Management
Course Description
Students have the option to choose from the following courses to meet this requirement:

PAD 713 Management of Information and Technology
PAD 745 Program Development and Evaluation
PAD 747 Computer Applications in Public Policy Management
PAD 770 Cases and Techniques in Quantitative Policy Analysis

There is no prerequisite for PAD 747, or PAD 713.  However, computer skills and experience are assumed for all of these courses.  Students who need additional computer skills will be directed by the program director to other places in the College where skills may be obtained.  PAD 715 is a prerequisite for PAD 745 and PAD 770. Students with 12 undergraduate credits in computer courses may request a waiver of the Quantitative Methods and Information Management requirement.

A student may not use a course completed to fulfill this section to satisfy requirements in specialization and elective courses.


SPECIALIZATION: CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION
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PAD 730 Policy Analysis in Criminal Justice
Course Description
Offers an introduction to policy analysis and criminal justice planning. Explains how to assess proposals intended to solve problems encountered in policing, adjudication and corrections.
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PAD 719 Delivery Systems in Justice and Urban-Service System
Course Description
Explores how various criminal justice and other urban services are administered and delivered through partnerships between public agencies, the voluntary sector (nonprofits and cooperative associations) and private for-profit companies and individuals. The course examines the government contracting process for criminal justice and urban services and funding, legal accountability and stake-holder issues to be considered by public managers when delivering public services through inter-governmental agreements and public- private partnerships.
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CRJ 728 Problems in Contemporary Corrections
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CRJ 736 Seminar in Civial Rights and Civil Liberties
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CRJ 756 Problems in Police Administration
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CRJ 757 The Police and the Community
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CRJ 750/PAD 750 Security of Information and Technology
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PMT 711 Introduction to Emergency Management
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PMT 781 Risk Analysis and Loss Prevention
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PAD 726 The Politics and Process of Outsourcing
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PAD 745 Program Development and Evaluation
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PAD 758 Ethics, Integrity, and Accountability
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PAD 760 Court Administration
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PAD 770 Cases and Techniques in Quantitative Policy Analysis

Note: Highlighted courses are required courses for the specialization

This specialization prepares students for responsibilities involving policy making and administration in criminal justice agencies. Additional materials on the specialization are available from the specialization coordinator. Two additional courses are to be selected from the above list or from any of the specialization courses in the MPA-PPA program, or the MPA - Inspection and Oversight program.


SPECIALIZATION: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Course Name
PMT 711 Introduction to Emergency Management
Course Description
Examines the theory and practice of strategic and operational planning for emergency response. Reviews the principles associated with evaluation of risk and the formulation of prevention programs. Identifies the issues and policy responses necessary to achieve coordination of agencies and collaboration with appropriate private resources. Cases and scenarios will be examined to apply these concepts in practice.
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PMT 763 Emergency Management: Preparedness and Response
Course Description
The course focuses on the concepts, doctrine, and practice of emergency preparedness from a community and governmental perspective. Topics will include: the intergovernmental nature of emergency preparedness and the increased recognition of linkages between phases of emergency management and the public and private sectors; Federal doctrine on inclusive planning efforts and challenges of community preparation; fundamental principles and emerging policy guidance from the federal government; and the design, conduct and evaluation of emergency response exercises.
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PMT 760 Emergency Management: Mitigation and Recovery
Course Description
This course is an investigation of existing organizations and evolving organizations and their initiatives to improve disaster mitigation and recovery in the public and private sectors. This course examines the role of international and national organizations in accomplishing disaster mitigation and recovery operations. Review of case studies of emergency management mitigation and recovery to reveal successes and lessons for future events are undertaken. The course will also describe presidential disaster declarations from a U.S. perspective and discuss examples of losses avoided through community mitigation efforts. Impacts of recovery regimes will also be explored at the organizational and community level.
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PMT 761 Technology in Emergency Management
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PMT 762 Business Continuity Planning
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PMT 781 Risk Analysis and Loss Prevention
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PAD 726 The Politics and Process of Outsourcing
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PAD 758 Ethics, Integrity, and Accountability
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PMT 703 Analysis of Building and Fire Codes
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PMT 712 Fire Detection and Protection Systems
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PMT 751 Contemporary Fire Protection Issues

This specialization prepares students for careers in emergency management. The specialization is designed to emphasize technology and business continuity planning, building design issues, and terrorism. The specialization has three required courses.


SPECIALIZATION: HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
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PAD 703 Techniques and Tools of Human Resources Administration
Course Description
Surveys the relationship between worker productivity and personnel/management/labor relations policies in the public sector. Examines the workplace application of theories of human resource management. Relates the impact of different human resource management plans on innovation, productivity and labor relations in the workplace. Studies the role administrative leadership plays in building an effective and satisfied workforce.
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PAD 707 Managing People: A Human Resources Perspective
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Examines current issues and problems in public sector human resources management. Draws from an agenda that includes: civil service systems and alternatives, equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, public employee organizations, comparable-worth and other job analyses, pensions and fringe-benefits, career-ladders, mentoring, the validity of performance evaluation and entrance examinations. Permits an in-depth examination of selected issues introduced in the required Human Resources Management course.
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PAD 708 Human Resources and Labor in the Public Sector
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PAD 710 The Ethical and Legal Environment of Public Employment
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PAD 723 Assessments, Audits, and Investigations in Human Resources
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PAD 726 The Politics and Process of Outsourcing

This specialization prepares students to assume supervisory and administrative responsibilities involving personnel management. The specialization has to required courses.


SPECIALIZATION: MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS
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PAD 712 Management Systems and Techniques in the Public Sector
Course Description
Surveys the application of systems analysis to the management of organizations. Addresses systems theory, information theory, network analysis and cost-benefit analysis. Examines the principles of information collection, utilization and management. Details the development and maintenance of management information systems. Introduces critical path method, project management, forecasting and budgeting as techniques of decision making, planning and control.
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PAD 714 Organizational Performance Assessment
Course Description
Examines the concept of productivity and its application in the management and evaluation of public organizations. Addresses work-process analysis, input and output measurement, improved worker skills and motivation, and management innovation as avenues to improved productivity. Views the role of productivity in labor-management relations, and considers how productivity goals relate to other societal goals.
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PAD 713 Managment of Informantion and Technology
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PAD 716 Cases in Productive Public Management
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PAD 718 Internatinal Public Policy and Administration
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PAD 719 Delivery Systems in Justice and Urban Services
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PAD 726 The Politics and Process of Outsourcing
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PAD 745 Program Development and Evaluation
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PAD 746 Comparative Administration
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PAD 748 Project Management
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PAD 758 Ethics, Integrity, and Accountability
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PAD 770 Cases and Techniques in Quantitative Policy Analysis

This specialization prepares students to assume supervisory and managerial responsibilities in operational services. Additional materials for this specialization are available from the specialization coordinator.

Specializations

Students should declare their specialization upon the completion of 12 credits. Except where otherwise noted, students must complete three courses listed under a specialization and two elective courses selected from courses in their particular specialization or from courses in other specializations in the MPA - Public Policy program and the MPA - Inspection and Oversight program, or as approved by the program director. PAD 780 (Internship), PAD 755 (Writing for Management), and PAD 800 - level courses can also be used to complete the specialization. Dual specializations are permissible if the student has fulfilled the requirements of both specializations. Students seeking a specialization other than those listed above should consult with the program director.

Requirements

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to the online Masters of Public Administration program is competitive, and evaluation is based on the student’s academic and professional records of achievement. 

To be considered for admission, students must meet the following requirements:

  • A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. or an international equivalent
  • An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher (or meet contingency requirements as determined by the program on a case-by-case basis)
  • The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or IELTS, is required for international applicants who have not studied in English-speaking countries. John Jay College’s TOEFL code number is 2115-99. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, and 79-80 for the Internet-based test. The minimum score for IELTS is 7.
  • Submission of a complete application

Meet the Faculty

Faculty Picture
Coming Soon

Faculty Name
Elizabeth Nisbet


Faculty Title
Asst. Prof.

Education
Ph.D., Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
M.A., Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Annenberg School for Communication
B.A., Political Science and French, Furman University
Faculty Picture
Coming Soon

Faculty Name
David Shapiro


Faculty Title
Assistant Professor

Education
David M. Shapiro, CPA (inactive) is a Fraud Risk and Financial Crimes Specialist. He is also an expert generally on financial investigations and law enforcement. His extensive background includes work as an FBI (public sector) special agent / assistant legal advisor, assistant (public) prosecutor, and corporate (private sector) investigator. In brief, David has focused on conduct and financial crime risks.
Faculty Picture
Coming Soon

Faculty Name
Judy-Lynne Peters


Faculty Title
Assistant Professor

Education
Bachelor of Arts, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Masters of Public Administration, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
PhD, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Faculty Picture
Coming Soon

Faculty Name
Elaine Yi Lu


Faculty Title
Professor, MPA Director

Education
Ph.D in Public Administration, School of Public and International Affairs, University of Georgia
Master in Public Administration (MPA), Truman School of Public Affairs, University of Missouri-Columbia