Core Competencies
Rutgers University, School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), a nonprofit organization with a mission to "ensure excellence in education and training for public service and to promote the ideal of public service." In keeping with NASPAA standards, Rutgers' MPA curriculum is designed around the 5 core competencies that ensure graduates are adequately prepared to enter the field of public service.
Project Highlights in the Following 5 Core Competencies (scroll and click below to read more):
- Leadership and Management
- Policy Process
- Analysis and Critical Thinking
- Public Service Perspective
- Communication
Relevant Courses:
- Human Resources Administration
- Managing Public Organizations
- Public Policy Process
- Introduction to Public Administration
- Administrative Ethics
- Independent Study
- Economic Issues in Public Administration
- Technology and Public Administration
- Capstone Project
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Leadership & Management
Core Competency # 1: To be able to lead and manage in the public interest.
HR Interview Paper: provides a rich understanding of human resources in the public and nonprofit sectors interviewing a human resources leader and describe what you learned about the human resources profession in general and its role in your organization as a result of this interview.
Managing Public Orgs Presentation: student develops and delivers a presentation that outlines each aspect of the organization they are outlining.
Policy Process
Core Competency # 2: To participate in, and contribute to, the policy process.
Policy Brief Assignments: student prepares and delivers a PowerPoint presentation and writes a paper that integrates Thomas A. Birkland’s, An Introduction to the Policy Process: Theories, Concepts, and Models of Public Policy Making (4th Edition), theories, models, and concepts and at least 5 guest speaker key learnings with a policy analysis of your choosing.
Analysis & Critical Thinking
Core Competency # 3: To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment.
Analysis Paper: a reflection on a student's mastery of the assigned reading material and lectures and its application to a case study of choice.
Ethics in Current Events Paper: student identifies an issue that reveals an ethical dilemma and describes the dilemma(what is/are the issues), state the facts leading up to the dilemma, provide a brief description of all ofthestakeholders involved in the dilemma and/or who have an interestin the outcome of the dilemma, what laws, rules, and regulations apply to the issue(s), proffer suggestions for best dealing with and/or solving the dilemma,andexplainwhythe proffered suggestion(s) are ideal given the circumstances.
Communication
Core Competency # 5: To communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.
Final Paper: paper focuses on a particular aspect of technology and government.
Reflection Paper: student identifies an instance of a complex problem or crisis that public officials have had to confront in the past two decades -- and provide an overview of some of the lessons from the experience dealing with the problem.