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The mission of the MPA program is to offer graduates the knowledge of values,
roles, skills, and practices that will help them become competent professionals
capable of ethical, intelligent, and creative leadership in the public service.
As a member of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and
Administration (NASPAA), the MPA program’s mission and set of goals also reflect NASPAA's
Code of Good Practice (www.naspaa.org/codeofgoodpractice).
The Four Goals of Our Mission
"The MPA program at Villanova provides students with a superior foundation in
the theories of public service. Additionally, Villanova has done an excellent
job in recruiting a faculty comprised of not only academics, but professionals
from local government, federal government, and non-profit organizations. Because
of this, students are not restricted to simply learning from text; they are
instead treated to the stories of both successes and mistakes that faculty has
experienced. This makes for a well-rounded graduate student capable of
effectively assuming a role in a field of their choosing, wary of both the
gallantries and pitfalls potentially ahead of them. Further, the internship
program provides students the opportunity to gain sound professional
relationships and real-life experience doing tasks of actual importance in their
respective organizations.
Keith Truman, May 2005
Assistant Manager
Borough of Hatfield, PA
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Stress the study of how values from
political (constitutional and legal), philosophic, and religious traditions,
guide the actions of successful public administrators.
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Offer an interdisciplinary curriculum
featuring the integration of knowledge from sociology, political science,
economics, psychology, communication, history, philosophy, and statistics.
- Nurture a sense of service to community
- by featuring the study of
successful public administrators as roles models.
- by exploring the traditions and approaches in public administration
theory
- Emphasize the importance of practical experience
- by discussing case studies of public administration in practice.
- by using simulations and other exercises to use knowledge in the safe
environment of the classroom.
- by stressing the
need for work experience in the application of public administration knowledge
- by requiring an internship for students lacking such experience.
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