The MPA-PPA program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice equips future public servants with the knowledge, skills, and leadership experiences necessary for the advancement of integrity, accountability, inclusiveness, and justice in society and governance. The program celebrates the diversity of our students, including those underrepresented in the leadership of public service.
This program may also be completed fully online.
Degree Requirements
Students enrolled in the Master of Public Administration Program in Public Policy and Administration are required to complete 42 course credits.
Students are advised to complete PAD 700 and the three other core foundation courses: PAD 702, PAD 705 and PAD 715, within the first 15 credits of matriculation. Failure to complete program requirements or admission conditions on a timely basis may result in a student not being permitted to register for future classes without the explicit permission of the program director.
Additional information. Students, who enroll for the first time at the College in September 2023 or thereafter, must complete the program in the form presented here. Students who enrolled prior to that date and have consistently maintained matriculation, may choose the form shown here or the version of the program in place at their time of enrollment.
Required Courses
| PAD 700 | Public Administration | 3 |
| PAD 702 | Human Resources Management | 3 |
| PAD 704 | Economics for Public Administrators | 3 |
| PAD 705 | Organization Theory and Management | 3 |
| PAD 739 | Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PAD 743 | Public Sector Financial Management | 3 |
| PAD 771 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 21 |
PAD 704: Students who have completed three courses in economics with a grade of B or better at the undergraduate level may request a waiver of PAD 704 from the program advisor or director. If granted, the student must replace the waived course by taking a 3-credit PAD course.
Research Methods and Quantitative Skills
The student must complete a course from each of the following two categories:
Research Methods
| PAD 715 | Research Methods in Public Administration | 3 |
Quantitative Methods and Information Management
Select one of the following courses:
| PAD 713 | Management of Information Technology | 3 |
| PAD 745 | Program Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| PAD 747/CRJ 747 | Computer Applications in Public Policy and Management | 3 |
| PAD 770 | Cases and Techniques in Quantitative Policy Analysis | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
PAD 713, PAD 747, PAD 770: There is no prerequisite for PAD 747 or PAD 713. However, computer skills and experience are assumed for both 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. If granted, the student must replace the waived course by taking a 3-credit PAD course. A student may not use a course completed to fulfill this section to satisfy requirements in specialization and elective courses.
Specialization
A three-course specialization is required. Students should declare a specialization upon the completion of 12 credits. Except where otherwise noted, students must complete a specialization by completing three courses designated for the specialization including each course designated as required. PAD 780 (Internship), PAD 755/CRJ 755 (Writing for Management), and a PAD 800-level course can also be used to complete any specialization, but may not substitute for a course required for the specialization.
Dual specializations are permissible if the student has fulfilled the requirements of both specializations. One course can count as an elective for two specializations with approval from the program director.
A course cannot be used to satisfy both a core course requirement and a specialization requirement.
Criminal Justice Policy and Administration
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.
Required Courses
| PAD 719 | Delivery Systems in Justice and Urban Services Systems | 3 |
| PAD 730 | Policy Analysis in Criminal Justice | 3 |
Electives
| CRJ 704 | Probation and Parole: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| CRJ 728 | Critical Issues in Corrections | 3 |
| CRJ 736 | Seminar in Civil Rights and Civil Liberties | 3 |
| CRJ 741 | An Economic Analysis of Crime | 3 |
| PAD 750 | Security of Information Technology | 3 |
| CRJ 757 | Police and the Community | 3 |
| CRJ 761 | Youth Crime and Delinquency Control | 3 |
| PMT 711 | Introduction to Emergency Management | 3 |
| PMT 781 | Risk Analysis and Loss Prevention | 3 |
| PAD 726 | The Politics and Process of Outsourcing | 3 |
| PAD 745 | Program Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| PAD 758 | Ethics, Integrity and Accountability | 3 |
| PAD 760 | Court Administration | 3 |
| PAD 770 | Cases and Techniques in Quantitative Policy Analysis | 3 |
Two additional courses are to be selected from the above list or from any of the specialization courses in the MPA in Public Policy and Administration Program, the MPA in Inspection and Oversight Program, or from any of the courses listed under specializations in the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Program.
Emergency Management
This specialization prepares students for careers in emergency management. The concentration is designed to emphasize technology and business continuity planning, building design issues and terrorism. The concentration has three required courses.
Required Courses
| PMT 711 | Introduction to Emergency Management | 3 |
| PMT 760 | Emergency Management: Mitigation and Recovery | 3 |
| PMT 763 | Emergency Management: Preparedness | 3 |
Electives
| PMT 703 | Analysis of Building and Fire Codes | 3 |
| PMT 712 | Theory and Design of Fire Protection Systems | 3 |
| PMT 751 | Contemporary Fire Protection Issues | 3 |
| PMT 761 | Technology in Emergency Management | 3 |
| PMT 762 | Business Continuity Planning | 3 |
| PMT 781 | Risk Analysis and Loss Prevention | 3 |
| PAD 726 | The Politics and Process of Outsourcing | 3 |
| PAD 748 | Project Management | 3 |
| PAD 758 | Ethics, Integrity and Accountability | 3 |
Human Resources Management
This specialization prepares students to assume supervisory and administrative responsibilities involving personnel management. The specialization has two required courses.
Required Courses
| PAD 703 | Techniques and Tools of Human Resources Administration | 3 |
| PAD 707 | Managing People: A Human Resources Perspective | 3 |
Electives
| PAD 708 | Human Resources and Labor in the Public Sector | 3 |
| PAD 710 | The Ethical and Legal Environment of Public Employment | 3 |
| PAD 723 | Assessments, Audits and Investigations in Human Resources | 3 |
| PAD 726 | The Politics and Process of Outsourcing | 3 |
Law and Public Management
Students enrolled in the MPA program in Public Policy and Administration may complete the Law and Public Management specialization by completing three courses at the CUNY Law School. Students should contact the specialization advisor for guidance and assistance.
Students may also complete this specialization while attending law school. Students must apply to, and be accepted at, law school while enrolled in the MPA Program in Public Policy and Administration, and complete their specialization while attending law school. Subject to the approval of the program director, 9 credits of law courses concerning legal research, civil and criminal procedure, and public institutions and the law, may be transferred for credit. Students must pass the Capstone Course and fulfill remaining requirements for the MPA degree. Students who have completed coursework in law school prior to enrollment in the MPA Program in Public Policy and Administration may apply to the program director to transfer up to 12 credits from law school toward this concentration.
Courses in this specialization may be taken at CUNY Law School at Queens College, The City University of New York, or at other law schools offering comparable courses.
Management and Operations
This concentration prepares students to assume supervisory and managerial responsibilities in operational services. Additional materials for this specialization are available from the specialization coordinator.
Required Courses
| PAD 712 | Management Systems and Techniques in the Public Sector | 3 |
| PAD 714 | Organizational Performance Assessment | 3 |
Electives
| PAD 713 | Management of Information Technology | 3 |
| PAD 716 | Cases in Productive Public Management | 3 |
| PAD 718 | International Public Policy and Administration | 3 |
| PAD 719 | Delivery Systems in Justice and Urban Services Systems | 3 |
| PAD 726 | The Politics and Process of Outsourcing | 3 |
| PAD 745 | Program Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| PAD 746 | Comparative Public Administration | 3 |
| PAD 748 | Project Management | 3 |
| PAD 758 | Ethics, Integrity and Accountability | 3 |
| PAD 770 | Cases and Techniques in Quantitative Policy Analysis | 3 |
Public Policy Analysis
This specialization provides students with the opportunity to develop their skills in policy analysis and evaluation by examining analytical techniques, substantive policy issues and their impacts.
Required Courses
| PAD 756 | Tools and Techniques of Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PAD 745 | Program Development and Evaluation | 3 |
Electives
| PAD 718 | International Public Policy and Administration | 3 |
| PAD 730 | Policy Analysis in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| PAD 740 | Public Sector Inspection and Oversight | 3 |
| PAD 747/CRJ 747 | Computer Applications in Public Policy and Management | 3 |
| PAD 756 | Tools and Techniques of Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PAD 770 | Cases and Techniques in Quantitative Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PMT 715 | Analytical Methods in Protection Management | 3 |
| CRJ 741 | An Economic Analysis of Crime | 3 |
| CRJU 88100 | Criminology and Public Policy | |
| CRJU 84100 | Advanced Policy Analysis | |
CRJU 88100, CRJU 84100: Requires Permission of the CUNY PhD Program in Criminal Justice.
Urban Affairs
The three courses in this specialization are taken at the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning at Hunter College, City University of New York. Courses should be selected in consultation with the specialization advisor. The Urban Affairs courses at Hunter College cover topics such as urban development, social and economic analysis and problem solving in urban and community settings.
Free Electives
Students must select two elective courses from any MPA offering.