MPA Environmental Concentration at Mason

Peter BalintGeorge Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USAJune 2009

pbalint@gmu.edu

Outline

George Mason University Public Policy/Public Administration programs MPA program

Students Core requirements Environmental concentration requirements Issues and concerns

George Mason University

Public university in the state of Virginia Located in the suburbs of Washington, DC 30,000 students; 12,000 grad students; 100 grad programs On the web: http://gmu.edu

Young, and growing rapidly along with the region 1957, branch of University of Virginia 1972, independent

Policy/PA Programs

MPA: Department of Public & International Affairs

http://mpa.gmu.edu

MPP: School of Public Policy

http://policy.gmu.edu MS: Department of Environmental Science & Policy

http://esp.gmu.edu

MPA Students

Nearly 300 students enrolled in total Most with social science undergraduate degrees Limited financial aid Most have jobs and attend university part time

25% federal government 20% state/local government 20% nonprofit sector 10% private sector 25% pre-service/between jobs

MPA Concentrations

Nonprofit management: 20% State/local government: 15% Emergency management: 8% International: 7% Administration of justice: 5% Environmental: 5% (~15 students) Other, or individualized: 15% No concentration: 25%

MPA Requirements

12 courses (3 courses/semester is full time) 8 core courses

Introduction to public administration Research methods and data analysis Organizational theory Public policy process Ethics and public administration Third-party governance Choice of second methods course Choice of finance course

Environmental Concentration

4 courses in addition to the core courses Environmental policy Plus three courses selected with advisor

Many options from across the university, e.g.: Geography Economics Science (climate science, earth science, life science) Anthropology/sociology Communication Conflict resolution Civil engineering

Environmental Concentration

Environmental concentrators go to jobs in – or advance their careers in: State and local government Federal government Non-governmental organizations Private sector: e.g., contractors and consulting firms

Issues & Concerns

How much science to require How to balance flexibility and focus in the

concentration electives

Whether, and if so how, to grow the concentration How to track the concentration more effectively

MPA Environmental Concentration at Mason

Peter BalintGeorge Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USAJune 2009

pbalint@gmu.edu