Joint MPA/MIS Degree Program

Students may obtain a dual MPA/MIS degree with the Department of Public Administration in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (CBSS), and the SLIS. Graduate students must obtain admission to both programs separately before being considered a dual-degree candidate. Persons interested in obtaining a dual degree must follow the requirements as set forth by both the Master of Public Administration (MPA) and the Master of Information Science (MIS) programs. The MIS degree is granted after completion of a minimum of 24 semester hours of both required and elective MIS courses. To obtain the MPA, the dual-degree candidate must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate courses with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. Students must also successfully complete a Mastery Case Study and submit a digital Student Learning Portfolio of developmental experiences as well as successfully present the portfolio to a panel of MPA and MIS faculty members. Joint degree students have the option to specialize in Public Policy & Research in Information Society, or Systems Design & Implementation in the elective MIS courses.

Admission Requirements

Prospective students must apply separately for the MPA/MIS program. These students must also meet separate admission standards in both the Department of Public Administration and the School of Library and Information Science. Applicants for this track must complete the GRE examination.

Program Requirements

The MIS degree is granted after completion of a minimum of 24 semester hours of both required and elective MIS courses. To obtain the MPA, the dual-degree candidate must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate courses, with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. Students must also successfully submit a digital Student Learning Portfolio of developmental experiences as well as successfully present the Student Learning Portfolio to a panel of MPA and MIS faculty members.

MPA students who did not complete an American Government course at the undergraduate level must complete PADG 5050 The American Governmental System/Quantitative Analysis and Program Evaluation. Otherwise, the MPA program has no prerequisite courses. Students must have successfully completed an undergraduate course in statistics. Otherwise, the MPA has no prerequisite courses.

In the first two years of the program, students are required to enroll for one full year (18 credit hours) of study at the School of Library and Information Science and for one full year of study (18 credit hours) in the MPA Program; either can come first. In the third and fourth years of the program, dual-degree students are enrolled in and take courses at both programs. Both programs have their own requirements for these upper level years.

Required Courses

Public Administration – 24 Hours

PADG 5120 – Personnel Management (3)
PADG 5130 – Principles of Public Management (3)
PADG 5140 – Public Finance and Budgeting (3)
PADG 5220 – Public Policy Formation (3)
PADG 5240 – Economic Consequences of Policy Analysis (3)
PADG 5500 – Administrative Organization Theory and Behavior (3)
PADG 5600 – Quantitative Analysis (3)
PADG 5670 – Administrative Leadership and Ethics (3)
PADG 5610 – Research Method in Public Administration (3)

Library and Information Sciences

Public Policy & Research in Information Society

LSIS 5010 – Information Systems in Organizations (3)
LSIS 5810 – Research Methods (3)
LSIS 5110 – Information Policy and the Information Society (3)
LSIS 5610 – Information Systems Projects (3)
LSIS 5060 – Libraries and the Political Process (3)
LSIS 5115 – Information Technology and Intellectual Property (3)
LSIS 5120 – Management and Systems Analysis (3)
LSIS 5700 – Special Topics (Digital Inclusion)
LSIS 5700 – Special Topics (E-government)**

Systems Design & Implementation

LSIS 5171 – Systems Analysis (3)
LSIS 5810 – Research Methods (3)
LSIS 5442 – Network Security (3)
LSIS 5452 – Advanced Data Base Systems (3)
LSIS 5610 – Information Systems Projects (3)
LSIS 5472 – Protocols and Network Management (3)
LSIS 5470 – Computer-Based Information Networks (3)
LSIS 5700 – Special Topics (Digital Inclusion)
LSIS 5700 – Special Topics (E-government)**

MPA/MIS Dual Degree Program of Study

Year 1

There are no classes in the Department of Public Administration during the first year of MIS classes.

MIS Total – 24 hours
LSIS 5475 – Communications Science I (3)
LSIS 5171 – Systems Analysis (3)
LSIS 5451 – Database Systems (3)
LSIS 5110 – Information Policy and the Information Society (3)
LSIS 5700 – E-government (3)
LSIS 5810 – Research Methods (3)
LSIS 5610 – Information Systems Projects (3)
LSIS 5XXX – Elective in Specialty Area (3)

Year 2

Public Administration Total – 24 hours
PADG 5130 – Principles of Public Management (3)
PADG 5500 – Administrative Organization Theory and Behavior (3)
PADG 5240 – Economic Consequences of Policy Analysis (3)
PADG 5120 – Personnel Management (3)
PADG 5140 – Public Finance and Budgeting (3)
PADG 5600 – Quantitative Analysis (3)
PADG 5670 – Administrative Leadership and Ethics (3)
PADG 5220 – Public Policy Formation (3)
*LSIS 5810 Research Methods will be used to substitute for PADG 5610 Research Method in Public Administration.

Exit Requirements

Students must satisfy academic requirements in both programs, including the MPA requirement of the Mastery Case Study and Student Learning Portfolio described above. The dual degree students will take the Information Systems Projects Course LSIS 5610 in lieu of the two capstone courses (PADG 5800 and PADG 5820). Dual degree students are also required to take LSIS 5700.

Grades earned in courses of one program will not be included in the GPA calculations of the other program. Students will be expected to complete all MPA and LSIS exams at times they are scheduled; exception are the sole discretion of each school, in accordance with their respective policies.

*PADG 5610 can be substituted with LSIS 5810 for Public Administration students.

**This will be a required course for the Joint degree students.