The Local Government program can
be taken as either a stand-alone graduate certification program or as a
concentration within the school’s Master of Public Administration curriculum.
Non-degree students can earn the Certificate
in Local Government by successfully completing 15 credit hours from courses
offered and approved by the faculty in the Local Government Concentration.
For more information, contact Dr.Allan Wallis, concentration director.
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Since the mid-1980s, when the USA
and other countries began devolving government responsibilities down from the
federal and state to the local level, local government has been one of the most
rapidly growing areas of public sector employment across the country. Local
government includes cities, towns, counties, special districts, authorities and
many other types of jurisdictions. Employment opportunities in these
governments range from managers and budget analysts to people engaged with
developing human resources and programs.
The Local Government
Concentration allows Master of Public Administration students to develop an
understanding of management and policy making and to develop skills for working
in local government. Students
graduating with a concentration in Local Government will:
- Develop an understanding of the political
traditions and institutional structuring of local governments.
- Understand how local governments function within
the intergovernmental system, as well as through partnerships with the
private and nonprofit sectors.
- Develop skills necessary to be an effective
manager in the local government context.
Students interested in obtaining a concentration in
Local Government within a Master of Public Administration (MPA) program must
apply and enroll in the MPA within the School of Public Affairs (SPA) and must
adhere to all master degree program requirements.
Curriculum planning sheet [Link to this]
Program guidelines [Link to this]