Academic Programs

Masters in Public Services Management

The Public Service Graduate Program promotes effective management of not-for-profit organizations and government agencies and fosters development of sound public policies affecting the delivery of social services. Programs of instruction, research, and community involvement prepare adult learners to pursue administrative careers in a broad range of public service organizations. Following the tradition of St. Vincent de Paul, the Public Service Graduate Program devotes special attention to policies and practices that promote social equity through delivery of affordable, quality services to those in greatest need.

While the knowledge and skills required to administer organizations in the public sector are becoming indistinguishable from the best practices used in the private sector, the ultimate goals of not-for-profit versus for-profit organizations provide a sharp distinction. The Public Service Graduate Program keeps this distinction firmly in view in its course offerings. The degree program is interdisciplinary, drawing primarily upon the knowledge bases of sociology, economics, political science, law and the human-service professions. The curriculum carefully balances theoretical and applied approaches to contemporary challenges of administration and policy analysis, particularly within the framework of international public services.

Who may apply?

College of Law students who complete their first-year full-time or their second year part-time with a minimum grade point average of 3.00 are eligible. After they are admitted to the joint Juris Doctor/Masters of Public Service Management program, they will divide their course work between the College of Law and the Public Service Management Program. A student may accelerate the program either by taking courses in the summer or more courses during the academic year. In that case, a full-time student might complete the degrees in three or three and one-half years. It is expected that a part-time student will complete the joint program in four or five years.

Ordinarily, a Juris Doctor student must earn 86 semester hours to complete the degree and 52 quarter hours for the Masters in Public Service Management. However, a joint JD/MS in Public Service Management student only needs to earn 76 semester hours in the College of Law and 36 quarter hours in the Public Service Management program to complete both degrees. Students in the JD/MPS program receive 10 semester hours of credit toward their 86 hour law requirement for work completed in the Public Service Management program. Joint degree students in the Public Service Management program receive 16 quarter hours of credit for work completed in four College of Law courses, reducing their required Public Service courses from 52 to 36 quarter hours.

The joint program coordinating committee will determine which courses offered by the College of Law and the Public Service Management program will count for joint credit.

The following is a suggested curriculum for the JD/MS in Public Service Management program. It is based upon the expectation that the student is enrolled as a full-time student in both programs.

First Year
The student must complete the required first year College of Law coursework with a grade point average of 3.00.

Second Year
The student enrolls in 18 semester hours (6 courses) in the College of Law, one of which must be Criminal Procedure, and 16 quarter hours (4 courses) in the Public Service Management Program.

Third Year
The student enrolls in 18 semester hours (6 courses) in the College of Law and 16 quarter hours (4 courses) in the Public Service Management Program.

Fourth Year
The student enrolls in 9 semester hours (3 courses) in the College of Law and 4 quarter hours (one course) in the Public Service Management program. Before graduation, the student must complete Legal Profession and the Senior Seminar requirement in the College of Law.

In addition to the core requirements, areas of study in the Public Service Management program include:

• Health Care Administration
• Metropolitan Planning and Urban Affairs
• Non-Profit Administration
• Public Administration
• Public Policy
• International Public Services