Henry W. Bloch
School of Management

School of Management

MPA Certificate Options

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Students may choose from several Master of Public Administration (MPA) certificate options. Additionally, students may tailor a general or specific program not covered in the emphasis areas in order to meet individual interests or career objectives. Such a program must be developed with the approval of a faculty advisor. An MPA Generalist (not receiving a certificate) may take elective courses in any of the areas listed below.

This certificate provides students with the foundational skills to understand how to appropriately structure policy problems to propose evidence-based policy solutions.  Students in this program learn the skills necessary to analyze policy problems, evaluate existing policies, and learn about a substantive public policy area. Students completing this certificate are equipped to serve as an analyst, researcher, or manager focusing on public policy topics in public and nonprofit organizations across the world.

Faculty contact: Dr. Susan Opp, 816-235-5177

This certificate requires 12 credit hours of coursework and includes the following courses:

REQUIRED (6 hours)

Two Additional Courses from the following (6 credit hours):

*** NOTE:   Students can apply only one course to two different certificate programs.

Nonprofit organizations are integral to the social and civic fabric of every community in America. They help sustain and strengthen our communities, combat illiteracy, educate disadvantaged youth and enhance our quality of life through the arts and culture. Students can complete the nonprofit management certificate as a standalone program or in conjunction with the Masters of Public Administration.  Students completing the nonprofit management and innovation certificate are prepared with the knowledge and skills essential to careers leading and managing nonprofit public service organizations. Management in nonprofit organizations shares many elements with management in other sectors, yet some of the most crucial management and leadership tasks in nonprofits are unique. The Bloch School created one of the country’s first and most respected academic programs in nonprofit management. The Bloch School is also home to the well-known and respected Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership providing students with an unparalleled opportunity to engage with nonprofit organizations as they complete their coursework.

Faculty contact: Dr. Brent Never, 816-235-1413

This certificate requires 12 credit hours of coursework and includes the following courses:

REQUIRED (9 hours)

ELECTIVES (3 hours from the following)

The Urban Policy and Management emphasis area provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary for roles in leadership and analysis in governmental, nonprofit and private sector organizations engaged in solving urban problems. The interdependent character of urban regions means that problems are not confined to particular neighborhoods or individual cities, and the solutions to the most vexing urban challenges often require collaborative actions involving organizations throughout the region from all three sectors. The large and diverse set of organizations working in the bi-state Kansas City metropolitan region provides an excellent setting for students to learn the conceptual frameworks, policy tools, and methods of analysis that entrepreneurial and innovative leaders use to understand and engage these “wicked” urban problems.

Faculty contact: Dr. Susan Opp, 816-235-5177

This certificate requires 12 credit hours of coursework and includes the following courses:

REQUIRED (6 hours):

ELECTIVES (6 hours from the following):

Students choosing the urban administration emphasis are allowed no more than three hours of internship to fulfill the emphasis area. Additional internship hours will count as electives.

Click here for a description of these courses. Please keep in mind that although every course is listed in the catalog, not every course is offered every semester. Check the schedule for a current semester’s offerings via Pathway.

The Health Services Administration program area enables students to acquire the knowledge and skills that are currently in demand in the field of health care in the United States. As the health-care economy has grown, it also has become diverse in occupational structure, modes of service delivery, and client demographics. Health administrators find that they must develop innovative administrative skills and approaches in order to meet these challenges. In addition to the increasing opportunities in health-care delivery settings, the number of employment opportunities in health-care technology, think-tanks, and advocacy organizations also continues to grow rapidly.

Faculty contact: Dr. Arif Ahmed, 816-235-2319 or Dr. Christopher Garmon, 816-235-2689

This certificate requires 12 credit hours of coursework and includes the following courses:

REQUIRED (6 hours):

ELECTIVES (6 hours from the following):

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