2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Combined Geography, BS & Public Administration, MPA

Program Description

The combined BS/MPA degree program allows students to earn a BS in Geography and Master of Public Administration (MPA), with up to nine (9) semester credit hours of approved graduate courses at the 5000, 6000, or 7000 level to be double-counted and applied to both the BS and MPA degree requirements.

Admission Requirements

To participate in the combined-degree program, students must meet the following qualifications:

Senior standing for the semester they start the combined-degree program.
3.0 or better cumulative grade point average on all undergraduate work
Undergraduate advisor’s approval, and
A recommendation from the Master of Public Administration (MPA) advisor to be accepted in the program

Admission Process

At the end of their junior year, students who wish to pursue a five-year combined BS/MPA degree should submit to the Graduate School an application for the combined degree program. Additionally, required documents include: (1) a WSU transcript; (2) A program of study approved by both the Geography undergraduate advisor and MPA program director.

Geography, BS Program Learning Objectives

Students in the BS in Geography program will learn to:

utilize geospatial data and apply spatial methods and techniques
develop critical thinking skills to understand important global geographical issues
recognize the cultural and ecological diversity of the planet
write clearly and effectively.

Geography BS Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with the BS in Geography can:

apply spatial tools and methods to analyze geospatial data
use critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate cultural and ecological issues across the globe
demonstrate an understanding of the value of diversity and multicultural competence in today’s global environment
communicate effectively in writing.

MPA Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in the MPA program will learn to:

Understand the fundamental knowledge, concepts, and principles associated with the discipline and profession of public administration
Develop awareness of the key institutional, political, and cultural factors that shape the field of public administration
Critically assess the range of theoretical perspectives which exist to understand the public and nonprofit management of the world’s problems
Communicate effectively in writing and speech to diverse audiences
Understand how to act ethically and responsibly in the field of public service

MPA Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of the MPA program can:

Lead and manage in the public interest;
Participate in, and contribute to, the policy process;
Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment;
Articulate, apply, and advance a public service perspective;
Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.

For More Information

Public Administration, MPA
School of Social Sciences and International Studies
College of Liberal Arts

Program Requirements:

I. Wright State Core: 39 Hours

Element 1: Communication: 6 Hours

Element 2: Mathematics: 4 Hours

STT 1600 - Statistical Concepts Credit Hour(s): 4
OR
STT 2640 - Elementary Statistics Credit Hour(s): 4

Element 3: Global Traditions: 6 Hours

Element 4: Arts and Humanities: 3 Hours

Element 5: Social Sciences: 6 Hours

Element 6: Natural Sciences: 8 Hours

Additional Core Courses: 6 Hours

LA 1020 - First-Year Seminar in Liberal Arts Credit Hour(s): 3

II. Departmental Requirements: 52 Hours

Core Requirement: 30 Hours

GEO 2100 - Physical Geography Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 2200 - Human Geography Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 3300 - World Regional Geography Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 4100 - Remote Sensing Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 4200 - Remote Sensing Applications Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 4410 - Cartography Credit Hour(s): 4
GEO 4430 - Geographic Information Systems Credit Hour(s): 4
GEO 4440 - Advanced GIS Applications Credit Hour(s): 4
GEO 4950 - Geography Internship Credit Hour(s): 3

Major Electives: 6 Hours

Choose 2 from

If GEO 2210 taken for Wright State Core requirements, cannot double count here
GEO 2210 - Nonwestern Human Environments Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 3100 - Economic Geography Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 3400 - Urban Geography Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 3500 - Environmental Geography Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 3700 - Regional Geography Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 4890 - Special Topics Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3
GEO 4900 - Honors Project in Geography Credit Hour(s): 3

Outside Research Requirements: 4 Hours

CS 1150 - Introduction to Computer Science Credit Hour(s): 4
OR
CS 1160 - Introduction to Computer Programming Credit Hour(s): 4

Outside Electives: 12 Hours

Two 3000-level courses in Anthropology, Sociology or Political Science

COM 1010 Essentials of Public Address

One other College of Liberal Arts class

COM 1010 - Essentials of Public Address Credit Hour(s): 3

III College Requirements 6 hours

PHL 3000 - Critical Thinking Credit Hour(s): 3
AND
OR

any approved Research Methods course from the approved list of COLA courses
PLS 3100 - Quantitative Methods in Political Science Credit Hour(s): 3

IV. University Electives: 23 Hours

Total: 120 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.

Geography, BS (GPS)

Double-Counted Courses: Up to 9 Hours

ABS 7220 - Seminar on Criminal Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
ABS 7240 - Social Problems Credit Hour(s): 3
ATH 5710 - Ethnographic Methods Credit Hour(s): 3
ATH 5800 - Special Topics in Anthropological Methods Credit Hour(s): 3
ATH 6030 - Urban Anthropology Credit Hour(s): 3
ATH 6100 - Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 6410 - Cartography Credit Hour(s): 4
GEO 6430 - Geographic Information Science Principles Credit Hour(s): 4
GEO 6440 - Advanced Geographic Information Applications Credit Hour(s): 4
MPA 6230 - Ethics and Leadership in Public Service Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 6340 - Fundraising and Grant Writing Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7000 - Foundations and Tools of Public Administration Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7010 - Public Budgeting and Fiscal Management Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7025 - Administrative Law Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7030 - Organization Theory and Management Behavior Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7040 - Managing Human Resources in Public Service Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7050 - Quantitative Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 5420 - Civil Liberties I: First Amendment Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 5430 - Civil Liberties II Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 5750 - Human Rights in USA Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6050 - Political Polarization in American Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6180 - Politics and Ethics Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6230 - American Public Policy Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6340 - Political Leadership Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6350 - Seminar - Political Corruption Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6360 - Criminal Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6370 - Criminal Procedure Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6400 - Constitutional Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6420 - Criminal Justice Systems Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 7982 - Intelligence and Homeland Security Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5100 - Marriage and Family Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5210 - Sociology of Deviance Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5220 - Juvenile Delinquency Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5310 - Globalization and Social Change Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5600 - Social Inequality Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5610 - Sociology of Gender Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5620 - Race and Ethnicity Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5700 - Criminology Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5710 - Comparative Criminal Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5720 - Policing in Society Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5730 - Sociology of Courts, Law and Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5740 - Penology and Corrections Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6310 - Urban Sociology Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6320 - Neighborhoods and Communities Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6600 - Sociology of Sexuality Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6610 - Gender and Crime Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6620 - Elite Crime Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6640 - Gender and Sexuality: Global Issues Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6650 - Global Sexualities & Human Rights Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6670 - Disability: Power, Politics, Privilege Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6700 - Explaining Crime: From Beccarria to Thornberry Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6810 - Health of Vulnerable Populations Credit Hour(s): 3
WGS 6800 - Studies in Selected Subjects Credit Hour(s): 3

Graduate Program Requirements

Core Requirements: 21 hours

MPA 7000 - Foundations and Tools of Public Administration Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7010 - Public Budgeting and Fiscal Management Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7025 - Administrative Law Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7030 - Organization Theory and Management Behavior Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7040 - Managing Human Resources in Public Service Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7050 - Quantitative Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7060 - Research Methods Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7220 may substitute for a core course.
MPA 7220 - MPA Directed Study Credit Hour(s): 3

Additional Requirements: 3-6 hours

Select from one:

MPA 7070 - MPA Capstone Project Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7080 - MPA Applied Research Project Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7090 - MPA Thesis Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3
A minimum 3 hours is required for the thesis option. If 6 hours taken, one elective may be waived. Credits / Units: 3

Internship: 3 hours

The internship may be waived for students working in service or who meet the Prior Learning Assessment requirement. If internship waived, an additional elective is required to meet the 12 hours minimum.

MPA 6950 - MPA Internship Credit Hour(s): 3

Electives: 9-12 hours

Complete a minimum 9 credit hours from selected track. If internship waived, complete an additional 3 credit hours.