GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
2010-2011
G RADUATE STUDENT H ANDBOOK
Master of Public Administration
Master of Health Administration
Mark Hoffman, Director of SPNHA
Steve Borders, MHA Coordinator
Quincy Williams, Internship Coordinator
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
School of Public, Nonprofit & Health Administration
Grand Valley State University
401 W. Fulton Street
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504
Telephone: 616.331.6575
Fax: 616.331.7120
email: padept@gvsu.edu
Revised: August 2010
SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
TABLE OF C ONTENTS
M E S S A GE F R OM
THE
D I RE C T OR ...............................................................................................................................1
S E C T I ON I: G E N E RA L I N F OR M A T I O N
Mission, Vision, & Values .................................................................................................................................. 2
Admissions ........................................................................................................................................................ 3
Graduate tuition ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Financial Aid ...................................................................................................................................................... 4
Graduate Assistantships ................................................................................................................................... 4
SPNHA Scholarships .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Other Scholarships ............................................................................................................................................ 5
SPNHA Directory ............................................................................................................................................... 6
Fall & Winter Calendar...................................................................................................................................... 7
S E C T I ON II: P R O G RA M I N F O RM A T I ON
The MPA Program ............................................................................................................................................. 8
The MHA Program ..........................................................................................................................................10
MSW/MPA Dual Degree .................................................................................................................................12
PA 619 Capstone Paper .................................................................................................................................. 13
Internship Program .........................................................................................................................................13
Master’s Thesis ...............................................................................................................................................14
Course Descriptions ........................................................................................................................................16
S E C T I ON III: SPNHA P O LI C I E S
AND
P R O C E D U R E S ............................................................................................21
S E C T I ON IV: S T U D E N T R E S OU RC E S ......................................................................................................................24
S E C T I ON V: F O R M S ..................................................................................................................................................29
SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
M ESSAGE F ROM T HE D IRECTOR
Welcome to the School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration (SPNHA) at Grand Valley
State University! SPNHA offers three graduate programs - a Master of Public Administration
(MPA), a Master of Health Administration (MHA), and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit
Leadership (GCNL) - and we have designed this handbook to provide information about our
School, programs, and policies.
You are reading this handbook at an exciting time in the SPNHA. All of our programs, undergraduate and graduate, are
strong and growing, with the potential to be even better. Our faculty and students are very active contributors to our
local communities, national professional organizations, and research communities, and we are increasingly
international in our scope and interests. Some highlights from last year include:
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We hosted the 33rd Annual Teaching Public Administration Conference, which brought PA faculty from around
the world to Grand Rapids.
Our graduate enrollment increased 10 percent; the fourth consecutive year our graduate programs
experienced double digit growth.
Three new student scholarships became available to SPNHA graduate students: The Valerie P. Eggert
Distinguished Scholarship in Philanthropy, the Caprice R. Wagner Memorial Scholarship and the Kurt Kimball
Scholarship in City Management.
Heidi Herzog, an MPA student, was awarded the Logie Fellowship.
Michael VandenBerg, an MPA student, was awarded the 2010 Michigan Local Government Management
Association Fellowship.
Our faculty produced 4 books, 10 peer-reviewed journal articles, and 5 book chapters. Greg Cline continues to
edit his health journal while Dan Balfour joined the editor's council of the Journal of Public Affairs and
Administration.
Eight students presented their research at Student Scholarship Day. Five other students presented at SPNHA's
Graduate Student Research Colloquium. One student had an article published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Mike Payne, Sal Alaimo, and Greg Cline received mentorship awards from the Graduate and Professional
Student Association.
Ramya Ramanath received a Women's Impact Award from the GVSU Women's Commission.
Rich Jelier received a Sustainability Champion Award from the Sustainability Community Development
Initiative.
Dan Balfour received a teaching fellowship to the United States Holocaust Memorial and Museum and a
Distinguished Contribution in a Discipline Award from our College.
Steve Borders won a Distinguished Early-Career Scholar Award from the Center for Scholarly and Creative
Excellence.
Seventeen graduate students were awarded Graduate Dean Citations for their academic achievements and
community, professional, or university service. Our students received more citations than students in any other
graduate program at GVSU.
The faculty of SPNHA is both proud and humbled to have such outstanding graduates and we are dedicated to building
and sustaining a tradition of excellence in public service. On behalf of the faculty, we thank you for considering our
graduate programs and wish you the best in the program and beyond.
Mark C. Hoffman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Director
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
S ECTION I: G ENERAL I NFORMATION
MISSION
The mission of the School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration is to educate students for lives of active
citizenship as contributing members of their local, regional, national, and global communities, and for professional
careers in public and nonprofit organizations. We are committed to developing in undergraduate and graduate
students the capacities for ethical judgment, critical thinking, and the core competencies necessary to fulfill multiple
roles as effective managers and public servants.
The mission of the MPA program is to develop both the general knowledge and specific abilities needed for leadership
in a fast changing world. The curriculum is designed to prepare students to act ethically and effectively in public
management, urban and regional policy and planning, nonprofit management, criminal justice, and health care
administration, and to transcend traditional boundaries in the pursuit of prosperous, safe, and healthy communities.
The mission of the MHA program is to teach and prepare individuals for managerial and leadership roles in the
challenging and complex field of health care administration. The program centers on interdisciplinary learning
experiences that integrate classroom study, applied research, professional development, and field experience. The
curriculum is designed to develop advanced executive abilities through a combination of core competencies and
specialized areas of concentration.
VISION
We aspire to be a pre-eminent source for public service education by providing an innovative professional curriculum
with dedicated and inspired teaching, scholarship, and service to the community.
VALUES
The School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration values:
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Liberal education and academic excellence in learning, teaching, and research
Critical thinking and professional education
A culture of collegiality and collaboration
Diversity, civic discourse, and democratic communities
Experiential learning
International perspectives and experiences
Management skills
Ethical commitment
Service to the local community
Study of public/nonprofit relationships
Diversity of ideas
Attention to technological innovations
Informed decision making
___________________
*Changes relating to student support or policies beyond the control of the School of Public, Nonprofit, and Administration can occur. Under
these circumstances SPNHA cannot be held legally responsible for any difficulties a student incurs. SPNHA reserves the right to alter
graduate program policies. Students will be notified of policy changes in a timely fashion.
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
ADMISSIONS
Admissions to the graduate programs (MPA or MHA) require a 3.0 grade point average from an accredited college or
university, calculated on the last 60 credits of undergraduate work. In addition, students must submit a resume and
write an essay on career and education objectives (three or fewer pages). Finally, applicants must submit three letters
of recommendation from informed sources such as current and/or former professors and supervisors.
Students without undergraduate courses in statistics, research methods, college algebra, and economics are strongly
encouraged to enroll in introductory courses in these fields prior to taking in any of the SPNHA graduate level courses.
These are preparatory courses and cannot be used to satisfy graduate degree requirements; only graduate credits can
be applied to degree requirements.
Students may apply online at http://admissions.gvsu.edu or contact the School at padept@gvsu.edu or 616.331.6575
for an application packet. The admissions process begins when students submit all the required materials: an
application, essay, all transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and when applicable, exam scores. Incomplete
records will not be reviewed. The admissions committee may request additional information it deems appropriate and
necessary.
Applicants with less than a 3.0 grade point average may be admitted if other indicators predict a likelihood of academic
success. These include but are not limited to: five or more years of professional work experience since receiving a
baccalaureate degree; a personal interview; and GRE or GMAT scores. International students whose native language is
not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency verified by an official score report from the Test of
English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Comprehensive English Language Test (CELT), the International English
Language Testing System (IELTS), or completion of ELS Level 112.
Completed applications are reviewed thoroughly by the School’s admissions committee. To ensure full consideration for
fall admission, all application materials should be received by June 1. Winter term applications should be received by
November 1. Spring/Summer term applications should be received by April 1. Early application is strongly encouraged.
Late applicants may be admitted on the basis of remaining vacancies.
GRADUATE TUITION
Tuition rates for 2010-2011 for Michigan Residents are as follows:
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$471 per credit for 500 and 600 level courses
$414 per credit for undergraduate level courses
Tuition rates for 2010-2011 for non-Michigan Residents are as follows:
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$646 per credit for 500 and 600 level courses
$591 per credit for undergraduate level courses
Please note that SPNHA courses are assessed an additional fee of $12 per credit hour. In addition, rates for tuition are
those for 2010-2011 and are subject to change, at any time, by the Board of Trustees. For information on tuition, visit
http://www.gvsu.edu/financialaid/index.cfm.
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
FINANCIAL AID
Degree-seeking graduate students are eligible for the federal loan and work-study programs coordinated by Grand
Valley State University’s Office of Financial Aid. Students must carry at least 6 credit hours per semester to be eligible
for financial aid. For more information, visit http://www.gvsu.edu/financialaid/.
GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS
Students interested in a graduate assistantship must send a resume and letter of interest to the Director of the School
no later than May 1. Graduate assistantships serve to provide graduate students with part-time, paid work experiences
in their field of study, and allow them to expand and/or apply their discipline knowledge and skills under supervision. In
addition, an assistantship provides SPNHA faculty and/or university staff assistance in carrying out special projects or
other assignments that require the advanced discipline skills of graduate students. To find an assistantship or for more
information about assistantships, please visit www.gvsu.edu/gs and click on “Graduate Assistantships.” Please note
that not all graduate assistantships are posted here. Many graduate assistantships are restricted to students in a
specific program or college. In general, posted graduate assistantships are available to students from multiple
programs. Most assistantships are posted during winter semester.
To qualify for an assistantship, students must:
1. Be fully admitted as a degree-seeking student in a Grand Valley graduate program at the time of appointment.
2. Successfully maintain a minimum course load of 9 graduate credit hours per semester for a full-time graduate
assistantship or carry a minimum course load of 5 graduate credit hours per semester for a half-time
assistantship.
3. Be enrolled in class during the semester or semesters in which the student will be working as a GA.
SPNHA SCHOLARSHIPS
Many SPNHA students take advantage of the available programs that can help finance a higher education. To apply for
the following scholarships, please follow the directions of and fill out the form included at the end of the handbook.
Valerie P. Eggert Distinguished Scholarship in Philanthropy Established by Valerie P. Eggert, a friend of Grand Valley
State University, to recognize the vision of her friend, to provide scholarship support to graduate students who both
aspire to study and promote philanthropy, and engage in nonprofit agency fundraising. Applicants must be full-time
graduate students enrolled in the School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration.
Joyce F. Hecht Distinguished Scholarship in Philanthropy Named in recognition of her contributions to Grand Valley
State University as its first Director of Development, the founding Executive Director of the Grand Valley State
University Foundation, and a gracious and effective ambassador of the University’s needs, the Joyce F. Hecht
Distinguished Scholarship in Philanthropy is an endowed fund in support of university students who aspire to help
nonprofit organizations in all ways that Joyce Hecht has so capably helped Grand Valley State University. Open to fulltime and part-time students pursuing a career plan to eventually promote and develop philanthropy and engage in
nonprofit agency fundraising.
John Heerspink Scholarship The John Heerspink Scholarship was initiated by his wife, sister, daughters and a few
others to honor Heerspink’s 27 year career in nonprofit and philanthropy. The scholarship is designated for a graduate
student enrolled in the School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration whose focus is in nonprofit management.
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
Kurt F. Kimball Scholarship The Kurt F. Kimball Scholarship Endowment was established to honor Kurt F. Kimball’s 20
years as the longest serving city manager of Grand Rapids. Kimball worked for Grand Rapids for more than 33 years
and has lived here for more than 50; during that time, he has mentored many Grand Valley students. In celebration of
his retirement, contributions from Kimball’s friends and colleagues made this scholarship possible. Kimball hopes that
this scholarship will attract professionals to careers in public management and local government. This scholarship will
provide support for graduate students in the School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration pursuing careers in
local government.
Caprice R. Wagner Memorial Scholarship The Caprice R. Wagner Memorial Scholarship was established by Dawn and
Donald Wagner in memory of Caprice R. Wagner. Caprice earned her bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State
University in 2007. In 2008 she was pursuing a master’s in public administration when she lost a four-month battle to
T-cell Lymphoma. Friends and family remember her warm presence, passion for life, and her desire to empower
women served by nonprofit organizations. This scholarship will assist graduate students with financial need who share
the values and career goals to which Caprice aspired. Candidates will have volunteer, internship or work experience in
programs or nonprofit organizations that address women’s issues.
OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS
What follows is information on selected scholarships that are not affiliated with SPNHA. For helpful information about
scholarships, see www.scholarshiphelp.org.
Grand Rapids Community Foundation Scholarships Each year, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation awards
numerous scholarships to Kent County residents. Some select scholarships are also available for Ottawa County
residents.
KCP Future Faculty Fellows Program The KCP Future Faculty Fellows Program was created by the Michigan legislature
in 1986 as part of the larger King/Chavez/Parks Initiative designed to increase the number of academically or
economically disadvantaged candidates pursuing faculty-teaching careers or an administrative at a two (2) or four (4)
year public or private postsecondary institutions. To be eligible, the candidate must be a U.S. Citizen, not in current
default status on any guaranteed student loan or KCP Loan, completing a master's degree at a public university in
Michigan. GVSU master's degree students who are awarded this fellowship may receive up to a maximum of $20,000;
however, failure to fulfill the requirements of the Future Faculty Fellowship program will result in the award be
converted into a loan payable to the state of Michigan. At GVSU, KCP Future Faculty Fellow Applications are reviewed
once per year in March by a faculty committee and may include not only a review of the application, but also a
screening interview.
John H. Logie Fellows Program The John H. Logie Fellows Program, named for the long-standing mayor of Grand
Rapids, offers students at Grand Valley State University an exceptional opportunity to experience and contribute to the
operations of Grand Rapids’ city government.
Robert R. Robinson Memorial Scholarship The Robert R. Robinson Memorial Scholarship is awarded by the Michigan
Township Association to a junior, senior, or graduate student pursuing a degree in public administration or related field
at a Michigan college or university. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis, as determined by an applicant’s
academic achievement, community involvement and commitment to a career in local government administration.
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation awards merit-based scholarships to
college students who plan to pursue careers in government, the nonprofit sector or elsewhere in public service, and
wish to attend graduate or professional school to help prepare for their careers. Truman Scholars participate in
leadership development programs and have special opportunities for internships and employment with the federal
government. A nomination for the Truman Scholarship must come from the university.
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
SPNHA DIRECTORY
The office for SPNHA is located on the second floor of the DeVos Center on the Pew Campus on Fulton Street. The
office can be reached at 616.331.6575.
Name
Title
Office
Email
Phone Number
Kathy Agard
Associate Professor
BIK 222
agardk@gvsu.edu
616.331.7587
Salvatore Alaimo
Assistant Professor
DEV 250C
alaimos@gvsu.edu
616.331.6582
Danny Balfour
Professor
DEV 254C
balfourd@gvsu.edu
616.331.6594
Stephen Borders
Associate Professor
DEV 232C
borderss@gvsu.edu
616.331.6569
Fran Cain
Office Secretary
DEV 288C
cainf@gvsu.edu
616.331.6575
Greg Cline
Assistant Professor
DEV 226C
clinegr@gvsu.edu
616.331.6589
Mark Hoffman
Associate Professor
DEV 236C
hoffmanm@gvsu.edu
616.331.6587
Rich Jelier
Professor
DEV 244C
jelierr@gvsu.edu
616.331.6578
Priscilla Kimboko
Professor
DEV 256C
kimbokop@gvsu.edu
616.331.7265
Diane Kimoto
Associate Professor
DEV 252C
kimotod@gvsu.edu
616.331.6568
Mike Mast
Professor
DEV 246C
mastm@gvsu.edu
616.331.6579
Seong-Gin Moon
Assistant Professor
DEV 242C
moons@gvsu.edu
616.331.6681
Sherry Moyer
Office Coordinator
DEV 288C
moyers@gvsu.edu
616.331.6575
Sue Nieboer
Visiting Professor
DEV 228C
suenieboer@me.com
616.331.6580
Mike Payne
Professor
DEV 248C
paynem@gvsu.edu
616.331.6583
Ramya Ramanath
Assistant Professor
DEV 238C
ramanatr@gvsu.edu
616.331.6642
Donijo Robbins
Professor
DEV 258C
robbinsd@gvsu.edu
616.331.6740
Quincy Williams
Internship Director
DEV 224C
williamq@gvsu.edu
616.331.2362
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
FALL & WINTER CALENDAR
Fall 2010 Calendar
Winter 2011 Calendar
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
S ECTION II: P ROGRAM I NFORMATION
SPNHA offers two graduate programs: the Master of Public Administration and the Master of Health Administration,
and works with the School of Social Work to offer a dual degree, an MSW/MPA. Each is discussed in turn. A helpful
advising form is included at the end of the handbook.
THE MPA PROGRAM
The MPA curriculum at GVSU combines theory and application exposing students to and equipping them with the most
useful and current tools of the trade. Students are also required to learn and utilize a variety of methods for exploring
administrative and policy issues, including case analysis, quantitative methods, and community-based research and
service learning. In addition, we aim to stimulate intelligent and creative analysis by providing multiple perspectives on
public and nonprofit organizations. While most of our graduates will work in local government and community
nonprofits or health organizations, the curriculum includes global and international perspectives in order to help them
to think beyond the traditional boundaries of their organizations and communities and to explore new directions for
policy and action.
The curriculum for the master’s program is directly linked to our mission. As such, we prepare through a combination of
common core components and specialized study in public management, urban and regional policy and planning,
nonprofit management, health administration, or criminal justice administration and policy. Overall, the program
consists of 39 credit hours and pre-service students must take an additional three hours of internship. Internships are
discusses later on in the handbook.
The Core The common core components consist of 15 credit hours (5 courses) including:
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PA 520 Foundations of Public Management
PA 611 Research Methods
PA 612 Human Resources in Public Organizations
PA 614 Organization Theory
PA 619 Management Seminar
PA 520 and 619 are the anchor courses—introduction and capstone courses, respectively. PA 611 provides practical
research skills for administrators, and PA 612 and 614 examine multiple perspectives for understanding public and
nonprofit organizations. Each of these courses stresses the core concepts of the MPA program—ethical judgment and
critical thinking—and the core competencies necessary to fulfill multiple roles as effective managers, public servants,
and contributing members of their local, national, and global communities. While some of the core competencies are
covered in more depth in the specialized courses, the core courses are designed to assure that students are exposed to
and challenged to employ in an integrative manner (especially in the capstone course) the various skills needed to be
effective leaders in public organizations and to explore the connections between the public, nonprofit, and for-profit
sectors of society.
Concentrations Beyond the core courses, each student must take at least 15 credit hours in one of the following
concentration areas: Public Management, Urban and Regional Policy and Planning, Nonprofit Management and
Leadership, Health Administration, and Criminal Justice.
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
Public Management. The concentration is designed to provide the essential tools necessary for those students
interested in public management. Students are required to take the following courses and all, except PA 623 and
PA 642, are offered at least once a year and sometimes twice a year depending on demand.
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PA 615 Public Financial Administration
PA 643 Strategic Management and Planning
PA 620 Metro Politics and Administration
Select any two courses:
o PA 616 Public Policy Analysis
o PA 621 Administrative and Regulatory Law
o PA 641 Economic and Community Development
o PA 642 Conflict Management
o PA 644 GIS in Public Service
Urban and Regional Policy and Planning. This concentration is designed for those students most interested in
regional governance particularly in the policy and planning of urban and regional entities. Students are required to
take the following courses:
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PA 615 Public Financial Administration
PA 616 Public Policy Analysis
PA 620 Metro Politics and Administration
PA 641 Economic and Community Development
PA 644 GIS in Public Service
Nonprofit Management and Leadership. This concentration prepares students to manage and lead nonprofit
organizations. Students are required to take the following courses:
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PA 660 Nonprofit Sector: History and Ethics
PA 661 Nonprofit Management Practices
PA 662 Nonprofit Resource and Financial Management
PA 663 Nonprofit Organizations and Public Policy
PA 665 Nonprofit Boards, Trustees, and Governance OR
PA 641 Economic and Community Development
Health Administration. The Health Administration concentration is designed primarily for mid-career professionals
who are in clinical or administrative positions and who wish to increase their knowledge, improve their
productivity, or seek career advancement. While other health administration courses are offered (generally
reserved for MHA students), MPA students are required to take the following courses:
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PA 630 Health Administration and Service
PA 631 U.S. Health Policy and Politics
PA 632 Health Services Financial Management
PA 633 Health Economics
PA 634 Health Care Law and Ethics
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
Criminal Justice. The Criminal Justice concentration was developed to meet the growing demand for well-educated
criminal justice administrators. The courses are designed for those who wish to increase their knowledge, improve
their productivity, or seek career advancement. Through the collaborative efforts of the School of Criminal Justice
and the School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration, this concentration is structured to prepare
graduates to work cooperatively in a variety of criminal justice environments. Students are required to take the
following courses:
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PA 615 Public Financial Administration
CJ 601 Criminal Justice Leadership
CJ 604 Criminal Justice Policy & Program Evaluation
CJ 607 Criminology
CJ 602 Legal and Ethical Issues
Electives Students choose nine credit hours from an array of electives which can be PA classes from other
concentrations, classes from other graduate programs at GVSU, or relevant classes from graduate programs at other
accredited universities. Those classes taken outside SPNHA must be approved prior to enrolling in each. Students may
take up to three hours of workshop credit (PA 550--559).
Students may choose to enroll in PA693, Research Project, after completing 30 credit hours, which must include PA611,
Research Methods. They also must have attended one Graduate Student Research Colloquium. Students must consult
with their adviser prior to enrolling in PA693. The research project option is recommended only for those students who
wish to engage in an extensive project that does not fit the Master’s Thesis format, but is more involved that a Directed
Readings course. A public presentation is required for all Master’s candidates writing a research project. Usually this
will be at the Graduate Student Research Colloquium or at Student Scholarship Day.
In addition, students may take up to three hours of PA 699, Directed Readings. Directed Readings allow a student to
receive academic credit for a relevant, graduate-level course of study for which there is no graduate course available at
GVSU. Before registration, the topic, amount of credit to be earned, reading list, assignments, and evaluation criteria
are mutually agreed to by the initiating student and the faculty member, consistent with standards of graduate
scholarship. Students who take PA699 are required to present their work at the Graduate Student Research
Colloquium or at Student Scholarship Day.
THE MHA PROGRAM
The Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree program broadens the commitment of the School of Public,
Nonprofit, and Health Administration to educate community leaders. The mission of the MHA is to teach and prepare
individuals for managerial and leadership roles in the challenging and complex field of health care administration. The
program centers on interdisciplinary learning experiences that integrate classroom study, applied research,
professional development, and field experience. The curriculum is designed to develop advanced executive abilities
through a combination of core competencies and specialized areas of concentration.
An advanced degree in health administration opens up career opportunities that span the diverse components that
make up the health care delivery system including: hospitals, ambulatory care practices, assisted living communities,
skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies and hospice care. In addition to direct health service providers, MHA
graduates are qualified for management positions in marketing, human resources, finance, and planning in
pharmaceutical, medical device and supplies, and insurance companies.
The MHA program consists of a total of 45 credit hours and is developed into four parts. A helpful advising form is
included at the end of the handbook.
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
Core Level I (12 credits):
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PA 630 Health Administration and Services
PA 611 Research Methods
PA 612 Human Resources in Organizations
PA 614 Organization Theory
Core Level II (12 credits):
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PA 631 U.S. Health Policy and Politics
PA 632 Health Services Financial Management
PA 633 Health Economics
PA 634 Health Care Law and Ethics
Level III Specializations (15 credits)
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PA 643 Strategic Management and Planning
PA 635 Health Care Administration and Management
PA 637 Ambulatory Care Organization and Management
PA 638 Long Term Care Organization and Management
PA 640 Marketing Health and Human Services
PA 680 Epidemiology
PA 680 Health Information Systems
PA 616 Policy Analysis
PA 644 GIS in the Public Service
Level IV Capstone (6 credits):
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PA 690 Internship I
PA 619 Management Seminar
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
MSW/MPA DUAL DEGREE
Students may pursue a Master of Public Administration simultaneously with a Master of Social Work. Students must be
admitted to both programs. This recommended plan of study is comprised of 78 credits, 72 hours that are required and
six credits of electives.
Foundation Core (all required):
• SW 600 Cultural Competency for Social Work
• SW 601 Foundations of Social Work Practice
• SW 603 Integrated Methods
• SW 610 Social Welfare Policy and Services I
• SW 620 Human Behavior and the Social
Environment
• SW 690 Social Research I
Field Practicum (all required):
• SW 650,2,4 Field Education I, II & III
• SW 651,3,5 Field Education Seminar I, II & III
Note: One field practicum must focus on building
management skills.
Advanced Generalist Concentration
(all required with 2 noted PA/SW options):
• SW 622 Psychopathology and Social Deviance
• SW 640 Seminar in Advanced Generalist Practice
(capstone)
OR
• PA 619 Public Management Seminar
• SW 662 Substance Abuse and Social Work Practice
• SW 670 Social Work Practice: Individuals
• SW 693 Social Research II
OR
• PA 611 Research Methods
Advanced macro
(all required with 2 noted PA/SW options):
• SW 660 Grant Writing and Resource Development
OR
• PA 535 Grant Writing
• SW 678 Human Services Administration
OR
• PA 661 Nonprofit Management: Practices
• SW 679 Program Planning, Monitoring &
Evaluation
Public Administration Core (all required):
• PA 520 Foundations of Public Management
• PA 612 Human Resources in Organizations
• PA 614 Organization Theory
• PA 660 The Nonprofit Sector: History and Ethics
• PA 662 Nonprofit Resource and Financial
Management
Social Work Electives (choose 1 of 4):
• SW 672 Social Work Practice: Groups Credits: 3
• SW 674 Social Work Practice: Families and
Children
• SW 630 Social Work: Global Service-Learning
• SW 631 Cross Cultural Service Learning
Advanced Policy (required):
• PA 663 Nonprofit Organizations and Public Policy
Public Administration Electives (choose 1 of 4):
• PA 619 Public Management Seminar
• PA 642 Conflict Management
• PA 643 Strategic Management and Planning
• PA 644 GIS in the Public Service
• PA 665 Nonprofit and Foundation Boards,
Trustees, and Governance
Note: PA 619 is required for an MPA degree and must be
taken either in the Advanced Generalist Concentration
option or as an elective.
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
PA 619 CAPSTONE PAPER
Students are required to write a scholarly research paper in the management seminar (PA619). This course is designed
to provide students with a comprehensive overview and assessment of their advanced study of public and nonprofit
administration. The course approaches the study of public management from the perspectives of a competing values
framework, administrative ethics, and from multiple levels of analysis (individual, organizational, and societal). Students
combine theory and practice through case analyses and personal assessment of management competencies. Each
student completes a journal article length research paper or analytical essay, with the best papers published in the
SPNHA REVIEW, which is a departmental publication that recognizes the outstanding achievements of our students,
while providing evidence of student learning and exemplars of research and writing for new graduate students to
emulate.
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The School of Public, Nonprofit, & Administration seeks to "educate students for lives of active citizenship and for
professional careers in public and nonprofit organizations." To do this, it is essential to provide students with real life
experiences that create a bridge between classroom theory and the challenges of professional life. This is accomplished
through the SPNHA internship experience.
Internships are not required for students with at least two years of previous or concurrent work experience; however,
these students must fill out the Internship Waiver form (included at the end of the handbook) upon entrance into the
program.
Students without at least two years of previous or concurrent work experience in the field of public or nonprofit
management (for the MPA degree) or health management (for the MHA degree) are required to take three credits of
internship (PA 690). Graduate students receive three credits for 300 hours of internship and may do up to two
internships for credit. Pre-service students who do not successfully complete the internship will not graduate. The
internship is graded on a Credit / No Credit basis.
Finding an Internship Students who would like assistance in finding an internship should contact Quincy Williams at
616.331.2362 or williamq@gvsu.edu at least three months prior to the beginning of the semester in which they wish to
do the internship to allow time to find a site that meets the students’ needs and interests. The meeting will include a
discussion of the student’s areas of interest, as well as preparation in past course work and job experiences, in an effort
to find an organization suited to the student’s interests and skills. To that end, it is a good idea to bring along a resume
to the meeting. Prior to the meeting, students may wish to consult the SPNHA Facebook site, which includes a partial
listing of current opportunities in the public/nonprofit sector. While the Internship Coordinator will help prospective
interns find a suitable organization, students themselves are ultimately responsible for identifying and contacting a
sponsoring organization.
If a student has a particular placement in mind, please first call the internship coordinator to see if a contact has been
established with the organization. If not, you may contact the organization yourself and set up an informational
interview to learn about a possible internship placement.
Academic and Field Hour Requirements Students must meet both academic and field hour requirements in order
to receive credit. Graduate students must complete 300 hours of fieldwork for three credits and complete the
Internship Checklist and turn in to the internship coordinator by the end of the first week of fieldwork.
Each student will be evaluated by his or her site supervisor. Satisfactory completion of fieldwork is a requirement of
receiving academic credit. Each student will coordinate a site visit for the internship coordinator to meet with both the
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
student and the site supervisor during the internship.
Students must submit three progress reports (every 75 hours) and a final paper by the last day of classes in the
semester they wish to receive credit. Each progress report should highlight experiences, interactions, and things
learned and should be one to two pages, double spaced. Students may email, mail or drop off the internship report to
224C DeVos Center (williamq@gvsu.edu). In addition, students may also call the internship coordinator or stop by the
office at any time to share your experiences.
The final paper should be three to four pages long. The content depends somewhat upon the nature of the internship.
Students must discuss this content with the internship coordinator, and perhaps with the site supervisor who may want
to read the paper. At a minimum, it should include:
•
•
•
•
An overview of the field agency or site, its structure and functions, and where you fit within the organizational
structure.
Critical thoughts of the field site’s activities. This includes a discussion of the organization’s efficiency, their
staff structure, the organization’s ability to perform its mission, the office environment and morale, and the
pressing issues and advantages the organization faces, among other observations.
An Evaluation of the relationship between classroom and field knowledge; comment specifically on what you
learned from your courses and your textbooks and whether this knowledge fits with the “real world”
experience of the public and nonprofit agency. Refer to specific text/courses whenever possible.
A summary of your experience. What have you learned; how have you changed as a result of this experience?
How does this experience affect the likelihood that you will continue pursuing a career in the public/nonprofit
sector?
MASTER’S THESIS
Students may choose to enroll in PA695 and write a master’s thesis after completing 30 credit hours, which must
include PA611, Research Methods. They also must have attended one Graduate Student Research Colloquium.
Students must consult with their adviser prior to enrolling in PA695. The thesis option is recommended only for those
students who wish to pursue doctoral work. Students who take the thesis option do not have to take PA619. In the fall
semester, students write and defend their thesis proposal. In the winter semester, the data are collected and analyzed,
and the thesis is completed and defended.
All students selecting the thesis option must select a Thesis Committee. The Thesis Committee consists of a chair who is
the primary adviser who agrees to supervise the thesis, and one additional faculty member from the School of Public,
Nonprofit, & Health Administration. The chair and at least one faculty member must be full-time, tenure-track faculty
within the School. A third full-time, tenure-track faculty member relevant to the student’s thesis is optional. Once a
thesis chair and committee have been selected, the student must submit an Approval of Thesis Committee form to the
director of SPNHA who will verify that the Thesis Committee meets the rules regarding committee membership and will
place the form in the student’s file.
Special Responsibilities of the Thesis Committee Chair:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Ensure that the Thesis Committee meets periodically and functions effectively.
Facilitate the submission and approval of the thesis proposal.
Organize and facilitate the student’s proposal defense.
Ensure that materials are read by committee members in a timely fashion.
Organize, facilitate, and lead the student’s thesis.
Work with the student to facilitate the submission of paperwork needed for graduation.
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
Responsibilities of the Thesis Committee and Chair:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Approve the nature and scope of the thesis problem to be studied.
Meet with the student to assess and discuss the thesis proposal.
Review drafts of the student’s thesis and identify needed revisions.
Participate in the completion of the thesis and certify that the student has successfully completed the
program of study.
Thesis Requirements Students choosing to write a thesis must prepare a detailed proposal for their thesis research.
The proposal demonstrates that the student has reviewed the relevant literature and outlines in detail how the
research will be conducted. The proposal should include the following information: the major questions to be
addressed, the significance of these questions, the extent of current knowledge in the area of research, the materials
and methods to be used to answer the questions, and the schedule for completion of stages of work. The thesis
proposal format is as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Introduction
Literature Review
Purpose of the Study and Research Questions
Proposed Methods
Expected Findings
Summary
References
Thesis Proposal Defense Before a student may enroll for thesis credit hours, a successful thesis proposal defense must
be held during which the thesis proposal is discussed by the student and all committee members. This will provide the
opportunity to develop a consensus around the thesis. Assuming agreement over the proposal, a Thesis Proposal
Approval form must be signed by all committee members and forwarded to the Director of SPNHA to be placed in the
student’s permanent file.
Thesis Style The thesis should be at least 75 pages and no more than 125 pages and be written in American
Psychological Association (APA) style. The thesis must be written in 12-point, professional font and the entire document
(including footnotes, endnotes, and reference pages) must be double-spaced. Pages must also be formatted with a 1.5inch left margin and 1-inch right, top and bottom margins. Other requirements, including the quality and weight of the
paper used for final copies, are specified by the GVSU library and University Microfilms Incorporated. Visit
http://www.gvsu.edu/library/master-s-thesis-project-protocol-option-8.htm#Thesis for more information.
Thesis Format Please note that all GVSU research projects involving human subjects require approval from the Human
Research Review Committee. Even if the project does not involve any risk or very low risk to human subjects, as long as
it involves interacting with human beings in any way to gather data or information, students need to get prior approval.
For guidance on the process for getting this approval, please see the HRRC website at http://www.gvsu.edu/hrrc/.
The following thesis format is an example of a traditional thesis. Those involving qualitative and/or alternative methods
may be written in different formats. There are, however, certain components that must be included in the final thesis;
these mandatory components are marked with and an asterisk (*).
1. Title Page*: unnumbered
2. Thesis Defense Approval Form*: (Form is to be signed by all committee members and the Director of SPNHA)
unnumbered
3. Dedication Page (optional): unnumbered
4. Acknowledgement Page (optional): page i
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Abstract* (100-250 word limit): page ii or page i if no acknowledgement page
Table of contents*: page iii
List of figures and/or tables (if applicable)*: page iv
Chapter One - Introduction: Begin with unnumbered page 1. Number all subsequent pages 2, 3, etc.
Chapter Two - Literature Review
Chapter Three - Methods
Chapter Four - Results
Chapter Five - Discussion
Chapter Six - Conclusions
References: follow the sequential page numbering of the text
Appendix or Appendices (if applicable)*: follow the sequential numbering of text
Required Presentation of the result of the Master’s Thesis A public presentation is required for all Master’s candidates
writing a thesis; usually this will be at the Graduate Student Research Colloquium or at Student Scholarship Day.
Publication Requirements After successfully defending the thesis and making any final corrections to the manuscript,
the student should then present one finished and bound copy of the final thesis to the Thesis Committee Chair; this
copy will be put on reserve in SPNHA for future student reference. When the manuscript and abstract are approved by
your committee as ready to publish, the University Libraries will send the thesis to ProQuest to be filmed, stored, and
listed in a computerized database; the abstract will be printed in Master’s Abstracts. A bound copy will also be shelved
in the University Libraries. Please contact Sarah Pepper, Administrative Assistant, Room 210 in Zumberge Library,
phone 616-331-2621, and to make arrangements. The student is responsible for all costs associated with thesis
production and binding. For more information, visit http://www.gvsu.edu/library/master-s-thesis-project-protocoloption-8.htm#Thesis.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
PA 520 Foundations of Public Management An exploration of administrative management function, structures and
methods and their intersection in public administration. An introduction to key management systems and processes, an
examination of ecological influences on them, and an overview of the behavioral and ethical dimensions of
management. Primary focus will be on agencies and issues in the public sector. Prerequisite: Admission to the MPA
program or permit. Three credits.
PA 535 Grant Writing Instruction in finding grant sources, writing grants, developing grant budgets and evaluating
grant proposals. As part of this course, students will be expected to write and submit at least one actual grant proposal.
Offered once a year. Prerequisite: Admission to the MPA or MHA program or permit. Three credits.
PA 550--555 Public Administration Workshops Advanced-level workshops directed toward public sector professionals
focusing on specific public sector problems and policies. Format and scheduling are flexible and may include weekend
sessions. Topics will vary and prerequisites may be established. One to three credits.
PA 610 Economic Analysis for Public Administrators Explores the principles and theories of economics as they apply to
the public sector, with a focus on the public aspects of economic analysis. The primary purpose of the course is to
improve the students’ understanding of how basic economic analysis and reasoning can be applied by public
administrators. Prerequisite: Admission to the MPA or MHA program or permit. Three credits.
PA 611 Research Methods An advanced survey of the most important and frequently used methods and techniques of
research and analysis used by administrators and planners. Course also will familiarize students with the use of
computers for such research and analysis. Emphasizes the application of research and analysis in public administration.
Offered every semester. Prerequisites: PA 520 or 630 (may be taken concurrently). Three credits.
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
PA 612 Human Resources in Organizations An accelerated survey of policies and issues in human resource
management in public and nonprofit contexts. Focus is on human values, behavior, ethics, and human interactions in
organizations. Offered summer and winter semesters. Prerequisite: Admission to the MPA or MHA program. Three
credits.
PA 614 Organization Theory Explores the various theories of organizations. Focus is on the process of structural
development and the impact each structure has on individuals and groups. Offered fall and winter semesters.
Prerequisites: PA 520 or 630 (may be taken concurrently). Three credits.
PA 615 Public Financial Administration Practices and problems of public fiscal management with special attention to
budgetary concepts and analytical techniques: the budget as an instrument of planning and control; organizing to
ensure fiscal accountability; the public economy; financial decision-making; planning, programming, and budgeting
systems; and allocation of scarce government resources in government and nonprofit agencies and programs. Offered
fall semester. Prerequisites: PA 520 or 630 (may be taken concurrently). Three credits.
PA 616 Public Policy Analysis explores theories advanced to explain policy formation; examination of how needs are
identified, communicated to policy-makers, evaluated and converted into formal policy, and implemented by
administrative actions. Emphasis is on policy analysis in the public sector. Offered winter semester. Prerequisites: (PA
520 or PA 630), and PA 611. Three credits.
PA 619 Public Management Seminar Examines the structure and dynamics of organizations; problems of financing,
staffing, and program implementation; administrative reform and reorganization; qualitative and quantitative methods
for managerial decision-making; goal-directed processes and effective planning. Uses a case study approach
emphasizing management problems. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisites: Completion of 30 credit hours in
MPA or MHA. Three credits.
PA 620 Metropolitan Politics and Administration Examines theories and practice of metropolitan politics and
administration, including studies of intergovernmental relations, suburbia and the multi-centered metropolis, economic
development and managing metropolitan services. Structures of politics and power both formal and informal are
investigated. Offered summer and fall semesters. Prerequisites: PA 520 (may be taken concurrently). Three credits.
PA 621 Administrative and Regulatory Law An intensive study of administrative and regulatory law as it relates to the
public sector. Requirements for, and limits on, the exercise of power by elected and appointed official and liability of
public managers are covered. Offered fall semester. Prerequisites: PA 520 or 630 (may be taken concurrently). Three
credits.
PA 630 Health Administration and Service Overview of the current management, organization, and delivery of U.S.
health care. Current management and organization theories are compared in relation to the health care system. Major
system components are defined and studied. Included are discussions of staffing, dealing with internal and external
constituencies, and identification of hospital types. Offered every other year. Prerequisite: Admission to the MPA or
MHA program. Three credits.
PA 631 U.S. Health Policy and Politics Examines public policy-making in the health care sector since 1900. Emphasizes
policy, the process of government regulation, and the character of health settings at the federal, state, and local levels;
with attention to the constitutional foundations, legislative policies, and bureaucratic implementation features of the
system in a political context. Offered fall semester. Prerequisites: PA 520 or PA 630 (may be taken concurrently). Three
credits.
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
PA 632 Health Services Financial Management Provides detailed understanding of the health services financial
framework for decision making. Microcomputer applications that serve to facilitate operational and financial planning
and analysis, third party reimbursement, regulation, and cost containment, rate settings, operating budgets, capital
budgets, project budgeting, cash budgeting, and financial feasibility. Offered winter semester. Prerequisite: PA 611.
Three credits.
PA 633 Health Economics Examines the principles and application of economic analysis in the health industry. Provides
insights offered by economic analysis of relevant data specific to health issues and problems such as failures of the
market system, large gaps in access, cost containment, regulation, and extensive growth of private insurance and
government programs. Offered winter semester. Prerequisites: PA 520 or PA 630 (may be taken concurrently). Three
credits.
PA 634 Health Care Law and Ethics Examines current and historical legal and ethical issues impacting health
administration, including malpractice and other liability issues, licensing and regulation, professional ethics, contracts
and property, insurance, corporate, taxation, antitrust, fraud and abuse, medical staff, confidentiality, health care
access, peer review, ethics committees, legal and ethical aspects of patient care decision making and consent. Offered
winter semester. Prerequisites: PA 520 or PA 630 (may be taken concurrently). Three credits.
PA 635 Hospital Organization and Management Discussions of various types of hospitals. Study of their organization
and management, including clinical, support and administrative functions, analysis of special operational problems, and
administrative ethics. Requirements of the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Hospitals and other accrediting
agencies are emphasized. Offered on sufficient demand. Prerequisites: PA 520 or PA 630 (may be taken concurrently).
Three credits.
PA 637 Ambulatory Care Organization and Management Study of the organizational and administrative aspects of
ambulatory health services delivery. Focus on delivery strategies and organizational models and the operational issues
of financial control, personnel, regulation, and evaluation. Includes identification and discussions of various types of
outpatient services. Offered fall semester. Prerequisites: PA 520 or PA 630 (may be taken concurrently). Three credits.
PA 638 Long-Term Care Organization and Management Overview of organization and management of long-term care
continuum, including nursing homes, hospices, psychiatric institutions, and noninstitutional alternatives-home health
care and adult day care. Examines principles in the management of institutional and noninstitutional facilities for the
chronically, terminally, or mentally ill and the disabled elderly. Offered winter semester. Prerequisites: PA 520 or PA
630 (may be taken concurrently). Three credits.
PA 640 Marketing Health and Human Services Explores and applies marketing and public relations concepts to a
variety of health and human service functions. Included are the integration of marketing and public relations planning
and programs in organizations. Focuses on social and ethical issues of promoting wellness and health care, and
communication with the community and media. Offered on sufficient demand. Prerequisites: PA 520 or PA 630 (may be
taken concurrently). Three credits.
PA 641 Economic and Community Development Describes and evaluates ways to coordinate the efforts of public
agencies, private businesses, and nonprofit organizations to address planning, economic development, and
employment issues more comprehensively. Included in this analysis are public and private programs basic to economic
development; state and federal enabling legislation and regulations; local ordinance and public—private partnership
alternatives. Offered winter semester. Prerequisites: PA 520 or PA 630 (may be taken concurrently). Three credits.
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
PA 642 Conflict Management Provides an overview of theories of social conflict. Develops an understanding of the
conceptual issues involving conflict and conflict management on many levels in diverse settings. Introduces specific
dispute resolution skills such as negotiation and mediation. Offered on sufficient demand. Prerequisite: Admission to
the MPA or MHA program. Three credits.
PA 643 Strategic Management and Planning Planning as a decision-making process, methods for defining goals in
public and private planning programs, role of planning in policy formulation, planning for human environment
relationships. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisites: PA 520 or PA 630 (may be taken concurrently). Three
credits.
PA 644 GIS in the Public Service Examines the management and application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in
the public and nonprofit sectors. Lectures and readings emphasize the organizational, managerial, and ethical issues of
interagency/intergovernmental GIS projects. Hands-on lab instruction provides training in desktop GIS software.
Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: Admission to the MPA or MHA program. Offered fall semester. Three credits.
PA 660 Nonprofit Sector: History and Ethics A comprehensive survey of the nonprofit sector, its history, philosophy,
character, governance, and legal status. Emphasis on the role and tradition of philanthropy and voluntarism in America,
and on the special fund-raising and resource development practices of the sector. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite:
Admission to the MPA or MHA program. Three credits.
PA 661 Nonprofit Management: Practices Explores the assumptions and practice of nonprofit organization
management. Examines how these issues differ in different types of nonprofits. Topics include issues of public
accountability, ethics, evaluating organizational effectiveness, personnel motivation, board and staff relationships,
volunteers, and the meaning of service. Offered winter semester. Prerequisites: PA 520 or PA 630 (may be taken
concurrently). Three credits.
PA 662 Nonprofit Resource and Financial Management After a brief review of nonprofit finance and accounting,
course examines resource development and fundraising. Presents a philanthropic view that fundraising should be
“mission driven and volunteer-centered.” Topics include direct mail fundraising, planned giving, grant seeking, and
philosophies and ethics of fundraising. Offered winter semester. Prerequisites: PA 520 or PA 630 (may be taken
concurrently). Three credits.
PA 663 Nonprofit Organizations and Public Policy An introduction to the public policy-making process as it applies to
nonprofit organizations. Explores how nonprofit organizations both shape and are shaped by public policy. Focus is on
the intersection of nonprofit and government actions and services. The creation, design, function, and finance of
nonprofit organizations are addressed. Offered fall semester. Prerequisites: PA 520 or PA 630 (may be taken
concurrently). Three credits.
PA 665 Nonprofit and Foundation Boards, Trustees, and Governance Examines perspectives on, models for, and
functions of board governance and the way governance and management are intertwined in the operation and
leadership of foundations and nonprofit organizations. Explores specific functions of trustees within their legal, ethical,
and fiduciary obligations. Offered every other year. Prerequisites: PA 520 and PA 660 or PA 630 (may be taken
concurrently). Three credits.
PA 670 International NGO Management Theory and cases in international nongovernmental organizations (INGO)
management. Analysis of various types and various roles played by INGOs. Relationship between INGOs and other
actors in international development such as multilateral and bilateral donors, host governments, local NGOs and local
communities. Resource generation and management. Assessment and improvement of INGO performance. Offered
winter and spring/summer semesters. Prerequisites: PA 520 or permission.
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
PA 680 Special Topics Seminar A seminar for the study of important topics not ordinarily covered in other courses.
Course may be taken more than once when the topic is different. One to three credits. Offered in response to special
departmental interests of faculty and students.
PA 690 Public Administration Internship I Open to preservice students and those without public service employment
experiences. Students will be given the opportunity to test and apply classroom knowledge to an actual professional
position in a public agency or nonprofit organization. Prerequisites: Admission to M.P.A. program and completion of
applicable course requirements. Permission of instructor. Three credits. Offered every semester. Offered on a credit/no
credit basis.
PA 691 Public Administration Internship II A second internship. May be taken concurrently with 690 when field
experience warrants it, or may be taken after 690 by those taking an additional field work experience. Prerequisites:
690. Permission of instructor. Three credits. Offered every semester. Offered on a credit/no credit basis.
PA 693 Research Project Course requires preparation of an extensive research and writing assignment under faculty
supervision. Prerequisite: Faculty approval of research proposal. Three credits or six credits. Offered on a credit/no
credit basis.
PA 695 Master’s Thesis Preparation of an extensive research and writing assignment under faculty supervision.
Prerequisite: Faculty approval of research proposal. Requires thesis committee. Three or six credits. Offered on a
credit/no credit basis.
PA 699 Directed Readings A research or reading project, program proposal, or other approved activity which builds in
the student’s area of specialization. Prerequisite: Permission of adviser. Three credits. Offered every semester. Offered
on a credit/no credit basis.
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
S ECTION III: SPNHA P OLICIES A ND P ROCEDURES
For students, faculty, and administrators to work cooperatively in this endeavor, certain policies, procedures, and
expectations must be shared and understood. Participation in the graduate program connotes understanding and
acceptance of the following policies and procedures.
Advisement Once admitted into the programs, students are strongly encouraged to meet with their assigned adviser
before registering for courses. Advising forms are included at the end of the handbook. In addition, students must
attend a mandatory Student Orientation Meeting. This meeting is held prior to the start of the fall semester. Students
will be informed of the date, time and place at least two weeks prior to the orientation. At orientation, the student will
receive important information related to the degree requirements, as well as a chance to meet the faculty. There is also
a virtual orientation for general graduate school information at http://gvsu.edu/gsga/virtual/.
Disability Support Services A student with disability should first:
•
•
•
Self identify concerning disability status to DSS in a timely manner.
Provide disability documentation that is not more than five years old.
Request necessary accommodations from DSS.
A student who has thus identified him/herself with DSS and has requested written documentation to professors must
present a memo from the DSS to the professor stating requested classroom accommodations. If eligible for alternative
testing (extended time and/or alternative format), the student is responsible for providing the professor with a Test
Accommodation Form to be filled out each time an exam is to be taken through DSS or if a DSS proctor is requested.
For more information, please visit http://www.gvsu.edu/dss/.
Course Registration Registration may be done online through the Banner system, via phone at 616.331.3327, or in
person at any Grand Valley campus. Grand Valley encourages students to register online. Full instructions on how to
register using the Banner system can be found by visiting the Office of the Registrar’s website at
http://www.gvsu.edu/registrar and clicking on the “Prerequisite and Registration Information” link. The Annual Class
Schedule will be available online in March and registration for the entire academic year (all semesters) begins in midMarch, please check www.gvsu.edu/schedule and click on “Registration Schedule” to find your specific date to register.
Course Load A normal (non-employed) full-time graduate student load is nine credits and a maximum load should not
exceed 12 credits. Full-time employed practitioners should enroll for no more than two classes a semester.
Professionalism SPNHA aims to educate professionals and therefore, professional demeanor is expected by instructors
and students in class and at internship sites. We expect all partners in learning to come to class prepared to meet class
objectives by actively listening to what others are saying and by contributing to class discussion in ways that enhance
the group’s learning experience. In addition, each instructor may have an explicit policy on attendance, participation,
and the use of electronic devices in the classroom. Both instructors and students are expected to be on time, remain
for the duration of the class, and stay engaged. If absences are necessary, notify the instructor in advance in order to
arrange a means of obtaining missed material. The responsibility for successful learning lies within each student who
takes the initiative to seek and share information, and to identify and correct deficits.
Academic Integrity The cornerstone of participation in higher education in the United States is honesty. SPNHA does
not tolerate any form of academic dishonesty or misconduct. Some examples include cheating on examinations,
copying or stealing other people’s work, turning in work done by others as your own, plagiarism, submitting work for
one class that was (or is going to be) submitted for another class, and other kinds of like misrepresentations. The
School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration adheres to the policies set forth in the Grand Valley State
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
University Student Code. Students must be familiar with the entire Code, but particularly Section 223:00 Integrity of
Scholarships and Grades and Section 223:01 Plagiarism. (Visit http://www.gvsu.edu/studentcode/ for more
information.)
Research Involving Human Subjects Students who conduct research using human subjects must submit a research
protocol to the Human Research Review Committee. However, not all research using human subjects needs to be
reviewed by the HRRC. For additional information, please visit http://www.gvsu.edu/hrrc to review HRRC procedures
and guidelines.
Attendance Attendance is strongly encouraged in every graduate class. Active involvement is expected. Professors in
SPNHA understand personal and professional situations occur, and sometimes do so unexpectedly. If students have
regular occurring meetings, appointments, and so forth during class time that result in many absences, consider taking
the course at a different time. In many classes, missing class will most likely negatively affect your final grade.
Emergency Closing Policy GVSU Emergency Closing Policy states that students, faculty and staff should assume the
university is open unless they hear otherwise on the radio or television. Students are asked not to call the Grand Valley
State University switchboard to ask about closings, but instead to listen for the information on the radio and television
or visit www.gvsu.edu/pewsecurity for more information.
Incomplete Grades This is a temporary grade given for work that is lacking in quantity to meet course objectives. It may
be assigned when illness, necessary absence, or other reasons generally beyond the control of the student prevent
completion of the course requirements by the end of the semester. This grade may not be given as a substitute for a
failing grade or withdrawal. Unless changed by the instructor, the I will be changed to an F (NC when appropriate)
according to this schedule: fall semester incompletes, end of winter semester; winter and spring/summer incompletes,
end of fall semester. Students are required to notify their professors, and complete and sign the Request for
Incomplete Grade Form provided at the end of the handbook. Students with more than three credits of incompletes
must obtain permission from the Director of SPNHA before enrolling in classes.
Repeat Course Policy No more than two courses may be repeated and these courses can be repeated only once.
Permission to retake a course must be obtained from the professor of record and Director of SPNHA before registering
for the course. To obtain approval, the School and University forms at the end of the handbook must be completed and
submitted.
Master’s Thesis The thesis option is recommended only for those students who wish to pursue doctoral work. Students
who take the thesis option do not have to take PA619. Typically, students enroll in PA693 (Research Project) in the fall
semester and PA695 in the winter semester. In the fall semester, students write and defend their thesis. In the winter
semester, the data are collected and analyzed, and the thesis is completed and defended; therefore, the thesis is
completed in an academic year. A thesis that is not finished in the required time will receive an Incomplete.
Internships Students without at least two years of previous or concurrent work experience in the field of public or
nonprofit management (for the MPA degree) or health management (for the MHA degree) are required to take three
credits of internship (PA 690). Graduate students receive three credits for 300 hours of internship and may do up to
two internships for credit. Pre-service students who do not successfully complete the internship will not graduate.
Those students with related work experience must complete and submit the internship waiver form found at the end of
this handbook.
Grading/Academic Progress A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher must be earned in the entire degree
program in order to graduate. Courses with grades of C- or below, NC, I and/or W do not count toward graduation. In
addition, no more than six credit hours of courses with a grade of C+ or C may be used toward the degree
requirements. Students are not permitted to elect to take a class as credit/no credit if it is a graded course.
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SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or below after nine hours of graduate level coursework results in an automatic
dismissal from the university. Any student whose cumulative grade point average (GPA) falls below a 3.0 after nine
hours will be given one, subsequent semester to improve academic performance. Failure to improve the cumulative
GPA to a 3.0 or higher at the end of the probationary semester will result in termination of the student’s participation
in the program.
Graduate assistants must maintain a 3.0 in order to continue in the position; falling below a 3.0 in any semester (not
cumulative GPA) will result in the forfeiture of the graduate assistantship in the subsequent semester.
Pre-service students who do not successfully complete the internship will not graduate. Students may also be
terminated for serious violations of University rules or standards of conduct, as enumerated in the Graduate Catalog,
the GVSU Student Code, or other official University publications.
Transfer Credits A maximum of 12 semester hours of transfer credit will be given for appropriate graduate courses
completed within the previous five-year period with a grade of B or better from an accredited program at another
college or university. These transfer credits may be substituted for required courses or given general credit as
determined by the Director. Upon acceptance into SPNHA graduate programs, students must complete and submit the
request for Transfer of Graduate Credit Form and submit the course syllabi, course descriptions, and official transcripts.
Only those graduate-level courses identified as equivalent by the School will transfer.
Students choosing to take courses outside the School or University while enrolled in the graduate program must obtain
written permission from their adviser and Director of SPNHA prior to enrolling in the course. Along with the course
syllabi and description, students must complete and submit the Request for Transfer Credits at the end of the
handbook. The transfer will occur upon successful completion of the course (a grade of B or better) and completion the
University’s official transfer form. Transferred credits apply to the time limitation policy provided below.
Applying for Graduation Early on in the next to last semester of the degree program, students must meet with their
adviser to review their plan of study and ensure all degree requirements will be completed by the end of the semester
in which they plan to graduate. Early on the in that last semester, students must apply to graduate, which will initiate a
“degree
audit”
by
the
Records
Office.
This
application
is
available
online
at
http://www.gvsu.edu/cms3/assets/1F290642-C5EE-162B-71EF20BD9D55DC02/Grad%20DipCard%202-09.pdf.
Upon a successful audit, students will receive a Ceremony Response Card which must be completed and returned if
students plan to walk in GVSU’s Commencement ceremony. After returning the Ceremony Response Card, students will
be sent information about commencement. For more information, visit http://www.gvsu.edu/commencement/.
Time Limitations All courses to be counted for a master’s degree at GVSU must be completed within eight years from
the semester of the first course to be counted toward the degree. Petitions for exception to graduate time limit policy
are required for students who have taken more than eight years to complete their degree including any courses
transferred from another institution.
23
SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
S ECTION IV: S TUDENT R ESOURCES
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & HONOR SOCIETIES
American Society for Public Administration Membership in American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) is highly
recommended and attendance at local ASPA meetings is encouraged for graduate students. This is a professional
organization that provides students with excellent publications, newsletters, career opportunities, and an opportunity
to create networks with other public administrators. Applications may be accessed at www.aspanet.org or from faculty
members. The West Michigan chapter of ASPA provides regular opportunities for professional and social networking.
American College of Healthcare Executives The Great Lakes Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives
exists to provide educational and networking opportunities for healthcare leaders in Western, Northern and Central
Michigan. Current chapter membership includes professionals working in a variety of settings, including hospitals,
health plans, medical practices, consulting firms, pharmaceutical companies, nursing homes, universities, and other
areas of the healthcare industry.
Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action Founded in 1971 as the Association of
Voluntary Action Scholars, the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) is a
neutral, open forum committed to strengthening the research community in the emerging field of nonprofit and
philanthropic studies. ARNOVA brings together both theoretical and applied interests, helping scholars gain insight into
the day-to-day concerns of third-sector organizations, while providing nonprofit professionals with research they can
use to improve the quality of life for citizens and communities. Principal activities include an annual conference,
publications, electronic discussions and special interest groups.
Graduate & Professional Student Association The Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) seeks to
foster the intellectual, professional, and social development of the graduate student community while promoting
interdisciplinary communication and collaboration. This is the only university-wide student association dedicated to
Grand Valley graduate students. The annual meeting schedule will be posted to Blackboard in September. To join GPSA
go to www.gvsu.edu/studentlife/stuey and search “graduate.”
Peter Cook Leadership Academy The Hauenstein Center’s Peter Cook Leadership Academy is a one-year leadership
development program for aspiring leaders that combines insight from scholars with training from professionals. This
program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Leadership fellows gather monthly over lunch to meet
with national, state, and local leaders and to discuss leadership principles. A syllabus of readings—mining the best
leadership studies and presidential biographies—enriches discussion and advances understanding. To become a
Leadership Fellow, you will need to apply to the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. For more information, visit
www.allpresidents.org.
Pi Alpha Alpha Pi Alpha Alpha is a national honor society that recognizes outstanding scholarship and accomplishment
in the field of public affairs and administration.. The society seeks to promote the advancement of quality in the
education and practice of the art and science of public affairs and administration. Pi Alpha Alpha objectives are to
foster integrity, professionalism and effective performance in the conduct of government and related public service
activities. Pi Alpha Alpha membership identifies those with the highest performance levels in educational programs
preparing them for public service careers.
24
SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR RESEARCH SUPPORT
All fully admitted graduate students are encouraged to join and participate in the activities of appropriate professional
societies (see above). This is an important part of the student’s professional development and an important forum for
the student to establish academic and professional contacts in the field. Graduate students may apply to the Center for
Scholarly and Creative Excellence (http://www.gvsu.edu/csce/) for support as well as to the professional society
sponsoring the conference.
In addition, the Academic Conference Fund provides travel and presentation funding to both graduate and
undergraduate students for independent research or creative activities that are accepted for
presentation/exhibition/performance at a professional meeting or conference. If your research is accepted for a poster
or presentation at a professional conference at a state, regional, or national competitive juried event, you are eligible
to apply for a grant. For AY 2010-2011, the maximum award is $500 for students invited to present or perform at a
conference or meeting. These awards are not intended for attendance at a meeting. Applications for support must be
planned well in advance of any planned travel, as funds are limited and not guaranteed. The application form is
available online at www.gvsu.edu/integrativelearning.
Finally, grant awards up to $1,000 are available to graduate students working on a thesis or final scholarly project.
Students must be degree seeking and the research must be tied to completion of some aspect of their graduate degree.
The application forms are available to download online at www.gvsu.edu/gs.
DOROTHY A. JOHNSON CENTER FOR PHILANTHROPY
Students pursuing master’s degrees in SPNHA may want to become involved in activities of the Dorothy A. Johnson
Center for Philanthropy. The Johnson Center is designated by Grand Valley as one of its “centers of distinction.” One
of the largest and oldest of the nonprofit academic centers in the nation, the Johnson Center offers an unusual
opportunity for GVSU students to engage in hands-on work in the nonprofit sector and with the foundation community.
The Johnson Center is located on the south-end of the DeVos campus in the Bicycle Factor (second floor) on Front
Street. To become involved in the Center’s professional development programs, visit www.johnsoncenter.org to signup to receive weekly e-mail notifications of upcoming programs, which include the Brown Bag Lunch series and
professional development workshops and seminars. Programs are free to GVSU students. In addition, the Johnson
Center offers employment opportunities and graduate assistantships. Students interested in employment opportunities
with the Johnson Center should contact Robin Leonard at leonardr@gvsu.edu or 616.331.7585.
LIBRARIES
GVSU has four libraries, Zumberge, Steelcase, Seidman House, and the Frey Foundation Learning Center. Each library’s
collection supports the programs offered on the campus in which it is located. The Steelcase Library has books and
other materials pertaining to business, criminal justice, education, engineering, hospitality and tourism, legal studies,
public, nonprofit, and health administration, social work, and houses the Johnson Collection for Philanthropy and
Nonprofit Leadership, the nation’s third largest philanthropy collection. Library guides, created by subject specialist
librarians, are available for every discipline and for some specific courses. SPNHA’s specialist librarian, Hazel McClure,
has created the following guides for SPNHA:
•
•
Public and nonprofit administration http://libguides.gvsu.edu/content.php?pid=5996
Health administration http://libguides.gvsu.edu/content.php?pid=9309.
Hazel McClure is here to help. Students can schedule an appointment with Hazel via email at mcclureh@gvsu.edu or by
calling 616.331.7306.
25
SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Email Students receive a GVSU email account and all official GVSU (Records, Admissions, Billing, Housing, Blackboard,
and so on) email goes to this GVSU email account. Students may forward your GVSU email to a different, preferred
account; however, it is the student’s responsibility to make sure all GVSU email is received.
Blackboard Many SPNHA courses use Blackboard, which is an online tool used for Communication, Assignments, File
exchange, Evaluations, and more. For Computer Lab locations, go to www.gvsu.edu/it and select the tab called
“Computer Labs” and click “Locations and Computer Types.”
Labs & Wireless For computer lab locations visit www.gvsu.edu/it and select the tab called “Computer Labs” and click
“Locations and Computer Types.” The campus also has wireless capabilities throughout the university. Students with
laptops will need to configure computers to access Grand Valley’s wireless network. From home, the University does
offer free dial-up Internet access to students. Visit computer services for students at the website above for more
information on either of these services.
WRITING CENTER
The Fred Meijer Center for Writing provides writing assistance to all students. The Center has three locations:
Allendale, Grand Rapids, and Holland campuses. All are staffed by trained writing consultants who can assist students
at any stage of their writing processes and with papers, theses, and projects for any course or degree. Writing
consultants can help writers to brainstorm, organize, or develop their ideas; and they can help writers edit their own
work and document sources correctly. Students may simply drop in during walk-in hours to get feedback on their
writing. For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/wc.
STATISTICAL CONSULTING CENTER
The Statistical Consulting Center (SCC) provides statistical advice and assistance with projects, including final projects
and theses, which are for research or instructional purposes. The SCC also seeks to provide an educational experience
for undergraduate and graduate students studying statistics by involving them in the operation of the Center.
Consequently, the Center is open during the academic year, fall and winter semesters and may be open for part of the
summer. Check the hours of operation on their website at www.gvsu.edu/scc. Students must make an appointment;
the SCC does not offer walk-in appointments or consultations.
COUNSELING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER
The Counseling and Career Development Center is one of the most commonly used services at Grand Valley for
graduate students, 52% of their clients in Allendale and 42% in Grand Rapids are graduate students. The Center offers
group therapy, individual counseling, support groups, seminars, substance abuse counseling, and consultations about
how to deal with another student who has a problem. The Center is staffed by professional counselors. For more
information, visit www.gvsu.edu/counsel.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
GVSU’s Career Services provides resources and advising for successful internship and job searches. Staff members are
assigned to assist students for each major on campus, specializing in the unique needs of those students and the job
market. For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/careers. Additional job postings can be found through the following:
26
SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
Student Employment Electronic Job Board This Job Board lists non career related on- and off-campus jobs for students.
Go to www.myinterfase.com/gvsu/student. Then log in or register if you have not done so. Sometimes graduate
students have trouble registering, if so send Student Employment an email at student@gvsu.edu.
Jobs at GVSU This site from the Human Resources Office lists clerical, academic, and administrative position openings
at GVSU. Go to www.gvsu.edu/hro/. hen click on the clock tower icon for “Current Job Openings”.
Lakerjobs Website Lakerjobs provides career related internship and job postings through Grand Valley’s Career
Services along with nationally posted positions. The Web site also allows you to post your resume and sign up for
interviews on-campus. Go to www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs and then click on “Students”. First-time users can set up an
account by using the password “lakerjobs” when entering the site. If you have questions, please contact Career Services
phone: (616)331-3311 or e-mail: career@gvsu.edu.
SPNHA Announcements When SPNHA receives a job announcement, it is posted to the School’s Facebook page.
Students and alumni are encouraged to e-mail job postings to Dr. Hoffman (hoffmanm@gvsu.edu) who will forward
them to students. In addition, there are a number of useful job boards and employment resources located on the
SPNHA Career Resource website, http://www.gvsu.edu/spna/jobs.html.
GRADUATE STUDENT GUIDEBOOK
Additional information about university key facts, policies, and helpful suggestions and resources are available in the
Graduate Student Guidebook published by the Office of Graduate Studies. The book is available at:
http://www.gvsu.edu/cms3/assets/BA075F74-B894-D9B3-78529F12FF696B0/fall_2010_grad_stu_guidebook_with_cover.pdf
27
SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
PEW GRAND RAPIDS CAMPUS MAP
28
SPNHA GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
S ECTION V: F ORMS
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
MPA Advising Form
MHA Advising Form
Scholarship Application Form
Internship Waiver Form
Request for Transfer Credits Form (to be used concurrently with University form)
Request for Incomplete Form (to be used concurrently with University form)
Request for Course Repeat Form (to be used concurrently with University form)
Approval of Thesis Committee
Thesis Proposal Approval
Final Thesis Approval
29
MPA Advising
Student Name:
_______________________________________________
Concentration:
_____________________________________________
Adviser:
_____________________________________________
Start Year:
_____________________________________________
Graduation Year:
_____________________________________________
MPA Degree Requirements
The M.P.A. degree consists of a minimum of 39 credit hours of coursework. Pre-career students must take 3 credit hours of
internship (PA 690/691) in addition to the 39 required hours of course work for a total of 42 credit hours. Students must meet
with an advisor upon entry into the program to develop a program of study.
CORE (15 credit hours)
_____PA 520 Foundations of Public Management
_____PA 611 Research Methods for Public and Nonprofit Management
_____PA 612 Human Resources in Organizations
_____PA 614 Organization Theory
_____PA 619 Management Seminar (Capstone course)
CONCENTRATION (select one; 15 credit hours)
Public Management
_____PA 615 Public Financial Management
_____PA 620 Metropolitan Politics and Administration
_____PA 643 Strategic Management and Planning
And two of the following:
_____PA 616 Public Policy Analysis
_____PA 621 Administrative and Regulatory Law
_____PA 641Economic and Community Development
_____PA 642 Conflict Management
_____PA 644 GIS in Public Service
Nonprofit Management and Leadership
_____PA 660 The Nonprofit Sector: History and Ethics
_____PA 661 Nonprofit Management Practices
_____PA 662 Nonprofit Resource & Financial Management
_____PA 663 Nonprofit Organization and Public Policy
_____PA 665 Nonprofit Boards, Trustees, and Governance
OR
_____PA 641 Economic and Community Development
Urban and Regional Policy and Planning
_____PA 615 Public Financial Management
_____PA 616 Public Policy Analysis
_____PA 620 Metropolitan Politics and Administration
_____PA 641 Economic and Community Development
_____PA 644 GIS in Public Service
Criminal Justice
_____PA 615 Public Financial Administration
_____CJ 601 Criminal Justice Leadership
_____CJ 604Criminal Justice Policy Program Evaluation
_____CJ 607 Criminology
_____CJ 602 Legal and Ethical Issues
Health Administration
_____PA 630 Health Administration and Service
_____PA 631 U.S. Health Policy and Politics
_____PA 632 Health Services Financial Management
_____PA 633 Health Economics
_____PA 634 Health Care Law and Ethics
Electives (at least 9 credits) may be selected from other concentration areas or other graduate courses, including the following
one-credit workshops (a maximum of three workshop credits may be applied to the degree):
_____PA 550–559 Public Administration Workshops
_____PA 560–569 Special Topics Workshops
Students may take up to three hours of the following:
_____PA 699 Directed Readings
All pre-career students are required to take at least three internship credits (in addition to 39 hours of coursework) from:
_____PA 690 Public Administration Internship I
_____PA 691 Public Administration Internship II
Students are not required to submit a thesis, but those pursuing policy expertise or those considering going on in doctoral
studies are strongly encouraged to take up to six hours of
_____PA 693 Research Project
_____PA 695 Master’s Thesis
Recommended Schedule:
Year
1
2
3
4
5
Fall
Winter
Spring/Summer
MHA Advising
Student Name:
Concentration:
Adviser:
Start Year:
Graduation Year:
_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
MHA Degree Requirements
The MHA program consists of a total of 45 credit hours and is developed into four parts.
CORE LEVEL I (12 credit hours)
_____PA 630 Health Administration and Services
_____PA 611 Research Methods
_____PA 612 Human Resources in Organizations or MGT 633: Management of Human Resources
_____PA 614 Organization Theory or BUS 631: Leadership and Organizational Dynamics
CORE LEVEL II (12 credit hours)
PA 630 is a prerequisite for these courses, but may be taken concurrently.
_____PA 631 U.S. Health Policy and Politics
_____PA 632 Health Services Financial Management
_____PA 633 Health Economics
_____PA 634 Health Care Law and Ethics
LEVEL III SPECIALIZATIONS (15 credit hours)
PA 630 is a prerequisite for these courses, but may be taken concurrently.
_____PA 643 Strategic Management and Planning or
_____PA 635 Health Care Administration and Management
_____PA 637 Ambulatory Care Organization and Management
_____PA 638 Long Term Care Organization and Management
_____PA 640 Marketing Health and Human Services
_____PA 680 Epidemiology
_____PA 680 Health Information Systems
_____PA 616: Policy Analysis (required)
_____PA 644 GIS in the Public Service
LEVEL IV CAPSTONE: (6 credit hours)
Prerequisite: All Core Levels I and II courses and at least one course from the specialization.
_____PA 690 Internship I
_____PA 619 Management Seminar
Recommended Schedule:
Year
1
2
3
4
5
Fall
Winter
Spring/Summer
Scholarship Application
Check one:
_____Valerie P. Eggert Distinguished Scholarship in Philanthropy
_____Joyce F. Hecht Distinguished Scholarship in Philanthropy
_____John Heerspink Scholarship
_____Caprice R. Wagner Memorial Scholarship
_____Kurt F. Kimball Scholarship
Requirements
1. Must be enrolled in MPA program.
2. Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better (4.0) system. Candidates must have made prior,
satisfactory, academic progress according to the norms established by the University.
3. Submit a resume and a 2-3 page essay on why you should receive selected scholarship. Please note specific
scholarship requirements.
4. Return application by May 1 to:
School of Public, Nonprofit & Health Administration
Grand Valley State University
401 West Fulton
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Name _________________________________________
G Number ________________________
Address__________________________________________________________________________________
City ______________________________
State ______________
Zip Code ______________
Email ____________________________________________ Phone_________________________________
Curriculum Program________________________________________________________________________
Full/Part-time _____________________________________ GPA_______________________________
•
Upon accepting the award, recipient is encouraged to acknowledge his/her appreciation of the scholarship by
communicating with the appointed contact person for the scholarship.
•
Recipient is encouraged to make contributions to scholarship if he/she is financially able after graduation.
MPA / MHA Internship Waiver Form
Whether you are new to the profession, making a career change, or looking for ways to network and get a
"foot in the door," the importance of an internship cannot be overstated. Internships provide you with
experiences that create a bridge between classroom theory and the challenges of professional life. MPA
and MHA students can be waived from their internship requirement only if they have substantial prior
professional experience. If you desire an internship waiver, submit this form with your program
application. If your job situation changes while you are in the program, you may submit this form to the
program director during the term prior to your anticipated graduation.
Waiver must be based on a professional experience that:
- is equivalent to at least three years of full time employment
- has significant management, budgeting, development, and/or planning components
- was for organizations relevant to your concentration and career goals
Submit this form with your MPA/MHA application, or email or mail completed form to:
Frances Cain ( cainf@gvsu.edu )
School of Public & Nonprofit Administration
401 Fulton Street West, #288C DeVos Center
Grand Valley State University
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Student Name: ____________________________________________________________________
G-Number: _______________________________________________________________________
Degree Program / Concentration: ______________________________________________________
Email address: ____________________________________________________________________
Attach a description of the professional experience you are using as the basis of this waiver request.
Include your dates of employment, your primary duties and any special accomplishments. List a
reference (your supervisor, if possible) with contact information. Explain how your experience relates to
the work you hope to do after you graduate.
_________APPROVED
________ DENIED
___________________________________________
______________________
SPNA Director, Program Coordinator, or Faculty Adviser
date
Request for Transfer of Credits
To request a transfer of credits:
1.
2.
3.
Fill out this form as well as GVSU’s Transfer of Credits Form (available at SPHNA).
Take both forms to your instructor – he or she will determine whether or not to grant the transfer
Submit both completed forms to the Director of SPNHA for approval.
Students choosing to take courses outside the School or University while enrolled in the graduate program must obtain written
permission from their adviser and Director of SPNHA. Prior to enrolling in the course, students must complete and submit this
form along with the course syllabi and description. The transfer will occur upon the
•
•
•
successful completion of the course (a grade of B or better),
submission of the official transcripts, and
submission of the University’s official transfer form
Student Name _______________________________________
G# ____________________________
Email Address ______________________________________
Phone _________________________
Course Number and Title _______________________________
Credits ________________________
College/University ______________________________________________________________________
Will this course count as a core, concentration, or an elective course?
Core , if so, which course ___________________________________
Concentration, if so, which course ___________________________________
Elective
By signing this form, the student acknowledges that a grade of B or better must be achieved for the course to count toward the
degree. In addition, the student understands that this form is not the university’s official transfer form and completion and
submission of this form will not result in the automatic transfer of the course. Therefore, the student acknowledges
responsibility to complete and submit all official documentation (e.g., university transfer form and official transcripts) at the
end of the course for the course to count toward the graduate degree.
____________________________________________
Student Signature
____________________________________
Date
____________________________________________
Adviser Signature
_____________________________________
Date
____________________________________________
SPNHA Director Signature
_____________________________________
Date
*Attach a copy of the course description and syllabus and put in student’s record folder
Request for Incomplete Grade
To request an incomplete:
1. Fill out this form as well as GVSU’s Incomplete Form (available at SPHNA).
2. Take both forms to your instructor – he or she will determine whether or not to grant the incomplete and, if
granted, will list on the GVSU form what work needs to be completed.
3. Submit both completed forms to the Director of SPNHA for approval.
The incomplete will granted by the department and forwarded to the Dean of the College if approved by both the
instructor and the Director.
The GVSU catalog defines an incomplete in the following manner: This is a temporary grade given for work
that is lacking in quantity to meet course objectives. It may be assigned when illness, necessary absence, or other
reasons generally beyond the control of the student prevent completion of the course requirements by the end of the
semester. This grade may not be given as a substitute for a failing grade or withdrawal. Unless changed by the
instructor, the I will be changed to an F (NC when appropriate) according to this schedule: fall semester
incompletes, end of winter semester; winter and spring/summer incompletes, end of fall semester.
Student Name: ____________________________
G#: _________________________
Email Address: ____________________________
Phone: _______________________
Course for which incomplete is being requested: _________________________
Semester and year for which incomplete is to be requested: _______________________________
Explain the reasons for this incomplete request: (As per GVSU policy this must include “reasons generally beyond
the control of the student.” Use reverse of form if necessary. If this is a medical reason you must provide
documentation.)
Explain the work to be completed and the due date for this incomplete request:
Student Signature: ___________________________________________ Date: _________________________
Your signature indicates that you understand the University and SPNHA’s policies on incompletes and acknowledge the
deadlines for completion.
*Place original copy in student’s record folder
Request for Course Repeat
Complete and submit this form to the Director of SPNHA. In addition, complete and submit the official GVSU
form available at: http://www.gvsu.edu/cms3/assets/1F290642-C5EE-162B-71EF20BD9D55DC02/repeat_grade_form.pdf
Student Name: ___________________________________
G#: _________________________
Email Address: __________________________________
Phone: _______________________
Courses repeated to date: __________________________________________________________________
Course to be repeated: ___________________________________________________________________
Reason for repeated course: _______________________________________________________________
Semester and year of current course: ________________________________________________________
To the course instructor: By my signature below, I approve the student’s request to retake the aforementioned
course
_______________________________________________
________________________
Instructor Name
Date
_______________________________________________
Instructor Signature
By signing this form, the student acknowledges that:
1. This class can be repeated one time,
2. Only two classes can be repeated, and
3. SPNHA will calculate the average of the two courses when determining the cumulative GPA for honor
societies, scholarships, and graduate assistantships.
__________________________________________________
Student Signature
_______________________________________
Date
__________________________________________________
SPNHA Director Signature
_______________________________________
Date
*Place this copy in student’s record folder
Approval of Thesis Committee
The following faculty members agree to serve as a Thesis Committee for:
_________________________________________________
Student’s Name
_______________________________________
Signature
_________________________________________________
Name (Committee Chair)
_______________________________________
Signature
_________________________________________________
Title
_________________________________________________
Name
_______________________________________
Signature
_________________________________________________
Title
_________________________________________________
Name (optional)
________________________________________
Signature
_________________________________________________
Title
Approved:
_________________________________________________
Director of SPNHA
_______________________________________
Date
Thesis Proposal Approval
This Acknowledges that ______________________________________ has submitted and successfully
defended a thesis proposal entitled:
Thesis Committee:
_________________________________________________
Chair
________________________________________
Date
_________________________________________________
Member
________________________________________
Date
_________________________________________________
Member (optional)
________________________________________
Date
_________________________________________________
Director of SPNHA
________________________________________
Date
Note: This form and a copy of the proposal should be placed in the student file.
Final Thesis Approval
This acknowledges that _____________________________________________ has completed all
requirements for the Master’s thesis PA 695. It further attests that the student successfully met the
requirements for a Master’s Thesis.
The undersigned agree that this thesis entitled:
is accepted by the faculty of the School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration, Grand Valley
State University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Public Administration degree.
Thesis Committee:
_________________________________________________
Chair
________________________________________
Date
_________________________________________________
Member
________________________________________
Date
_________________________________________________
Member (optional)
________________________________________
Date
_________________________________________________
Director of SPNHA
________________________________________
Date
Note: This form and a copy of the thesis should be placed in the student file.
Final Thesis Approval
This acknowledges that _____________________________________________ has completed all
requirements for the Master’s thesis PA 695. It further attests that the student successfully met the
requirements for a Master’s Thesis.
The undersigned agree that this thesis entitled:
is accepted by the faculty of the School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration, Grand Valley
State University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Health Administration degree.
Thesis Committee:
_________________________________________________
Chair
________________________________________
Date
_________________________________________________
Member
________________________________________
Date
_________________________________________________
Member (optional)
________________________________________
Date
_________________________________________________
Director of SPNHA
________________________________________
Date
Note: This form and a copy of the thesis should be placed in the student file.