Course Objectives

The purpose of this capstone course is to give you the opportunity to synthesize, integrate and apply the knowledge you acquired as you completed your MPA degree.

One way it does this is by having you read and discuss cases that require you to apply the theories you have learned to "real world" situations. This gives you the opportunity to decide what you would do as a manager if confronted with the situation at hand given the external environment, players involved, etc. In the first several weeks of the class, you will read, apply your knowledge to, and discuss a set of six diverse cases. Meanwhile, you will also read three books that examine three dimensions of the public administration environment today. These exercises will help develop your writing and analytical skills.  These class discussions, and the short memos you prepare for them also are designed to prepare you to write your Strategic Assessment Memo.

You will then have about 6 weeks on your own to write the Strategic Assessment Memo. The purpose of this memo is to give you the opportunity to choose one of another set of six cases, analyze it and discuss it in depth. You are expected to synthesize and integrated any relevant literature you read as part of your MPA coursework, as well as any additional library research you do.

The other way in which this class serves as a "culminating experience" is through its requirement that you complete your ePortfolio. This ePortfolio documents the knowledge, skills and abilities you have learned in the program.  You are required to gather together samples of the work that you have done and add to them statements that summarize your accomplishments. Examples can be found on the PA ePortfolio website.