Master of Public Administration

Welcome! The Department of Public Affairs and Social Research at TAMIU offers a Master of Public Administration degree, one of the largest graduate programs at TAMIU. The graduate program sharpens your critical understanding of the public and non-profit employment sectors.

Our Mission:

The Masters of Public Administration Program is committed to provide individuals employed in or seeking public service careers in the South Texas border region and the Laredo community with quality professional knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to lead and manage public agencies, programs, and projects. We teach our students to value public service, to think analytically and critically, and to communicate effectively.

Our Program:

The Master of Public Administration degree marked its 10th year anniversity in professional public service and non-profit education and training in the Spring, 2011. The degree is especially beneficial to those already working in the field and wish to enhance their professional knowledge and skills.

Please check out our MPA program Guidelines 2012-2013 and our brochure2013MPAflyer.

Learning Outcomes:

• To lead and manage in public governance,
• To participate in and contribute to the public policy process,
• To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions,
• To articulate and apply a public service perspective, and
• To communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.

Our Faculty:

Department faculty have a wide range of teaching and research interests. We routinely apply our research expertise to a broad range of local, state, national and international issues and emerging challenges.

 2012 - 2013 News:

• The MPA program hosted a NASPAA accreditation team visit in March 2013. The visiting dignitaries included: Dr. Abraham Benavides, Assistant Chair, Department of Public Administration, University of North Texas, Dr. Susan Gooden, Professor, Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University,  and  Ms. Paula Stallcup, CRM Project Director, City of San Antonio.
• Doctoral scholarships are available at Florida Atlantic University if you are considering a doctorate in public administration.
• MPA faculty and students presented papers at national conferences including Conference of Minority Public Administrators (McAllen, Texas  in February 2012) and National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration Annual Conference(Austin, Texas, October 2012).
• Dr. Leigh Broxton joined the faculty in 2012 after receiving her PhD in Public Affairs from Central Florida University.
• Ms. Maria Reyes joined the faculty in 2012 and completed her doctorate at Auburn University.

Contact:

Department of Public Affairs and Social Research
5201 University Boulevard, 301 Canseco Hall, Laredo, TX 78041-1900
Phone: 956-326-2475 Email: gvillagran@tamiu.edu