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The mission of the Public Administration Program at the University
of Hawai'i at Mānoa (UHM) is to energize public institutions
and organizations involved in public work, to enrich and deepen
civic culture, and to increase leadership resources for those
with public and community responsibilities in Hawai'i and the
Pacific region. The program pursues this mission by exposing
participants to an educational experience that facilitates
the integration of knowledge, develops specific skills relevant
to public service work, and builds long-lasting professional
relationships. There is a consistent effort to create the
benefits of a shared learning community within the program,
a community that models and facilitates vigorous engagement
of complex issues.
The program offers two degree options, one leading to the
master's degree in public administration (MPA) and one leading
to the graduate certificate in public
administration. The MPA is designed for people with public
service experience, as well as individuals who wish to enter
public service.
The program exposes participants to a variety of perspectives
and learning models from which to analyze, integrate and contextualize
information and value positions. Collaborative teaching and
a multi-disciplinary orientation encourage participants to
examine different insights about the same issue or policy.
Regular discussion sessions encourage active participation
in the learning process. Emphasis is placed on sharing thoughts
and ideas about readings and lectures while maintaining respect
for individuals and their different perspectives, abilities
and experiences.
The program encourages the application of conceptual understandings
to daily situations. This application is promoted in discussion
sessions, case analysis, and individual and group projects.
This focus is also found in individual practicum and capstone
projects where participants are encouraged to link theory
and practice. Former students have participated in public
projects on low- and moderate-income housing, the development
of health benchmarks to measure community health, neighborhood
revitalization, public education innovation, and health care
improvement.
Instruction is provided by public administration faculty,
teachers from other programs and departments, and practitioners
in the community. All instructors are selected on the basis
of teaching ability, willingness to adopt a collaborative
approach to teaching, expertise, and commitment to the goals
of the program.
Finally, it is believed that the program's graduates will
be more effective in their public roles, if they are closely
connected to others who share an informed commitment to public
service. Because of this, emphasis is placed on strong associations
within classes, between current students and alumni, and among
alumni.
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