Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration

The Rutgers University School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Rutgers University's professional schools. It offers bachelor's degrees in public service, master's degrees in public administration and public health, grants doctoral degrees, administers executive programs for senior government officials, and conducts research in subjects relating to politics, government, international affairs, and economics.

According to U.S. News & World Report, SPAA is one of the top seven programs in the United States in public management and administration. SPAA's campus is located in the University Heights neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey, United States. Since 2004, the school's dean has been Marc Holzer, who is also the Board of Governors Professor at SPAA.

Founding Dean Marc Holzer retired from his position as Dean on June 30, 2016. A nationwide search for dean candidates began in the summer of 2016 and will conclude sometime in late 2016.

History

The School of Public Affairs and Administration was founded in 2006 after providing doctoral and master’s public administration education for over 30 years to pre-service, in-service, and executive students through the Rutgers–Newark Graduate School.

Rankings

U.S. News & World Report has ranked the Rutgers Newark campus #1 in Diversity for each of the last 17 years.^[1] Rutgers SPAA’s rich composition in race, ethnicity, gender and nationality is considered a major contributor to the campus’ acclaim.

Compared to over 300 public affairs and administration schools and programs nationally, U.S. News & World Report ranks SPAA:^[2]

• • 7th nationally in Information and Technology Management
  • 11th nationally in City Management and Urban Policy
  • 13th nationally in Public Management/Administration
  • 17th nationally in Nonprofit Management
  • 18th nationally in Public Finance and Budgeting
  • 28th nationally in Public Policy Analysis
  • 34th nationally in Public Affairs

Degree and certificate programs

SPAA offers a full range of advanced degree and certificate programs focused on education, research, and practice in response to increasing demand for competent, strong managers and leaders. Students are taught by award-winning faculty and frequently enjoy guest lectures by professionals in the field. Small class sizes, interactive discussions, research and hands-on applications are integral parts of the learning experience. Recent additions to the curriculum include courses on Performance Measurement, E-Government and Public Service. More than 300 Master’s, Doctoral and certificate candidates are currently enrolled in a wide range of degree offerings.

Degree programs

• Undergraduate Major in Public Service: The BA in Public Service program, launched in 2008, connects education with students aspirations and ideals, features networking opportunities, and provides urban and global experiences through service learning internships and workshops (U.S. and worldwide). The program provides students with the substantive knowledge, analytical skills and perspectives needed to respond effectively and fairly to major contemporary social problems, with a particular focus on urban issues that affect the Newark community. In Connections, a Rutgers–Newark community publication, inaugural BA student Adiatu Oladayo said that the program enables him to “apply theory and academic discourse” to his first hand public service experiences.^[3]
• Joint Bachelor/Master in Public Administration (BA/MPA, BS/MPA): This program makes it possible for qualified students to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in 5 years. According to the SPAA website, “The program is designed for the highly motivated student who has decided at an early stage in his or her studies to pursue a career in public administration.”^[4]
• Master in Public Administration (MPA): NASPAA accredited and geared for those working in or preparing for careers in the public and nonprofit sectors, the MPA program at Rutgers SPAA provides students with basic competencies in the context of a broad understanding of the field. The program is offered to both part-time and full-time students. Internships are not required but are encouraged for pre-service and career-change students.
• Executive Master in Public Administration (EMPA): Tailored to meet the needs of public and nonprofit managers and supervisors, the EMPA “prepares seasoned managers for executive-level leadership by providing a solid knowledge base and competencies necessary for successful practice in government and nonprofit organizations.” Students stay within the same cohort and courses are scheduled on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings to minimize work week disruptions. For added convenience, the program is offered in Trenton and in Newark at Newark City Hall.
• Joint Master of Public Health (with RBHS and NJIT): SPAA offers the MPH program with the School of Public Health at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The curriculum addresses critical health issues, including those of high-risk, urban and underserved populations.
• Master of Public Administration Joint Chinese-U.S. Program: In partnership with one of the Ministries in China, SPAA is developing a MPA program that will be offered in Beijing, China. The program will utilize Rutgers faculty who will travel to Beijing to teach courses. The curriculum “emphasizes public administration theory and practice in the United States and provides comparisons to the Chinese public administration system.” ^[5]
• Doctorate in Public Administration: With an emphasis on opportunities for minorities and women, this leading national program offers specializations in Public Sector Performance; Leadership; Equity and Diversity; Government Budgeting; Comparative Public Administration; Human Resources Management; and, Public Management and Urban Systems. Through disciplined research, the PhD program seeks to expand the problem-solving capacities of universities, independent research organizations and government agencies. Full-time students can expect to complete the program’s 48 credits of course work, comprehensive exams and dissertation in about four years.

Certificate programs

• Certificate in Public Performance Measurement (online)
• Certificate in Nonprofit Management (graduate credit)
• Certificate in Government and Nonprofit Financial Management (graduate credit; online)
• Certificate in Animals, Communities, and Law (online)
• Business District Management Certificate (online)
• Certified Public Manager
• Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO) Program

Faculty expertise

SPAA has over 25 faculty and five are members of the National Academy of Public Administration. SPAA faculty offer expertise in Public Administration; Public Performance Measurement and Reporting; E-Governance; Public Management; Public Service; Urban Affairs; Public Health; Health Policy; Transparency; Human Resources; Public Management; and Citizen Surveys.^[6]

Research publications and journals

SPAA publishes four journals: Public Performance and Management Review (PPMR), Public Voices, Chinese Public Administration Review (CPAR), and the Journal of Public Management and Social Policy (JPMSP).

Faculty members regularly publish books that reflect the quality and importance of their research.

Affiliations and partnerships

Rutgers SPAA works closely with the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), and the United Nations Division for Public Administration and Development Management.

International

With Renmin University and the Chinese Public Administration Society, SPAA organizes a bi-annual conference in China. In Korea, Rutgers SPAA works with the Korean Association of Public Administration, several universities and other groups on research and conferences. In South Africa, SPAA engages in regular scholarly exchanges and collaborations. And in Western Europe, the SPAA has helped develop a series of trans-Atlantic dialogues between ASPA and the European Group on Public Administration.^[7]

Alumni

SPAA graduates consistently achieve positions of high responsibility and leadership at the federal, state, and local levels of government and in the nonprofit sector. Doctoral graduates are teaching and gaining tenure at many universities throughout the United States and around the world.

Centers, institutes, and networks

• National Center for Public Performance: The NCPP provides consulting, research, and training services to public and non profit organizations. The center hosts a performance management conference each fall as well as offers an array of professional certificates for public and non profit professionals in the area of performance.

In 2015, the center conducted a study on road salt application in a New Jersey county and in 2016 was commissioned by the New Jersey Department of Health to conduct a program evaluation.^[8]

• E-Governance Institute: The Institute works in partnership with the Global E-Policy & E-Government Institute of Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, to conduct surveys of municipalities in the United States and worldwide.
• Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies

References

External links

• Official website

Coordinates: 40°44′41″N 74°10′15″W / 40.744599°N 74.170841°W / 40.744599; -74.170841