Public Administration > The Program > Master's Degree > Individuated Concentration

Individuated Concentration

The individuated concentration consists of nine credits of work in courses, directed reading or directed research. In consultation with an adviser, participants choose a theme of interest that becomes the focus of their studies during this part of the Program. The theme may relate to anything of personal or professional interest as long as it has relevance to public issues and public service work. Students may use courses from other departments and programs, as well as the Public Administration Program, in the individuated concentration.

The Program accepts for graduate credit work completed in the Hawai'i Leadership Academy and the Federal Pacific Leadership Academy. In both cases the work may count as six-credits toward completion of the nine-credit Individuated Concentration in the MPA. Please check with an adviser for specifics.

Examples of some themes that have been used by MPA candidates:

• Organizational change - perspectives, barriers, successes and public/private differences;
• Social entrepreneurship - use of public-oriented entrepreneurial and collaborative strategies to revitalize communities and civic participation;
• Environmental politics and policy - exploring the roles of politics and planning intervention on environmental preservation;
• Housing policy and planning - understanding development and land use policies as they affect housing initiatives;
• Organizational communication - improving interpersonal relations within organizations.