Welcome
Students admitted in Fall 2020 or later are required to complete a concentration as part of the MPA program. Only one concentration may be pursued at a time. A concentration is selected when applying to the MPA program through Cal State Apply.
To add, remove, or change a concentration, submit a Change of Concentration Form (available on the Forms page) to the Public Administration office for approval. After approval, the form must be submitted to Records and Registration along with the records processing fee.
In this concentration students will learn the basics of policy management in the area of cybersecurity, as well as the skills and applications for securing information systems and assuring the integrity of an organization's operational information. CSUSB is accredited as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency.
The Leadership Concentration provides well-rounded instruction to students who are, or would like to be, managers and executives in public service. Managing any public organization is a challenge, with calls for efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and due process. Mentored by faculty, students become leaders who have a thorough understanding of management, and the knowledge to guide agencies into the future.
The Public Financial Management concentration supports development of applied and theoretical public financial expertise. It provides a skill set which is highly valued and in constant demand by public as well as nonprofit agencies. The concentration prepares graduates to make strong organizational contributions focused on public financial management.
The concentration in Community Planning and Management is for students who wish to work in the planning and management of places: including those who seek to work as public planners, city managers, parks and recreational area managers, federal, state and county land management agencies, economic development, housing planners, and community organizers.
This concentration offers graduates advanced knowledge and practical skills in areas such as recruitment and selection, employee relations, performance management, labor relations, diversity and inclusion, compensation, and strategic human resource planning, applied within the context of public service organizations.
The Nonprofit Leadership concentration prepares students to lead mission-driven organizations through effective management, strategic planning, and community engagement. Students develop the skills needed to address social challenges, manage resources responsibly, and create meaningful impact in the nonprofit sector.