Course Type: Postgraduate (taught)
Training Provider: Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS)
School/Institute/Dept./Centre: Graduate School of International Policy Studies

Students interested in the building, and re-building, of organizations and communities - whether locally, nationally or globally - will find the necessary skills in the MPA program. Students choosing to seek a degree in the development and management of non-profit and non-governmental international organizations are prepared to assume a broad range of leadership positions in the fields of philanthropy, voluntarism, civil society development, and human development. A sensible program of preparation will enable graduates to combine theory and practical skills within a values framework that emphasizes individual ethical behavior, respect for diversity, and social responsibility.

MPA students tend to structure their studies in three different modalities, corresponding to careers in:

• Non-Governmental Organizations involved in community or development action
• Government service: local, municipal, national
• Multi-lateral organizational administration, e.g., UN, EU, ASEAN, etc.

To develop professional leadership in public administration, students will need to deepen their knowledge and skills in non-profit governance, general management, organizational marketing, strategic planning, program development, financial and human resource management, policy analysis and managerial problem solving. Students should also seek a comprehensive understanding of the complex political, legal and competitive environments within which nongovernmental/non-profit organizations must function to accomplish their missions. A specialization in this broad field would be excellent preparation for work with international and non-governmental organizations both in the US and internationally.

Writing for specialists in this broad field might include the preparation of project proposals, program evaluation reports, organizational capacity assessment reports, analytic case studies of non-profit organizations and strategic plans. A typical portfolio for a student specializing in this field would include policy memos, project proposals, program evaluation reports, organizational capacity assessment reports, analytic case studies of non-profit organizations and strategic plans. Students may want to compile portfolios that mix electronic and traditional documents.

MPA Degree Requirements (60 credits)

The MPA program is a two-year professional program that combines interdisciplinary study of several related fields with the study of languages and culture. During your two years of study at MIIS, you will need to complete the following requirements :

GSIPS Core Curriculum (26 credits)

• Policy Analysis and Communications (2 credits)
• Data Analysis and Research Methods (4 credits)
• International Economics (4 credits)
• International Politics (4 credits)
• Advanced Second Language (12 credits)

MPA Core Curriculum (15-16 credits)

• Managing Public and Non-profit Orgs (4 credits)
• Government and Nonprofit Accounting (3 credits) OR Public Budgeting (4 credits)
• Program Evaluation (4 credits)
• Capstone Seminar (4 credits)

Electives (18-19 credits)

• Electives using regular 4 credit courses, or 1-2 credit workshops

Portfolio Requirement for GSIPS Core Curriculum:

To graduate from a GSIPS MA program, each student is required to develop and complete a professional Portfolio as part of the GSIPS core curriculum. The purpose of the Portfolio is to demonstrate a mastery of the core competencies for the degree and specialization of the student. This portfolio will be completed two months before graduation and will be prepared in hard copy, or in electronic format.

Faculty advisers and Career Development staff will assist the student in compiling the items that demonstrate mastery of the core competencies built into the GSIPS curriculum, according to guidelines established by GSIPS staff. Workshops will be held every semester on Portfolio development.

Using the Portfolio and the study plan of the student, a faculty member will conduct an oral exam for each student, within the last two months of the student’s final semester, to ascertain how well the student has mastered the core competencies in his/her degree program or specialization. This exam is graded on a Pass-Fail basis. Students who do not Pass this exam by graduation, or have not completed a Portfolio, will not graduate until both requirements have been met.

For additional information about the MPA in International Management, please contact:
Enrollment Manager
831-647-6543
gsips@miis.edu

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Entry Requirements:
- US Bachelor\'s degree or the equivalent from an accredited college/university

- Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0. scale

- Low Grade Point Average (GPA): Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 should consider submitting official GRE scores and/or taking several graduate level courses at an accredited college/university to demonstrate their ability to perform well at the graduate level.

- Economics: A basic understanding of economics is a prerequisite to enrolling in the required International Economics core course. Applicants to GSIPS are strongly encouraged to demonstrate proficiency in economics prior to enrolling.

- Language Requirement for Native Speakers of English: Two years of recent successful college-level language or the equivalent (except for Arabic)

Arabic: 1 year for fall entry (1 ½ years for spring entry) of recent successful college-level language or the equivalent.

- Language Requirement for Non-native Speakers of English: It is presumed that non-native speakers of English will study English as their second language. Non-native speakers of English are required to provide proof of English proficiency by submitting scores from either the TOEFL or IELTS examinations.

Course Duration:
The Master of Arts program is completed over the course of four semesters (two academic years). There are opportunities for Accelerated and Advanced Entry.

Language(s) of Instruction:

• English

Mode of Study:

• residential

Thematic Focus:

• Civil Society/NGO Management
• Development Policy and Management
• Development Studies
• Project Planning

Country(ies):

• USA

Town(s) or City(ies):
Monterey, California

Course fees:
Tuition for the 2007/2008 academic year is approximately US$27,750. Student and technology fees are approximately US$200.

Scholarships & Awards:
A limited number of partial-tuition, merit-based scholarships are offered to prospective students applying to degree programs at the Monterey Institute. Monterey Institute Scholarships are administered through our Admissions Office. If you are admitted, you will be automatically considered for a merit based scholarship. A separate application is not required. Scholarship amounts range from $4,000 to $14,000. However, funds do run out, so you are encouraged to apply early for optimal scholarship consideration.

Further Funding Information:
http://www.miis.edu/finaid/index.html

Course's Webpage:
http://policy.miis.edu/programs/mpaim.html