Concentrations

Concentrations are a recurring feature of the MPSA program. They are intended to give Bush students more opportunities to fashion a specific program of study tailored to their needs and interests. The procedures and regulations are described below.

Definition: Concentrations are clusters of courses dealing with a common theme or topic. Most courses in MPSA modules are Bush School courses, but some include seminars offered by other departments at the University. Usually MPSA concentrations consist of five or more elective course selections offered by several different faculty members. Most will be offered once each year.

The curriculum also allows (but does not require) students to select a concentration in one of the following areas: nonprofit management; state and local policy and management; energy, environment, and technology policy and management; security policy and management; and health policy and management. Students who select a concentration must take at least three courses from a list of concentration electives. A student may elect to add a second concentration to his or her degree plan. Some courses may be listed as an approved elective for more than one concentration, but a student may apply a particular course to only one concentration. Additionally, a student may focus upon any one concentration and elect to take more than the minimum of three courses in the chosen field. The Master's Program in International Affairs (MPIA) also has concentrations, so MPSA students may choose one of those as well, assuming they take the necessary three courses to make an integrated program.

Concentration Topics:

Nonprofit Management

Associated Faculty Members

Students must take one nonprofit core course and at least two nonprofit electives:
Nonprofit Core Course (select one)

Nonprofit Electives (select two)

State and Local Policy and Management

Associated Faculty Members

Students must take two state and local core courses and at least one state and local elective:
Required of All Students - State and Local Core Course

Required of Management Track Students (choose one) Required of Policy Analysis Track Students (choose one) State and Local Concentration Electives (choose one)

Energy, Environment, and Technology Policy and Management

Associated Faculty Members

Students must take two core EETPM courses at least one EETPM elective:
EETPM Core Courses (choose two)

EETM Electives (choose one)

Security Policy and Management

Associated Faculty Members

This concentration examines central security policy and management concepts and principles, governance structures, strategies, policies, and contemporary events and their implications. The concentration emphasizes homeland security and emergency management. Students must take two required courses and then select at least one additional elective concentration course. The required courses are:

Electives Courses Students may also substitute as electives other Bush School or Texas A&M University graduate courses directly related to homeland security and emergency management. For example, these might include courses on national security policy, intelligence, terrorism, disaster response planning, or risk and hazard analysis. The substitution(s) must be approved by the student’s advisor. These courses are not offered each year and may be subject to enrollment limitations.

Health Policy and Management

Associated Faculty Members

Students must take one health policy and management core course and at least two health policy and management electives:
Health Policy and Management Core Course

Health Policy and Management Electives (choose two)