The first class of students enrolled in the Bush School’s newly launched Executive Master of Public Service and Administration program (EMPSA) recently began classes. Designed for individuals working in full-time professional careers, the new executive program delivers high-quality and high-impact coursework and helps students develop in-depth, advanced skills in public service leadership; critical investigative and evaluative proficiencies; and the decision-making expertise essential for public and private sector careers.
The first class includes twenty-six students from a variety of backgrounds, including three active duty members of the US military; nine veterans; and others from occupations such as local law enforcement, nonprofit executive leadership, city planners, CIA and FBI officers, and attorneys, among others. The average professional experience of the incoming class is eighteen years, with a range of six years all the way to forty-one years of experience. In the first class of students, fifteen are pursuing the Homeland Security track, eight are pursing the Nonprofit Management track, and three are pursuing the Public Management track.
“I am very impressed with our twenty-six incoming students,” said Dr. Danny Davis, coordinator of the EMPSA program and director of the graduate Certificate in Homeland Security program. “A wide variety of professions is represented in the inaugural class. Such diversity in student work experience promises to enrich the learning environment of our executive program.”
The 39 credit hour graduate, non-thesis degree program is offered online with a total of two required weeks in residence at Texas A&M University in College Station. Applicants must have at least five years of professional experience, preferably in one of the three curricular track areas of Homeland Security, Nonprofit Management, or Public Management. In addition to a common set of 21 credit hours that provide foundational knowledge in management, leadership, policy analysis, and research methods, students complete 18 credit hours in either the Homeland Security, Nonprofit Management, or Public Management track. Their coursework will also include a required capstone project in which students work collaboratively on a public service and administration project in conjunction with a government agency, private firm, or nonprofit organization.
“We are thrilled to offer this exciting online master’s program to professionals and executives who want to earn a graduate degree but are constrained by time and location,” said Lisa Brown, director of the Bush School Office of Extended Education. “The interactive, online format truly opens worlds of opportunity for those who are committed to excellence in public service in homeland security, nonprofit management, and public management.”
