Expected Student Competencies

ECU MPA Competencies, Grouped by NASPAA Competency Domains

Endorsed by MPA Advisory Board (April 12, 2021)

Lead and manage in public governance

• Understand the difference between management and leadership
• Develop and execute basic human resource functions
• Identify and describe basic budgeting concepts
• Work effectively as a member of a team
• Apply public management organization theories

Participate in, and contribute to, the public policy process

• Demonstrate understanding of budget processes
• Demonstrate understanding of the policy process
• Identify the relevant stakeholders and their relationships to the issues at hand
• Demonstrate understanding of various dimensions of public policy problems

Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment

• Perform financial condition analysis
• Present the results of statistical analyses
• Identify and use quality data sources
• Articulate and apply appropriate methods for analyzing a public policy or management problem

Articulate and apply a public service perspective

• Behave ethically and with integrity
• Distinguish public from non-public issues
• Identify and analyze ethical dilemmas relevant to serving the public
• Articulate and apply methods for measuring and managing performance

Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large

• Communicate effectively in writing
• Communicate effectively in speech
• Apply concepts of public service within both organizations and communities