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Student Advising
General Advising in PPA
This is general advising information for students in the Master of Public Policy and Administration and Master of Science in Urban Land Development graduate programs. Visit their respective pages for essential advising information specific to each concentration.
Course Sequencing
The following table illustrates the recommended PPA course sequencing for MPPA graduate students. It is to be used as reference and is not a substitute for academic advising with a faculty member.
Please note that scheduling anomalies, such as summer classes, are not reflected here. Other scheduling permutations worked out with an advisor or the chair are acceptable.
With the exception of PPA 500, all of our core courses are offered once a year. (See campus-wide Class Schedule) Students must speak to a faculty advisor about internships.
| Status | Fall semester | Spring semester |
|---|---|---|
| Part Time | ||
| Year 1 | (1) PPA 200 Intro to PPA (2) PPA 220A Economics of Policy 1 |
(1) PPA 210 Political Env. of Policy (2) PPA 220B Economics of Policy 2 |
| Year 2 | (1) PPA 205 Research Methods (2) PPA 240A Public Admin 1 |
(1) PPA 240B Public Admin 2 (1) PPA 207 Quant. Analysis or PPA 270 Collaborative Policy or Elective of Choice |
| Year 3 | (1) PPA 230 Public Budgeting (2) PPA 272 Urban Policy Collaboration or Elective of Choice |
(1) PPA 500 Culminating Project (2) PPA 207 Quant. Analysis or Elective of Choice |
| Full Time | ||
| Year 1 | (1) PPA 200 Intro to PPA (2) PPA 220A Economics of Policy* (3) PPA 205 Research Methods** |
(1) PPA 210 Political Env. of Policy (2) PPA 220B Economics of Policy* (3) PPA 207 Quant. Analysis** or PPA 270 Collaborative Policy or Elective of Choice |
| Year 2 | (1) PPA 230 Public Budgeting** (1) PPA 240A Public Admin 1* (3) PPA 272 Urban Policy Collaboration or Elective of Choice |
(1) PPA 240B Public Admin 2* (2) PPA 500 Culminating Project (3) PPA 207 Quant. Analysis or Elective of Choice |
| Notes: Part time applies to students enrolling in 6 or fewer units a semester. * Courses that must be sequenced. ** Courses with strongly recommended sequencing. PPA 230 should be taken towards end of program. PPA 270 and PPA 272 (sequenced electives). | ||
Program Time Limit
All work toward a master's degree, including transferred credits, course work, and thesis, must be completed within seven years. This time limit is required of all master's candidates in the California State University (other institutions of higher education across the country have similar deadlines).
The Office of Graduate Studies 916-278-6470 determines the official seven-year deadline for each student as that student advances to candidacy.
Occasionally an extraordinary situation will arise whereby a student will want to challenge the time limit. The burden to establish currency of an expired course (a course completed more than seven years ago) falls to the student. In such a case the petition for currency form would be used to request a one semester extension beyond the limit.
Title 5 of the California Administrative Code of Regulations is where you can find the relevant language.
Assistance with Culminating Project Preparation
On-campus Resources
The Writing Center is a good option for students needing help with writing. They provide peer tutoring Monday through Friday to graduate and undergraduate students from all disciplines. On-line tutoring is also available. They do not edit papers for you, but can teach you how to edit your own papers.
Professional Editors
Hiring an editor to check your grammar, style, and formatting can be very helpful for some students. You may contact the Department for information about editors MPPA students have used recently. Also, check with your fellow students about editors they have used. Word of mouth is valuable!
It is important when hiring an editor to be sure you both have clear and reasonable expectations about the service they will provide and the cost of that service. Remember that an editor cannot help you with content or research; that is the role of your instructors. The role of the editor is to help you identify and correct problems with grammar, style, and formatting. Some (not all) might for an additional fee help you with printing, submission, and other logistical concerns.
General Advising Resources
Department Forms
Department Guides
- Culminating Experience Options
- Human Subjects Research (IRB) via the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development
- Human Subjects Research - Thesis IRB Process Guidelines
Office of Graduate Studies
Visit the Office of Graduate Studies for comprehensive information about navigating the University's application process.
Consult the Office of Graduate Studies forms page for a comprehensive list of graduate student forms.
Future Students - Office of Graduate Studies
Student Service Center
The Student Service Center forms page has a comprehensive list of University forms related to records, FERPA, and financial aid.