The Culturally Adapted Public Administrator: How Accredited MPA Programs Are Preparing Administrators with Cultural Competency

Authors

Nicholas Weimer, University of Texas-Pan American

Date of Award

8-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

First Advisor

Dr. Cynthia E. Lynch

Second Advisor

Dr. Aziza Zemrani

Third Advisor

Dr. William Turk

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the extent to which National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) accredited Public Administration terminal professional degree programs address cultural competency in their curriculum, the amount of institutional diversity of these programs, and the relations among these quantities. The sample includes 74 university self-study reports. Cultural competency is the dependent variable of this study and syllabi/abstracts of courses taught constitute the major explanatory variable. Descriptive analysis reveals that 15.4% of the total courses in the sample address elements of cultural competency. The use of frequency statistics further reveal that only two-thirds of programs in the sample are assuring an adequate amount or more of cultural competency education for all students. These results are discussed with regard to how MPA programs might strengthen cultural competency education to better provide students with the cultural competencies needed in a multicultural workforce.

Comments

Copyright 2011 Nicholas Weimer. All Rights Reserved.

https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/culturally-adapted-public-administrator-how/docview/896957114/se-2?accountid=7119

Granting Institution

University of Texas-Pan American