| Home | myWCU | Calendars | Site Map | Searches | Contact Us |
Graduate Catalog 08-09
Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education
McKelvie Hall, 102 W. Rosedale Avenue
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2943
fax: 610-436-2763
gradstudy@wcupa.edu
Revised March 2008
Administration
| Faculty | Program Description | Degree Requirements | Course Descriptions |
Graduate Business Center
1160 McDermott Drive
West Chester University
West Chester, Pennsylvania 19383
610-436-2438
Fax: 610-436-3047
E-mail: msa@wcupa.edu
Dr. Lorraine Bernotsky, Director, M.S.A. Program
Lorraine Bernotsky, Ph.D., Political Science (Human Resources Management; Individualized; Public Administration)
Dorothy Ives-Dewey, Ph.D., Geography and Planning (Regional Planning)
Douglas McConatha, Ph.D., Anthropology and Sociology (Long-Term Care)
Jack Orr, Ph.D., Communication Studies (Training and Development)
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS
Eve Atkinson, Ed.D., Kinesiology (Sport and Athletic Administration)
Lisa Millhous, Ph.D., Communication Studies (Leadership for Women)
The master of science in administration (M.S.A.) is a multidisciplinary degree with areas of concentration in leadership for women, long-term care, human resource management, individualized, nonprofit administration, public administration, regional planning, sport and athletic administration, and training and development.
The degree is designed for individuals with professional work experience who desire to enhance their administrative and management skills at the supervisory and mid-management levels. It is highly preferred that applicants have a minimum of two years' full-time work experience prior to beginning their studies. Students who lack the requisite work experience and/or plan to change careers must incorporate relevant internships and other job experiences into their programs, which may require program enrollment beyond the minimum requirements stipulated in this catalog.
Undergraduate prerequisite requirements might be necessary for applicants without adequate preparation in the intended area of concentration.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ADMINISTRATION
(36-42 semester hours)
The curriculum consists of 18 semester hours in the administrative core plus 18-24 semester hours in a selected concentration area:
I. Administrative core (required): ADM 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, and 507
II. Areas of concentration
Refer to departmental listings for concentration course descriptions.
1. Human resources management (See page 32.)
2. Individualized (See page 32.)
3. Leadership for women (See pages 32, 76-77.)
4. Long-term care (See pages 33, 34.)
5. Nonprofit administration (See page 33.)
6. Public administration (See pages 33, 93.)
7. Regional planning (See pages 33, 64.)
8. Sport and athletic administration (See pages 33, 75.)
9. Training and development (See page 33.)
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to a degree program at West Chester University, applicants must submit scores from the Miller Analogies Test, Graduate Record Examination, or Graduate Management Admissions Test; a personal statement with a clear focus on career plans; a resume; and two letters of reference from professional supervisors that address the applicant's management potential. Standardized test scores are not required from applicants with earned master's degrees.
All application materials are to be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies and labeled: "Attention, M.S.A. Application of (student's name)." After these materials have been received by the Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education, the M.S.A. director will schedule an admissions interview with the applicant.
Deadline for Applications
Normally, the application process must be completed and admission granted prior to course enrollment for the fall or spring semesters. The deadline for applying for the fall semester is May 15 and for spring semester, November 15.
All applications must be submitted on the approved WCU graduate application forms available from the Office of Graduate Studies.
Comprehensive Examination
No comprehensive examination is required for the administrative core. However, in lieu of an examination, each of the six administrative core courses must be completed with a grade of at least "B."
Selected concentrations in the M.S.A. program do require comprehensive examinations. Students are obligated to comply with concentration comprehensive examination policies in effect on the date of their admission to the program. Students must clarify the requirements for their programs with the appropriate concentration adviser.
Certificate in Administration
Dr. Bernotsky, M.S.A. Director
The certificate in administration is designed for persons who desire to enhance their management and supervisory skills. To earn the certificate, students must complete the 18-semester hour administrative core with a minimum grade of "B" in each course. Those interested in the certificate option must follow and meet the same admissions criteria as master's degree students.
Degree students also may apply for the certificate after completing the administrative core requirements with a minimum grade of "B" for each course.
Curriculum
Administrative core (18 semester hours)
ADM 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, and 507
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
ADMINISTRATION
Symbol: ADM
500 Methods and Materials of Research (3) Logic of scientific methodology and research design construction. Emphasizes hypothesis development and testing, data collection, measurement problems, and theory application.
501 Administrative Theory and Environment (3) Organizational theory and practice in public and private institutions. Legal framework for administration, application of public policy, sociolegal issues, and values of society considered.
502 Computers for Managers (3) Quantitative applications in administration. Computer as a management tool. Computer basics and management information systems.
503 Accounting and Budgeting (3) A study of accounting principles and procedures for both profit and not-for-profit organizations. Emphasis is on the concepts and effects of policies and procedures with which the administrator will normally come into contact.
504 Communications for Administrators (3) Development of communication skills for the effective writing of letters, memos, reports, and proposals. Structuring and conducting presentations and meetings.
505 Organizing Human Resources (3) Administrative models and concepts of human behavior in formal organizations and decision processes. Personnel administration. Effective selection, use, and development of human resources for the total organization. Affirmative action and equal opportunity.
507 Liability for Managers (3) Study of the civil and criminal liability of managers in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Review of the laws of defense and liability protection for individuals and organizations. Facility safety, liability issues, and personnel law emphasized.
520 Topics in Administration (3) Intensive study of selected topics in administration or human resource management current to the interests and needs of professionals. Topics will vary.
521 Topics in Nonprofit Administration (3) Intensive study of selected topics in nonprofit administration that are current to the interests and needs of nonprofit professionals. Topics will vary according to student needs and interest.
This course may be taken again for credit.
525 Grant Writing (3) Art of grant writing via proposal development processes. Targeting proposals to public and private agencies.
551 Foundations of HR Management (3) Addresses the fundamental management practices performed by HR professionals. Examines various HR roles, organizational structures, leadership, employee involvement strategies, and ethics. Relevant HR research designs and methodologies also emphasized.
552 Staffing and Development (3) Examines all legal and regulatory factors affecting staff selection and development. Includes all applicable federal laws and practices as well as employee orientation, training, and development.
553 Employee Relations (3) Emphasizes employee relationships with management, particularly in a nonunion environment. Covers issues such as policy formulation, compliant systems, employee rights, performance appraisals, employee morale and motivation, and factors affecting employee health, safety, and security.
554 Labor Relations (3) Analyzes labor-management relationships, particularly with respect to federal laws and regulations, administration of labor contracts, mediation, and arbitration processes. Incorporates all legal aspects of collective bargaining as well as related practices, and strategies of negotiation, unfair labor practices, and the management of organization - union relations.
555 Compensation Analysis and Benefits Planning (3) Examines the legal and regulatory factors affecting compensation and benefits administration. Reviews compensation philosophies and economic factors affecting pay plans, as well as the type and characteristics of specific compensation and benefits programs.
556 HR Pro-Seminar (3) The capstone course for the M.S.A.-HR program. Integrates material from all previous HR courses by having students achieve applications of the common body of knowledge required for professional certification. Course based on the case study method and team management methodologies.
560 Nonprofit Fund-raising Essentials (3) Emphasizes the concepts and tools necessary for understanding the fund-raising process. Topics include relationship building, the solicitation process, specific fund-raising strategies, and ethical considerations.
562 Nonprofit Program Evaluation and Assessment (3) Examines performance measurement and outcomes assessment as they relate to managing nonprofit organizations. An emphasis will be placed on the assessment process and closing the loop by incorporating assessment outcomes into decision making and planning.
600 Research Report (3) A capstone research project.
612 Internship (3-6) Intensive field placement in an organization through faculty guidance and supervision. Precontracted learning objectives.
Human Resources Management
Dr. Bernotsky, M.S.A. Director and Concentration Adviser
For more information on the M.S.A. in Human Resources Management, click here.
Dr. Bernotsky, M.S.A. Director and Concentration Adviser
For more information on the M.S.A., Individualized Concentration, click here.
Dr. Orr, Concentration Adviser
Dr. Bernotsky, M.S.A. Director
For more information on the M.S.A.in Training and Development, click here.
Dr. Millhous, Concentration Adviser
Dr. Bernotsky, M.S.A. Director
The leadership for women concentration, offered by the women's studies program, is designed to enable the student to develop a mode of leadership appropriate to workplaces in which access to organizational power is inequitable for sexes of equal training and talent. There is both a master's degree program and a certificate program. See the "Leadership for Women" section for further information and course descriptions.
Dr. McConatha, Concentration Adviser
Dr. Bernotsky, M.S.A. Director
The long-term care concentration meets the needs of persons interested in entering the field of long-term care, and of those persons presently in long-term care who are interested in career advancement. Also offered is a certificate in gerontology. See "Anthropology and Sociology" for further information and course descriptions.
Dr. Bernotsky, M.S.A. Director and Concentration Adviser
The concentration in public administration, offered by the Department of Political Science, focuses on public-sector management at the local and regional levels. It is appropriate for managers and officials from local, county, and regional government bodies who desire to enhance their general management skills as well as gain insight into public policy issues of particular concern to these officials. See "Political Science" for further information and course descriptions.
Dr. Ives-Dewey, Concentration Adviser
Dr. Bernotsky, M.S.A. Director
The regional planning concentration, offered by the Department of Geography and Planning, focuses on land use development and management at the local, county, and regional levels. It is an appropriate concentration for those who desire to enhance their knowledge of comprehensive planning, zoning and mapping, and demographic and environmental impacts. See "Geography and Planning" for additional information and course descriptions.
Sport and Athletic Administration
Dr. Atkinson, Concentration Adviser
Dr. Bernotsky, M.S.A. Director
The sport and athletic administration degree, offered by the Department of Kinesiology, focuses on the development of administrators who aspire to leadership roles in athletics, and who must adapt to the ever-changing responsibilities of interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics. See "Kinesiology" for further information and course descriptions.