All students are required to pursue a concentrated area of study in Coastal Management (12 credits), Environmental Policy and Management (12 credits), Urban and Regional Policy and Planning (12 credits), Marine Policy (12 credits), NonProfit Management (12 credits), or Public Management (12 credits). Students may also elect to design their own nine credit concentrations in areas such as health policy, gerontology, and public history. Students wishing to design their own concentrations should consult with their advisor or the MPA Coordinator.

Coastal Management (12 credits)
Coastal Management will focus on the unique challenges facing public officials with responsibility for managing local governments in coastal zones experiencing rapid population growth and the ensuing commercial and residential development. Coursework in local government administration, coastal growth management, and the politics and policy of natural resource management will equip public administrators with a blend of managerial, policy, and scientific knowledge to make informed decisions that balance competing interests and serve the long-term needs of southeastern North Carolina.

All students pursing a concentration in Coastal Management must complete the following requirements:

PLS 521 Legal Foundations of Coastal and Environmental Management (3)
PLS 527 Planning Theory and Planning Law (3)

Students must take an additional six credit hours of an approved elective.

Environmental Policy and Management (12 credits)
All students pursing a concentration in Environmental Policy and Management must complete the following requirements:

EVS 501 Introduction to Environmental Problems and Policy (3)
PLS 543 Environmental Policy Analysis (3)

Students must take an additional six credit hours of an approved elective.

Urban and Regional Policy and Planning (12 credits)
All students pursuing a concentration in Urban and Regional Policy and Planning must complete the following requirements:

PLS 513 Regional Planning, Politics, and Policy (3)
PLS 527 Planning Theory and Planning Law (3)

Students must take an additional three credit hours of an approved elective.

Marine Policy (12 credits)
All students pursing a concentration in Marine Policy must complete the following requirements:

PLS 543 Environmental Policy Analysis (3)
PLS 544 Resource Economics (3)

Students must take an additional six credit hours of an approved elective.

Nonprofit Management (9 credits)
The Nonprofit Management concentration recognizes the importance of the nonprofit sector in serving the region as government increasingly contracts much of its work to these organizations. Coursework in the theory and practice of nonprofit management and resource development in nonprofit organizations will enhance the managerial and policy capabilities of individuals often trained in substantive specialties such as mental health, substance abuse, and child welfare.

All students pursuing a concentration in Nonprofit Management must complete the following requirements:

PLS 530 Management Practices in Nonprofit Organizations (3)
PLS 531 Resource Development in Nonprofit Organizations (3)

Public Management (12 credits)
All students pursing a concentration in Public Management must complete the following requirements:

PLS 517 Strategic Planning & Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3)
PLS 542 Managing Interorganizational Relations (3)

Students must take an additional six credit hours of an approved elective.

Customized Concentration (9 credit hours)
Students may also elect to design their own nine credit concentration in areas such as nonprofit management, health policy, or gerontology. Classes offered by the political science department, by other departments on campus, and by other universities can be part of the concentration. Students wishing to design their own concentrations should consult with their advisor or the MPA coordinator.