From Portfolio to Applied Research: Changes to the Thesis Substitute

In January, the UNC MPA program announced a big change. After creating new vision and mission statements during last year’s strategic planning process, faculty voted to transition from the portfolio requirement, which has been in effect since fall 2012, to an applied research problem, which will serve as the new thesis substitute.

Under the new requirement, students will choose from among faculty-generated, real-world research problems that examine managerial, policy, or administrative questions, and will produce an independent applied research response. The response, which will include evidence-based recommendations, will have a maximum length of 15 pages, intended to assess a student’s ability to distill information into a concise end product that highlights the information most salient and important.

Each student will be assigned a three-member faculty committee to review and approve the research problem response. Once approved by their committee, students will sit for an oral exam to answer questions about their recommendations and the evidence cited, in addition to broader questions about public administration.

“While there are important benefits to the portfolio, like critical thinking and knowledge integration, the MPA faculty recognized an opportunity to revise the thesis substitute and to take greater advantage of our affiliation with the broader School of Government,” Dr. Bill Rivenbark, Program Director, wrote in a January 22 email to staff, students, and faculty. “With its finger on the pulse of state and local government in North Carolina, the School of Government understands the scope and depth of real-time problems facing public officials. Therefore, an applied research problem for graduating students will allow them to demonstrate active learning and problem-solving skills.”