Company Profile
Martin School of Public Policy & Administration
Company Overview
The James W. Martin School of Public Policy and Administration is an academic, research, and service unit of the University of Kentucky Graduate School. It was named in honor of Dr. James W. Martin, a scholar, public servant, and teacher whose accomplishments have created a lasting legacy of scholarship and service.
Company History
The first class entered the James W. Martin Center in fall 1976. In 1984, the unit was named the James W. Martin School of Public Administration and was designated a "Center of Excellence" by the University of Kentucky in 1985. The name was changed again in 1994 to the James W. Martin School of Public Policy and Administration. This change was made to better reflect the research, public service, and academic activities of the school.
The master of public administration (MPA) was the first degree program in the Martin School. There are now over 300 graduates of this program. Graduates of the MPA program occupy positions as city and state finance officers, as city planning officers, as health services executives, and numerous other positions in the public and nonprofit sector in Kentucky and across the nation.
The Ph.D. program in public administration began in 1988. Ph.D. students have specialized in areas including welfare policy, education policy, environmental policy, human resources management, and public finance. Most graduates of this program hold academic positions.