MPA in Public Administration

Prepare for public service in local and state agencies and nonprofit organizations with your Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. You’ll learn to solve problems and help others and can customize your experience with a set of electives in accounting, leadership, marketing and computer science.

A Master’s in Public Administration to Help You Lead Your Community

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Gain essential skills for managing people, while analyzing the political sources of public policy and political behavior. In this online master’s degree in public administration program, you’ll conduct research, explore principles of finance and budgeting and apply the ethical standards of law to policy processes. Graduates typically find jobs leading a nonprofit organization or working in local or state government. .

As a public administration master’s degree student, you will:

  • Apply principles of public administration to a community activity.
  • Analyze a situation using public policy as a guide.
  • Develop a political strategy for problem-solving.
  • Apply principles of finance to decision-making.
  • Apply ethical reasoning strategy to public administration case study.

Next Session

Fall II (Oct 23, 2023)

Estimated Tuition

$709/Credit

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Ways to Learn

Online

Program Benefits that Benefit You.

Customizable Degrees

Public administration students have the ability to tailor their degree to their interests through electives and customizable research projects.

Improve Your Decision Making

Learn how to use modern real-time data management and GIS tools to gain the full picture of the issues at hand.

Grow Your Leadership Skills

Our master’s in public administration program reinforces the importance of public servanthood, ethics and courage.

WSCUC

University of Massachusetts Global is accredited by the WSCUC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

Imagine your future with Master of Public Administration

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    2. Based on BLS Occupational Employment Statistics and updated quarterly

    3. The University of Massachusetts Global does not guarantee a job to graduates upon completion of any program

    At a time when having a bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement for most positions in my field, having a master’s degree helps set me apart. It enhances my professional experience and bolsters my credibility as an expert in my field.
    Kristen C.
    MPA
    The MPA program gives the learner what is needed to address real, important, public problems and it dives into what is means to be a successful, innovative & effective government organization.
    Chip M.
    Masters in Public Administration 

    Admission Requirements

    Applicants for this master's degree program must complete the formal application process with all required documents, which include:

    • Completed application
    • 2.75 grade point average (GPA)
    • Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions where baccalaureate and/or post-baccalaureate coursework was completed or attempted
    Transcripts

    Only credits from regionally accredited institutions may be accepted in transfer. Failure to report any previous academic work at another college or university may be considered a violation of academic integrity.

    Graduate Level Exams

    Most of UMass Global’s Master Degree programs do not require a graduate level exam; however, there are a few that do. For detailed information about which UMass Global programs have graduate exam and minimum test score requirements, please reference the University of Massachusetts Global Catalog.

    HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MASTER'S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS? Request more information>

    MA in Public Administration Program Curriculum

    • The MPA program consists of two segments. The first segment is the 24 credits for the specific core requirements, and the second segment consists of 12 elective or emphasis area credits.

      MPA Core
      OLCU 501 Organizational Research 3
      PADU 600 Foundations of Public Administration 3
      PADU 607 Public Policy Analysis 3
      PADU 608 Governance in the Public Sector 3
      FINU 610 Public Sector Finance 3
      HRCU 612 Human Resources Management in Public Administration 3
      OLCU 613 Seminar in Organizational Dynamics 3
      PADU 682 Public Administration Professional Practice 3
      MPA Core Subtotal 24
      Elective or Emphasis Area
      Select elective courses or an emphasis area. 12
      Elective or Emphasis Area Subtotal 12
      Total Credits 36

    • MPA students may select an individualized set of electives (12 credit limit) from the graduate courses listed in the following areas (in consultation with an academic advisor): Business Administration, Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, Computer Science, Geographic Information Systems, Human Resources, Organizational Leadership and Public Administration.  These electives may be used to acquire either specific leadership related competencies or greater knowledge about the student’s intended professional area.

      Students may transfer up to nine elective credits into the MPA program of study.

    • This leadership focus is best suited for students interested in careers in the non-profit sector.

      OLCU 621 Frontiers of Public and Nonprofit Leadership 3
      OLCU 626 Dynamics of Public and Nonprofit Leadership 3
      Select two of the following:
      OLCU 600 Foundations of Organizational Leadership 3
      OLCU 602 Self, Systems, and Leadership 3
      OLCU 615 Leading Organizational Change 3
      OLCU 650  Introduction to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Leaders 3
      Total Credits 12
    •  
      BUSU 670 Data Foundations 3
      BUSU 671 Data Visualization and Presentation 3
      BUSU 672 Project Planning and Data Modeling 3
      BUSU 673 Project Implementation and Analysis 3
      Total Credits 12
    •  
      HAUU 640 Foundations of Healthcare Administration 3
      HAUU 641 Healthcare Law and Ethics 3
      HAUU 642 Health Informations Systems and Technology 3
      Plus one of the following courses:
      HAUU 645 Healthcare Financial Management 3
      HAUU 651 Healthcare Quality and Safety 3
      Total Credits 12

    Ways to Get Started

    Meet Our Faculty

    People Default

    business

    David Gonzalez, D.P.A.

    Chair, Governance and Appeals Committee

    Specialty

    Public Administration

    Organizational Leadership
    Laura Galloway

    business

    Laura Galloway, Ph.D.

    Associate Dean, Curriculum, Instruction and Academic Administration; Associate Professor, Organizational Leadership and Human Resources

    Specialty

    Organizational Leadership

    Human Resources Practitioner

    Management
    All business faculty

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