Master’s Degree
in Public Administration
- Master of Public Administration (MPA)
- Online
- Hybrid
We all want to create positive change in the world; those of us who have devoted ourselves to public service have big ideas about how to do that. With a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, you can build the skills you need to turn those ideas into reality.
No matter where you are in your public service career, the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Monroe’s King Graduate School will prepare you for the next level. You’ll learn how to tackle the increasingly complex problems facing the government and nonprofit sectors. You’ll also develop the leadership skills you’ll need to maximize an organization’s impact — locally, nationally, and abroad.
Why a Major in Public Administration?
Everyone who goes into public service wants to make a difference, but making a difference takes more than good intentions. It takes the proper training — the kind of training you’ll get in our MPA program.
You also want to know that once you’ve completed your education, you’ll be able to use it. Thankfully, as the world changes and grows, so do the kinds of public service careers your MPA will prepare you for. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonprofit fundraising careers are growing faster than the average for all occupations. So are positions for social and community service managers, urban and regional planners, and more.
With a Public Administration degree, you’ll be ready to seize these opportunities. You’ll know you have the skills you need to take on new challenges — and that those skills will be in demand.
Curriculum
You may want to focus your career on health disparities, racial injustice, or inequality; you may want to build a grassroots movement or work in the federal government. Whatever your goals, our MPA program can help you achieve them.
Every Public Administration student begins their education with a comprehensive, interdisciplinary core curriculum that builds a broad foundation in:
- Organizational behavior and leadership
- Human resources
- Economics for public sector and nonprofit entities
- Public sector budgeting and finance
Master’s candidates can also tailor their education to align with their individual career goals. Students can specialize in one or two areas of concentration that include:
- Public Affairs, Relations, and Policy — Learn the legal mechanisms behind the design and development of public policy. You’ll also explore how international relations can affect public administration, as well as how to manage public perception of policy-making.
- Nonprofit Management — Build expertise in the operational aspects of nonprofit management, including program budgeting; capital campaigns and other fundraising initiatives; nonprofit financial reporting; and principles of governance and leadership.
- Executive Leadership — Focus on leadership through a cultural lens; master the principles of conflict resolution; and learn how to manage organizational change in a contemporary world.
No matter which concentrations you choose, you’ll be also able to take a number of breadth electives to customize your education even further, including:
- Social entrepreneurship
- Emergency management in public health
- Health care policy
- Logistics optimization
- Decision modeling
- Crisis management
- Urban poverty
It all culminates in a team-based capstone project. You and your fellow MPA candidates will apply your specialized skills to real-world challenges in public administration: a living laboratory where you can turn knowledge into action.
And our expert faculty will be there to guide you, every step of the way. At the King Graduate School, our professors are professionals who can show you how to apply academic theory to real-world practice — because they’ve done it themselves.
Requirements for the Master’s in Public Administration
36 total credits*
- 21 credits of required core courses, including a capstone seminar**
- 9 credits in a chosen concentration
- 6 credits of breadth electives
You can also earn your MPA degree online or in a hybrid online format.
Learn more about the requirements for the Public Administration Master’s Degree.
*Depending on prior education, some MPA students may be required to take a foundation course in Statistics Foundations., Management & Marketing Foundations, Economics Foundations, Finance Foundations, or Healthcare Foundations.
Perspectives on Public Administration And Service Management
To fully understand the changing nature of public administration, it’s important to understand its history. In this course, MPA candidates explore American governmental processes; the role of bureaucracy in the political process; theories of public organizations; bureaucratic discretion and accountability; policy development and implementation; and ethical issues in mission-driven organizations. Students also analyze a wide range of topics, including the fundamental debates that have shaped American governance at the federal, state and local levels; democratic policy-making; and processes in public policy decision-making.
Admission Requirements
Candidates for our Master’s Degree in Public Administration must fulfill the following requirements:
- Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution of higher education.
- Candidates must submit:
- A completed application for admission.
- A 500-word essay describing your career goals and why you want to pursue a master’s degree.
- A current résumé.
- Transcripts from all prior educational institutions attended.
- Two (2) professional letters of recommendation.
- MPA candidates must also participate in a pre-admission interview.
Tuition and Financial Aid
How Much Does an MPA Degree Cost?
A career in public service demands a certain amount of sacrifice. At Monroe, the cost of tuition doesn’t have to be one of them.
We offer affordable tuition and fees, manageable payment plans, and a financial aid office that works hard to secure you the maximum possible aid package. Every MPA student works one-on-one with a financial aid counselor to find every grant, scholarship, and loan for which they qualify.
We also partner with over 400 organizations to provide Corporate Partnership Grants for their employees. If you currently work for one of our partners, they could cover up to 20% of your tuition costs.
For years, our dedication to affordable education has earned us a spot on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Value Schools in Regional Universities North. If you’re ready to work on others’ behalf, we’re ready to work on yours.
Your Future Public Administration Career
With an MPA degree, you’ll be ready to lead even as you serve. Our graduates have gone on to public administration jobs that include:
- Finance manager/director
- Budget analyst
- Financial analyst
- Policy analyst
- Human resources manager/director
- Executive director
- Public relations manager
- Development director
- Market research analyst
- Urban/regional planner
From your community to the international community, you’ll be ready to take your service career to the next level.
Discover What You Can Achieve
The challenges we face can’t fix themselves. We need leaders now more than ever. With a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, you can be that kind of leader: someone whose training matches with both their drive and their ability.
Learn more about what you can do at the King Graduate School.
Factsheet
View factsheet.
