MPA students have the flexibility to shape their curriculum to fit their career goals. Students begin by selecting one of our four-course concentrations:
- Public Management
- Nonprofit Management
- Public Policy Analysis
- Urban & Regional Policy and Planning
- Coastal Planning & Management
- Managerial & Analytical Skills (Only one available for online students)
Students also take two skill-based electives designed to complement their career goals. Typical course offerings include:
- Analytics for Public & Nonprofit Management
- Program Evaluation
- Applied Management Tools, Skills, and Techniques
- Leading Public & Nonprofit Organizations
- Strategic Planning & Management for Public & Nonprofit Organizations
- Public Economics & Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Nonprofit Resource Development
- Leading & Managing Volunteers
- Government Planning & Geographic Information Systems
Students with less than 5 years of professional experience also complete a 300- hour internship or a practicum project. Students have a lot of flexibility in terms of selecting their host. Students with 5+ years of professional experience or who complete a fellowship can have their internship requirement waived.
There is also a dual M.S. EVS – MPA degree option. This 60-credit hour option lets students complete both degrees in three years instead of four. Students have to be separately admitted to both programs and complete their degree requirements.
You can choose to pursue one of these areas to concentrate your studies:
- Public management
- Nonprofit management
- Public policy analysis
- Urban and regional policy and planning
- Coastal planning management
The program requires the satisfactory completion of 39 credit hours of approved graduate-level courses, 18 core requirement hours, 6 applied skill-based hours, 12 concentration requirement hours, 6 concentration elective hours, and 3 internship or practicum hours. A minimum of 39 credit hours are required if the internship or practicum requirement is waived.
We offer afternoon and evening courses (3:30-6:15 p.m., 6:30-9:15 p.m.) Mondays through Thursdays. We periodically offer courses that meet on Saturday and those available in an online format.
Although you have five years to complete the degree, most students complete it in as little as two years.
You will work closely with your faculty advisor to tailor your degree to your interests and academic strengths while completing this rigorous program.
