Master of Public Administration
LEAD WITH IMPACT. SERVE WITH PURPOSE.
Request more information now to learn how our program is right for you!
Whether you have just finished your undergraduate degree, a current public servant looking for professional development, or someone looking for a career change, a Master of Public Administration can help you further your capacity to serve your community!
Why pursue a Master of Public Administration?
Public servants with skills that can only be learned by earning a graduate degree in public administration are growing more and more necessary in Southern Arizona, the United States, and the world. Non-profits, government agencies, and public institutions are looking for employees that are equipped with the necessary leadership skills to help their organizations thrive.
Our Program Mission
The mission of our program is to prepare a diverse group of graduate students, including public and nonprofit professionals and pre-service students, to effectively manage, govern and lead as dedicated public servants working in local, state, and federal government and non-profit organizations. We equip our students with essential skills in analysis, communication, and management. Our faculty and curriculum model public service values such as civility, ethics, and accountability, and emphasizes leadership skills that include a commitment to diversity and social justice. We accomplish our program mission by advancing the knowledge of public policy and management through dedicated teaching, research, and public service.
As a Master of Public Administration (MPA) student, you will successfully learn:
Leadership Expertise
The traditional boundaries between public, private, and non-profit sectors are becoming increasingly indistinct where public policy and private enterprise have assumed promising but sometimes troublesome new relationships.
Critical Public Policy Decision-Making
Despite increased cooperation, public administration remains a unique entity requiring particular knowledge and skills: managers in the public and non-profit sectors require leadership expertise equal to their private sector counterparts, but they must also fully understand the public policy and the critical decision-making framework for proponents of the public interest.
Resolve Complex Social Problems
The modern professional administrator faces increasingly complex social problems, which places ever more formidable demands on leadership in the public and nonprofit sectors; they must learn the managerial imperatives of pursuing efficiency and effectiveness in an equitable, democratic way.
"Being part of the MPA program has helped me gain confidence in my professional interests and showed me that government is a place that brings people together; where no one should be left behind."
-Ireland Stevenson, Class of 2022
MPA Main Campus Alumni and Presidential Management Fellow
What does our MPA program offer?
The Master of Public Administration at the University of Arizona offers a unique curriculum, flexible scheduling, faculty expertise, and career opportunities.
Curriculum
Our program combines curricular structure, physical facilities, and real-world fieldwork opportunities to foster the leadership skills needed to meet today's greater demands for accountability and effectiveness from public and non-profit organizations.
The MPA curriculum requires 14 classes (minimum 42 unit hours) divided among four components that can be completed in as little as 2 years: core, electives, an internship, and capstone project.
Flexible Schedule
Now offered in-person and online, both programs offer unique course flexibility, depending individual preference to be in the classroom or online:
| Main Campus | Arizona Online | |
| Course Availability | Monday-Thursday, 5:30pm-8pm | Online, 7.5 week sessions |
| Engagement | Cohort effect with peer and faculty engagement | On your own time |
| Course Modality | In-person with practical application of course material | Asynchronous learning |
Both have flexible options made for working professionals in mind. | ||
Faculty Expertise
Our faculty not only have impressive credentials but also lead research that is shaping the future of public administration.
They each have unique expertise in areas such as financial management, public management, nonprofit management, collaborative governance, and environmental policy.
Career Opportunities
The career pathways for MPA alumni expand across the public sector.
Examples include:
- Assistant to the Town Manager - Marana
- Assistant Director - University of Arizona
- Research & Policy Coordinator - City of Milwaukee Health Department
- Field Representative/Caseworker - U.S. House of Representatives
- Public Affairs Specialist - USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
- Budget Analyst - Maricopa County (Arizona)
- City Manager - Chandler
Our MPA program is also NASPAA Certified and considered Best-Priced!
The Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) is recognized as the global standard in public service education. NASPAA accreditation "recognizes that a master's degree program in public policy, affairs or administration has gone through a rigorous process of peer review conducted by the Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA), and has successfully met the NASPAA Accreditation Standards.
The MPA program is also listed as one of the Best-Priced NASPAA-Accredited programs!
Not sure if our MPA program is right for you?
Or unsure which modality (in-person or online) to pursue? Feel free to contact us at SBS-sgppmasters@arizona.edu!
Learn more: MPA vs MPP FAQ Page
"I chose to be a part of this program because of my passion for public service and desire to see others succeed."
-Kyle Della Giustina, Class of 2023
MPA Main Campus Alumni
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