Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) at Empire State University is designed for civil servants and others who aspire to career advancement in public service or the not-for-profit service sector. Providing students with advanced skill sets that are necessary for supervisory and managerial positions, the MPA will introduce students to the historical development of the field, practical skills as well as to recent trends and prominent issues in Public Administration. Through understanding the interplay of governmental interventions, political factors, and ethical implications, students will be able to analyze, evaluate, and administer policies and programs. Graduates of the program qualify for responsible and well-compensated positions, including director, coordinator, and management and leadership roles in public and not-for-profit organizations.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in these fields is projected to grow 12 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. The bureau projects that there will be 18,000 job openings for social and community service managers each year, on average, between 2021 and 2031.
Program Design
The MPA is a 30-credit master’s degree program that includes 10, 3-credit courses including a final project. This program is delivered through online instruction, providing flexibility and convenience for busy individuals balancing work, family, and personal obligations. Students may complete the program on a full-time or part-time schedule. Full-time enrollment for students who want to complete the program in 16 months requires enrolling in 9 credits per term and in 3 credits during the summer terms. Part-time students may complete the program in 19-20 months by enrolling in 6 credits per term including during the summer term. Part-time students can also choose not to take classes in the summer, in which case they will need 28 months to complete the degree.
This program accepts up to 9 graduate transfer credits from accredited institutions. Please visit our Transfer Credit Policy for more information.
Required Courses
- PADM 6085 - Public Administration
- PADM 6170 - Public Finance
- PADM 6175 - Public Sector Decision Making
- PADM 6180 - State and Local Government
- PPOL 6007 - Policy Process
- PPOL 6010 - History and Social Context of American Policy
- PPOL 6015 - Policy Implementation
- PPOL 6020 - Research Methods
- PPOL 6030 - Public Policy Analysis
- PADM 7020 - Final Project: Public Administration
Final Project
The final project for the MPA degree program is a policy memorandum written from the perspective of an executive-level program administrator to a governmental oversight committee, or to funding partners for not-for-profit-focused students.
For more information about this program, its course sequencing, and descriptions, please visit the Empire State University's Academic Catalog.
Please visit our Admissions pages to apply.