What is a Master in Public Administration?

Whether you are freshly out of undergraduate school or already working in the public sector, the University of Cincinnati offers a Master of Public Administration for those looking to advance their careers. 

“Public administration is a great general management degree,” said Kimberly Conger, director of graduate studies for the School of Public and International Affairs. “We tell people it’s like having an MBA for the public sector. People can use their skills all over the place in the public and private sector.”

When it comes to experience and preparedness, Conger said those who receive an MPA have great entry into public service with a wealth of skills.

“The MPA is a toolbox of budgeting, management and human resources training,” she said.

This also delivers training in policy analysis and program management, she said.

For students applying to get into UC’s MPA program, the decision criteria for admissions includes their ability to demonstrate familiarity with public service, administration topics and interests, writing and communications.

Students should have at least two letters of recommendation, a grade-point average of at least 3.0 and a resume and corresponding application letters. Their application should also exemplify an alignment between applicant’s academic goals and the strengths and resources of UC’s MPA program.

Students also have the option of UC's “4+1” program. Students looking into the 4+1 program would apply to the graduate program at the end of their junior year. If accepted, the goal for the student would be to enroll in at least 4 graduate classes during their senior year. Students also receive a discount on one of their years of graduate school. 

Whether you are a pre-service applicant (applying directly from undergraduate) or an in-service applicant (applying while employed in the public sector), UC offers a two-year program, requiring them to complete 38 credit hours of courses.

Both demographics of students offer benefits for each other, Conger explained, as pre-service students have taken the undergraduate courses more recently, while in-service students offer their experience and insight from already working in some are of the public, or private, sector.

Among the core classes, which consist of Introduction to Public Administration (POL7101), Public Sector Management (POL7104), Public Budgeting and Finance (POL7105) and Political and Legal Processes (POL7106), students also will be required to complete two research methods courses and two advanced methods courses, as well as choosing their specializations. 

Students will be required to receive six credit hours from a specialization in public management, social and urban policy or cyber policy, which works in tandem with the Center for Cyber Strategy and Policy. 

Additionally, students pursuing an MPA will be required to complete six elective courses and a client-based capstone during their last semester.

In-service MPA graduates are often projected to move up into middle management within their current roles, while pre-service students often move into a specialist role after the initial employment. 

Graduates can expect to find employment in a variety of different fields such as federal or state government, nonprofits, academia or the private sector. But these occupations include private consulting as well as other more focused areas of compliance or general operations managers, social and community management, urban and regional planning, and many more.

Featured image at top: Many UC MPA graduates find rewarding careers in both the private and public sectors. Photo/Kevin Norris from Pixabay