A Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) is a post-graduate degree earned from an accredited college or university that qualifies a person for a variety of jobs at the local, regional, and national levels. Jobs in nonprofit organizations, lobbying groups, and political parties are examples of possible employment. Graduates with a Master’s in Public Administration work in a variety of settings, including private businesses and companies that provide health and medical care. Work is usually varied, and coursework includes employee management, research, finance, budgeting, planning, and administration.
Obtaining a Master’s of Public Administration degree usually entails enrolling in a college that offers courses in public administration and policy. Public management, economics, microeconomics, financial management, systems analysis, and policymaking may all be required courses. Additional public and private management coursework may be required. An MPA program typically includes a course on ethics and values as well. After completing the basic master’s-level classes, the student will usually pursue advanced coursework in a specialty area.
Understanding the systems and work of a specific branch of government or industry, as well as the principles of public administration, is typical of advanced specialized coursework. Students pursuing a Master of Public Administration with a focus on environmental science and policy, for example, are often required to take courses in environmental chemistry, climatology, and ecology. A course in applied policy analysis with an emphasis on the environment could be part of the degree requirements.
A Master’s of Public Affairs or a Master’s of Nonprofit Organizations are two examples of graduate programs in public administration that combine study in related fields. A Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master’s of Public Policy are two other related fields available. A double master’s degree could be obtained by the student in order to provide skills that are relevant to a desired field of work. A Doctor of Public Administration may be required for employment in the field at the highest levels of business and national government (DPA).
Those with an MPA who want to work in public affairs will typically take courses that focus on working with the general public. Specialized coursework in journalism, communications, public relations, and marketing is often required as an add-on to a general Master’s of Public Administration degree. Working in an official public affairs office for a governmental agency or business is a typical practicum or internship for an MPA with this emphasis.
Typical coursework for a Master’s of Public Administration program with a nonprofit focus includes managing and recruiting volunteers. The specialty curriculum usually includes building a community base of support and promoting a nonprofit among local and regional businesses. This program’s internship typically focuses on working with a real nonprofit organization and shadowing a professional in the field. The non-executive profit’s director, the person in charge of development, or the human resources officer are all examples of shadowed professionals.
History courses emphasizing the development of political institutions and processes, public management, and government bureaucracy are common for MPA candidates interested in public policy. It’s possible that the student will be required to take a statistical methods course with a focus on policy analysis. Making statistical inferences, testing a hypothesis, and exploring the concepts of data sampling, probability, and statistical sampling are common themes in this course. The program usually concludes with coursework in international political economy, policy analysis, and public management. Additional coursework and an internship in child welfare, mental health, poverty, health, crime, or transportation may be incorporated into the program requirements depending on the student’s specific focus.