Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Public Administration

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Program
Public Administration

For information regarding Conditional Acceptance, click here.

Admissions criteria for the Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Graduate Admissions - Masters level

Prospective students are required to submit the following: 

  • Completion of application for admission
  • Official transcripts for bachelor or graduate degree within 5 weeks of the class start date (refer to Conditional Acceptance).  (All credentials earned outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES or AICE-member credential evaluation service).  Please speak with an admissions representative for more information.

Note: See program notes and specific requirements below for each graduate - masters level degree program

Specific requirements for admission to classified graduate status are: 

  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Completion of application for admission.
  • A 2.0 overall grade point average or higher on completed requirements for the baccalaureate degree, or an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution.

For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here. 

Offered at Columbia, Online Programs, Savannah, and Virginia Beach.

Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

The Master of Public Administration program is designed for individuals seeking to serve and lead in governmental and nonprofit sectors. This program emphasizes applied learning in critical areas such as public policy, organizational behavior, and civic engagement. With a multidisciplinary foundation, students gain the insight and practical tools needed to navigate complex public systems and contribute meaningfully to their communities at the local, state, and national levels.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  • Analyze how economic, political, legal, and social institutions influence decisions in public administration.

  • Examine challenges faced by public sector organizations and the potential approaches for addressing them.

  • Prioritize political and administrative systems to support effective governance and public service delivery.

  • Examine quantitative and qualitative data to guide legal and ethical decision-making in public management.

  • Apply leadership and management principles and practices to address challenges in public and nonprofit organizations.

Master of Public Administration: 48 Credits

Core: 44 Credits

Course Code
Title
Quarter Credits
This course explores human resources from a strategic perspective to help an organization achieve its goals. Topics may include investments in human resources, workforce demographic trends, theories of human resource management, workforce training and development, workforce utilization and assessment, and performance management systems.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course provides students with the foundational concepts necessary to understand how the administrative process functions. Students will determine strategies that will allow agencies at the federal, state, and local levels to remain efficient and maintain strong institutional performance despite issues such as polarization, gridlock, shifting demographics and challenging economic and budgetary conditions.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course addresses the issues of motivation, leadership, and communication within public and nonprofit organizations. Included are negotiation, conflict resolution, and team building. Special attention will be paid to the unique character of public and nonprofit organizations operating with a mission of public service and within the context of the political leadership and public constituencies.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course provides exposure to the key accounting concepts, basic financial statements and analytical techniques required for effective financial management in addition to the basic working capital, fixed assets and debt management concepts. The course will also provide students with basic financial management tools including cost accounting, ratio analysis and integrated financial planning/budgeting. The goal is to provide general managers with a working knowledge of essential financial management concepts and tools as well as the ability to understand and analyze financial statements of many types of organizations. This course assumes no knowledge of financial management.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course explores the concepts, principles, and methods of research in public administration, with application to administrative functions and decision making. Topics include literature reviews, research design, definition and measurement of variables, analysis and interpretation of data, and communication of research results. Emphasis is placed on the role and importance of scientific investigations and systematic inquiries in the development and planning of public policy related to public administration and its functions.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course explores the goals, processes, and activities associated with fundraising and resource development including the resources provided by volunteers in the non-profit sector. Topics may include annual and capital campaign development, special events, planned giving, communication strategies, stakeholder relationships, automation techniques, and volunteer procedures (including recruitment, training, and recognition). Course will also address legal reporting requirements pertaining to contributions.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course examines the strategies and execution of grant and proposal writing as well as contract administration in the non-profit and governmental sectors. Topics may include research into funding sources, use of prospectus documents, preparation competitive proposals for grants and contracts, and peer review. Students will engage in all aspects of grant and proposal writing, including how to efficiently and effectively describe research and program design, outcomes, objectives and methodology, data management, evaluation, and budget development applied to the preparation of an actual proposal. Students will also examine the contract administrative responsibilities resulting from successful grants and contracts, including monitoring and reporting program and fiscal data.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course explores the history, growth, and evolution of nonprofit organizations and examines the critical management and leadership challenges facing the professional manager in the nonprofit sector. Topics may include the role of the executive team, board of directors, full-time staff, and volunteers in identifying and realizing the mission of a nonprofit organization. In addition, students will study the legal framework and requirements for nonprofit organizations including those pertaining to lobbying and electoral politics.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course analyzes the structure, principles, and operation of state and local government in the United States. It examines the governmental interrelationships contained in the American Federal system. Topics may include the analysis of the executive, legislative, and judicial functions of state and local governments, with special attention paid to the similarities and differences among the levels and branches of government as well as the complementary and conflictual relationships between the state and federal government levels.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course examines the process of enacting laws and performing other legislative/administrative/judicial functions in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures. Special attention is paid to the relationship between public administrators and the legislative and judicial processes.

Quarter Credits : 4

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Sub-Total Quarter Credits
44

Capstone: 4 Credits

Course Code
Title
Quarter Credits
This course integrates knowledge, skills, and abilities from a wide variety of content areas to better meet the challenges faced by public administrators. Topics may include developing organizational strategy, executing decision making, shaping the planning process, and managing of organizational change. Use of the case method will draw significantly on students' prior public administration study and experience.

Quarter Credits : 4

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Sub-Total Quarter Credits
4
Total Credits
48
See 2025-2026 Version I Addendum I