Are you looking for a stimulating and challenging career?  Do you want to lead, manage or run things?  Do you want to work in a nonprofit, at any level of government, in an international organization, or maybe job hop among them and other career sectors like the environment, education,  health or homeland security?  If so, the MPA/MPP is the essential degree for you!  Still not convinced?  Keep reading to learn why the MPA/MPP degree is right for your career in professional public service.

THE ESSENTIAL DEGREE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Over the past 50 years, the Master of Public Administration (MPA) and the Master of Public Policy (MPP) have emerged as vital professional degrees in the public service field. Numerous policymakers, manager and leaders in the United States and internationally have earned these degrees to help launch their successful careers. There are over 260 MPA/MPP schools in the U.S. No matter the specific areas of concern, students can find many choices to consider among these professional degrees. Many schools offer full-time and part-time degree programs, executive MPA programs, online courses where degree requirements may vary depending on professional experience.

What is an MPA?

The Masters of Public Administration (MPA) degree is the professional degree for people who want a public service career in managing, running, or deciding. These degree programs  develop the skills and techniques used by leaders and managers to implement policies, projects, and programs that resolve important societal problems while addressing organizational, human resource, and budgetary challenges.  MPA graduates work in a wide variety of public service fields and in all levels of government (federal, state, local, and regional), in nonprofits, organizations, in the international arena, and in the private sector.

Coursework for MPA candidates typically includes required core courses and a concentration or specialization. Core courses often include consulting, budgeting and financial processes, information systems, policy and program formulation, implementation and evaluation, decision making and problem solving, political and legal institutions and processes, economic and social institutions and processes, organization and management concepts and behavior, and ethics. 

MPA candidates who know their specialized interests before beginning their coursework should select a program that offers that specialization or concentration. Specializations and concentrations offered by NASPAA programs include such areas as nonprofit management, health care management, environmental management, criminal justice, and urban affairs, as well as such diverse topics as election administration, aviation security, and philanthropic development.

What is an MPP?

The Masters of Public Policy (MPP) degree emphasizes analyzing and evaluating information to solve policy problems.  As analysts, thinkers, and researchers, MPP graduates work with quantitative and qualitative information and data to develop, assess, and evaluate alternative approaches to current and emerging issues and challenges. Their careers are in variety of public service fields and in all levels of government (federal, state, local, and regional), in nonprofits, in the international arena, and in the private sector.

Coursework for MPP candidates typically includes required core courses and a concentration or specialization. Core courses often include statistics and data analysis, public finance, microeconomics and macroeconomics, research design, program evaluation, public policy, organization and management concepts and behavior, and ethics.

MPP candidates who know their specialized interests before beginning their coursework should select a program that offers that specialization or concentration. Specializations and concentrations offered by NASPAA programs are in such policy areas as environment, education, health, transportation, economic development, international development, urban affairs, and criminal justice.

How does the MPA/MPP compare with other professional graduate degrees (i.e., MBA, JD)?

Above all, MPA/MPP program graduates are uniquely prepared for working in the new public sector that spans governments, nonprofit organizations/NGOs, and private companies together developing and implementing public policy.  In comparison with other professional graduate degrees such in as business and law, MPA/MPP degree programs are noteworthy for the following features:

• A broad-based training in subjects such economics, policy analysis, management (including financial management) and professional communications
• A low student/teacher ratio in most classes, allowing for considerable individual contact with the faculty; the flexibility to take courses from other schools and departments, and joint degree programs with other professional schools 
• Significant financial aid available for qualified applicants
• Opportunities for substantial internships

What are some career options with the MPA/MPP degree? 

Prospective students often focus on the types of jobs MPA/MPP graduates hold. Is there a typical career path? No, not really. Graduates of these programs pursue a wide variety of careers. Most people choose this degree because they are committed to public service and enjoy working on issues or problems that affect some sector of the public. MPA/MPP programs exist to provide professional training for government officials (at all levels), the non-profit and private sectors, both in the United States and around the world.

Some MPA/MPP graduates move back and forth between the public, private and nonprofit sector, or between an international setting and a domestic one. They can do this because the MPA/MPP degree provides a set of analytical and management skills that are often transferable across sectors and across issue areas.  Some of the majors sectors our graduates work in are:

·         Nonprofit

·         Government (all levels)

·         Environment

·         Healthcare

·         Education

·         Homeland Security

·         International

For more career information, visit www.publicservicecareers.org. 

What courses will I take?
This is perhaps one of the  most exciting parts of getting your degree! You choose the classes that interest you and reflect where you want to be in your career. Today the general differences between the MPA and the MPP are often blended. Over the past twenty years, their respective curricula substantially have converged and now it is important for students to look past the degree titles to understand how each educational program might serve their career goals. In general, an MPA/MPP program will offer all students advanced instruction in public policy analysis, public management, leadership, economics, and quantitative methods, along with courses on specific policy and administration topics. You’ll also be able to study communications, teamwork and leadership.

Broadly speaking, classes fall into one of three fields of study:

• Policy analysis is about gathering and processing information to inform efforts to solve new policy problems. Persons who seek careers in policy analysis enjoy working with quantitative and qualitative information to develop and assess alternatives for solving these problems.


• Management is about using scarce resources to achieve policy and management objectives. Persons who seek management careers enjoy building the solutions to problems using raw materials such as financial and human resources.


• Leadership is about taking individual responsibility for the top-level decisions about which policy and management problems an organization should address. Persons who seek leadership careers enjoy being held accountable for decisions in return for the authority to choose problems and select alternative solutions.

When you look at any MPA/MPP program, inspect the core curriculum-those courses all students are required to take-to quickly determine the relative emphasis placed on policy analysis, management, and leadership. Each school offers its own set of courses. Look through course offerings to get an idea of what you can study and learn.

What are the admissions criteria for an MPA or an MPP program?
Our graduate schools each have their own admissions process. But there are similar aspects that can help you in applying. Most schools are looking at applicants ‘not as a number’ but as a person. So, while GPA and test scores do matter, so does a person’s experience, interests and personal story as it connects to public service. It’s also important to show you are not just listing your past accomplishments but also looking ahead to what you want to do in life and how an MPA or MPP degree will help you achieve your professional goals and dreams.

Most, but not all, programs require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); see http://www.gre.org. Many schools which require the GRE use it not as a barrier or threshold to acceptance, but as a guide for them to select the best mix of students. It is one of many factors for admissions officers, but it is not the most important item. Check with particular schools for their admissions requirements.

Are graduate schools ranked?
Yes. The very nature of what our schools do is viewed as important and thus ranked by select organizations and media. However, NASPAA itself neither ranks MPA and MPP programs nor endorses such rankings. One source for annual graduate school rankings is U.S. News and World Report.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/pub/pubindex.htm  

Should I choose a NASPAA-accredited MPA or MPP program?
Accreditation is a sign that a program has met a set of standards regarding MPA/MPP curriculum, administration, program mission, student admissions, faculty quality, student services and placement, and facilities. It means the program has gone through a rigorous process of self study, an accreditation commission review, and an extensive on-site campus visit by a team of experts. In brief, accreditation is one of many signs of quality that a student can use when considering graduate programs.

All NASPAA member schools (262) possess regional/general accreditation.  On top of that, 161 of NASPAA’s 262 members have the additional MPA/MPP accreditation in addition to their regional/general one. An unaccredited MPA/MPP program is not by any means a program of inferior quality.  It simply means that the program has chosen not to participate in the NASPAA peer review process. It is up to prospective students, therefore, to do the investigation of programs and to ask questions about curriculum and faculty quality.  Click here to see a list of accredited schools.

Can I earn an MPA/MPP degree and still work full-time?
Absolutely. Many graduate programs in public service offer evening and night classes that allow students to work or intern during the day. Some schools also offer online courses.

Many MPA/MPP programs also offer Executive Education programs. These degree and certificate programs are intended for experienced professionals seeking high-level positions in government and nonprofit organizations; courses are often offered on weekends.  Click here for more information on Executive MPA programs.

I am an international student. What do I need to know about the MPA/MPP degrees?Students from all over the world have come the United States to further their education with an MPA or MPP degree.
To learn more about the international arena of the MPA/MPP degrees, please visit http://www.globalmpa.net/.

What do Current MPA/MPP Students Think of the School, Degree & ChoiceThe National Association of Schools of Public Affairs surveyed existing MPA and MPP students to see what was on their mind regarding the education and prospects ahead.

Click here to see summary and the survey:http://www.naspaa.org/students/surveys/student3.07.asp