PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT (MS)
Create bold leadership solutions
You know that you want to make a difference by helping solve the problems of our communities and our world. DePaul’s Master of Public Service Management (MPS) is designed to teach you broad-based management skills that lead to careers across many sectors, including nonprofit, governmental agencies, higher education and health care.
You’ll choose a concentration in one of the following areas:
- Emergency Management
- Health Care Administration
- Metropolitan Planning and Urban Affairs
- Standard Concentration
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Flexible formats for any lifestyle
All courses for this program are offered in the evening on the Loop Campus or entirely online. The program can be completed in two years and one additional quarter (including one summer) by following a schedule of two classes per quarter.
Learn more about online classesCertificate options
Online Degree Option
The online Public Service Management (MPS) from DePaul’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences offers small class sizes and is taught by the same award-winning faculty you'll find on campus. Tailored to meet the needs of your busy schedule, you'll achieve the same learning outcomes as in-person classes through collaborative and engaged learning.
Connect to public service jobs in Chicago
DePaul’s connection to Chicago and the region gives you firsthand knowledge that prepares you to create real-world, urban solutions. With nonprofit organizations, as well as city, state and federal government offices just steps from our Loop Campus, you’ll find opportunities to work for public and private sector organizations of any size.
Application Deadlines
The School of Public Service has temporarily paused admission for the Master of Public Service. The program will resume accepting applications for the Fall 2024 term in April 2024.?
Admission Requirements
Submit an online application, professional statement, résumé and official transcripts.
Required Courses
You’ll complete eight core courses and five courses of declared concentration work.
93%
of Public Service Management graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.
$56k
The median salary for Public Service Management graduates was $56,000.
Study with faculty devoted to public service
Professor Raphael Odom has published research on the implications of higher education as a vehicle for good governance, human security and national development in sub-Saharan Africa countries. He has chaired several public service panels and policy research conferences in the U.S. and abroad.
“My degree from SPS allowed me to stand out from the competition and demonstrate added value—advanced skills and expertise in nonprofit management, public policy analysis and strategy development.”
Nicholas (MS ’05)
Director of Government Relations, 1-800Contacts
Alumni Network
You’ll benefit from extensive networking opportunities with DePaul’s strong alumni network, including more than 3,460 School of Public Service alumni. Connect with fellow Public Service Management grads, who typically pursue careers in government, non-profit association management and within various nonprofit organizations.
Hear more from SPS Alumni
Accreditation
DePaul’s Master of Public Service Management program is NASPAA-accredited according to the Commission on Peer Review & Accreditation. Learn more about our accreditation.
Scholarships & Aid
The School of Public Service offers several quarterly scholarship, graduate assistantship and fellowship opportunities. Learn more about the scholarships and opportunities available to you.
Admission Requirements
?The School of Public Service has temporarily paused admission for the Master of Public Service Management?. The program will resume accepting applications for the Fall 2024 term in April 2024.?
To be eligible for the Public Service Management (MPS) program, students must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. In addition, successful applicants must demonstrate, through past academic or professional work, a capacity for achievement.
Applicants
International Applicants
Current students may visit Campus Connect for current course information. Prospective students may log on as a guest. Once on Campus Connect please select Course Descriptions followed by the department.
Please note that the information provided is subject to change.
Learn more about Graduate Admission.
Degree Requirements
?We offer the Public Service Management MS in two modalities: on-campus and fully online.
Degree requirements for each modality are unique. On-campus degree requirements are listed below, and online degree requirem?ents are listed in the Academic Catalog.
View online requirements in the Catalog
On-Campus Degree Requirements
Degree Requirements
Students complete 13 courses (52 credit hours) for the Master of Science in Public Service Management program. Eight courses (32 credit hours) of core course work and five courses (20 credit hours) of declared concentration work.
Core Courses
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MPS 500 | INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| MPS 501 | CROSS-SECTOR ANALYSIS | 4 |
| MPS 522 | FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| MPS 533 | APPLIED STATISTICS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE (USING EXCEL) | 4 |
| or MPS 536 | APPLIED STATISTICS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE (USING SPSS) | |
| MPS 542 | POLICY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS | 4 |
| MPS 583 | RESEARCH METHODS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE | 4 |
| MPS 593 | INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR | 4 |
| MPS 594 | ETHICAL LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC SERVICE | 4 |
Internship Capstone Option
Students may choose to replace MPS 593 with MPS 610 Internship Capstone option.
Concentration Requirements
Students may choose concentrations in a variety of public service fields. Concentrations are available for students in the Master of Science in Public Service Management degree with specialized interests and careers. The concentrations are: Emergency Management, Health Care Administration, Higher Education Administration, and Metropolitan Planning and Urban Affairs. Students who choose not to pursue a specialized concentration will declare the Standard concentration. Three concentrations of this degree can be completed entirely online as well as on-site: metropolitan planning and urban affairs, emergency management, and standard. See the concentration pages for further course information.
Internship Option
Students can opt to complete an internship or professional development experience in a public service setting. The student would enroll in MPS 601 for course credit, which will be applied to the MS degree by the student's adviser. Contact SPSAdvising@depaul.edu for more details.
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