PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (MPA)
Become a public sector innovator
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) will prepare you for a leadership position within the public sector. You’ll develop the critical management skills you’ll need to succeed in your public service career, including:
- Ethical organizational leadership
- Public finance and budgeting
- Human resource management
- Public policy design and analysis
Choose a concentration in one of the following areas:
- Emergency Management
- Health Care Administration
- International Public Management
- Metropolitan Planning and Urban Affairs
- Public Management
- 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 Administration (MPA)? 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.
A dynamic market for public administration grads
You’ll benefit from our location in the heart of Chicago. DePaul’s ties and proximity to government and nonprofit agencies allow you to connect and gain practical, real-world experience in a range of public service settings that match your interests and career goals.
Application Deadlines
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. You may begin the program in any quarter.
Admission Requirements
Submit an online application, professional statement, résumé and official transcripts.
Required Courses
You’ll complete 10 core courses plus three concentration courses.
93%
of MPA graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.
$56k
The median salary for MPA graduates was $56,000.
Faculty with a rich perspective
Study with public service innovators like Professor Nick Kachiroubas, a leading expert on elections, national and municipal Chicago politics, and electoral politics. He regularly provides nonpartisan expert commentary regarding local, state, and federal elections, as well as leadership in government and public policy issues for a variety of media outlets.
“[The faculty] are eager to connect students with alumni and bring in guest speakers for experiences like the Global Cafes or Authentic Conversations. These opportunities give us a chance to meet with the policy experts and really explore our areas of interest.”
Romuald (MPA ’17)
Graduate Assistant, DePaul University
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 Administration grads, who typically pursue careers in government, association management and within various nonprofit organizations.
Hear more from SPS Alumni
Accreditation
DePaul’s MPA 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
To be eligible for the Public Administration (MPA) 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
Combined Bachelor's/Master's Applicants
Pre-service students (those without at least 12 months of continuous paid work experience in government or government-related activities following their undergraduate degree) are required to take an additional 4 credit hour internship (MPS 601 or MPS 610) as part of their degree program.
Please note that the information provided is current as of March 2017 and is subject to change.
Learn more about Graduate Admission.
Degree Requirements
Students complete a total of 13 courses (52 credit hours). Nine courses (36 credit hours) of core course work and four courses (16 credit hours) in a concentration are required.
Core Courses
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MPS 500 | INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| MPS 501 | CROSS-SECTOR ANALYSIS | 4 |
| MPS 514 | GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION | 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 541 | ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC SERVICE | 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
Students in the MPA program are required to choose one of six concentrations: Emergency Management, Metropolitan Planning and Urban Affairs, International Public Management, Health Care Administration, Public Management and Standard. Four of these concentrations are available to students pursuing the online only MPA: Metropolitan Planning and Urban Affairs, Standard, Emergency Management, and Public Management.
Internship Option
Students can opt to complete an internship or professional development experience in a government setting. The student would enroll in MPS 601 for course credit, which will be applied to the MPA degree by the student's adviser. Contact SPSAdvising@depaul.edu for more details.
