Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration program is the management and leadership degree for those seeking to serve the public good. Courses are offered on campus and online and prepare students to innovate in a diverse range of fields. Students participate in interdisciplinary work and applied research with government and community partners, create social change, and address the emerging challenges affecting the quality of life in cities.
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The Master of Public Administration program has been forming leaders in the public and nonprofit sectors since 1969. The program is the management and leadership degree for those seeking to serve the public good. It equips its students with skills in policy analysis, program evaluation, research methods, and written and verbal communications. Students also develop competencies in budgeting and human resources, organizational management and leadership, and the interplay between ethics and accountability in a diverse society. Throughout the degree program, students gain career-oriented experience through internships, small group projects, and other interactions with professionals in the field. These experiences are designed to enable the Northeastern MPA graduate to move into a wide array of public and nonprofit sector positions at the local, state, national, and international levels. MPA students can add a graduate certificate to their degree to demonstrate specialized training in the nonprofit sector, urban analytics, urban studies, or public policy analysis. Courses taken to complete a certificate also count as MPA elective credits.
Additionally, students can concentrate in healthcare management and policy to equip themselves to better assess and act within today's complicated healthcare sector. Courses in health management, health policy, and an elective comprise the concentration.
Learn more about the Master of Public Administration program from the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, housed in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities.
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Unique Features
- Acquire hands-on experience through capstone projects, on-campus research labs and centers, and real-world work opportunities. A recent capstone group of students had the opportunity to create an innovative proposal addressing the needs of a local economic development agency. They earned second place at the 16th Annual Affordable Housing Development Competition.
- Students can participate in a one-semester exchange program with the University of Amsterdam’s Urban Studies Research master’s program.
- Students can conduct research outside of the classroom at The Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy, Resilient Cities Lab, Boston Area Research Initiative, and The Social Impact Lab.
- Students can earn a graduate certificate at no additional cost in these focus areas: nonprofit sector, public policy analysis, urban analytics, and urban studies.
- Optional Concentration in Healthcare Management and Policy
This graduate concentration is available to students in the Masters of Public Administration program in the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs. It is designed to enable students to develop a deeper understanding of the contemporary healthcare sector, including the intricacies of U.S. health policy and competencies in healthcare management. The concentration comprises three courses, one from each of three focus areas: health management, health policy, and health elective.
Accreditation Description
The MPA program at Northeastern University is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the membership association of graduate programs in public administration, public policy, public affairs, and public and nonprofit management.
Program Objectives
The MPA program is directed toward developing the analytical, conceptual, and practical competencies required for successful careers in public administration. The ultimate goal is to prepare students to be effective in a dynamic and increasingly diverse professional environment. This includes assisting students in every possible way to secure internships, post-graduate employment, and overall career advancement.
Career Outlook
Our MPA graduates are empowered to make a difference across disciplines and around the world. They leave Northeastern with the theoretical and fundamental understanding needed to transition into their careers and to immediately participate in and contribute to the policy process in their chosen field. Our graduates go on to careers as town administrators, management analysts, research analysts, and program directors. A recent survey of MPA alumni concluded that 24% of recent graduates are working the nonprofit sector, 38% in the public sector, and 21% in the private sector.
Testimonials
Michael S. Dukakis, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Former Governor of Massachusetts
Austin Faison, Program Graduate
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Requirements
- Application
- Application fee – U.S. $75.00
- Personal statement
- Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended
- English proficiency for international applicants
- Three letters of recommendation
- Resumé
- Standardized test scores such as the GRE are not required for master's degree applicants to the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs. However, such test scores may be helpful for applicants with little or no experience beyond undergraduate school.
Admissions Dates
Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis.
Final deadline for international applicants: | June 15 |
Final deadline for domestic applicants: | August 15 |
Final deadline for Special Student applicants (non-international only): | August 25 |
Deadline for international applicants: | October 1 |
Deadline for domestic applicants: | December 15 |
Deadline for Special Student applicants (non-international only): | December 15 |
Domestic applicants only: | April 15 |
Domestic applicants only: | June 15 |
Master of Public Administration General Requirements
Quantitative Techniques
Analysis
Administration and Management
Capstone
Internship Requirement
An approved internship or waiver is required.
Internship Waived
Electives
Complete 12 semester hours from the course list below.
Internship Completed Not for Course Credit
Electives
Complete 12 semester hours from the course list below.
Optional Co-op Experience
Requires two consecutive semesters of co-op work experience and experiential integration:
Course List
LPSC 5000 to LPSC 7999
PPUA 5000 to PPUA 7999
CRIM 5000 to CRIM 7999 (by advisement only)
ECON 5000 to ECON 7999 (by advisement only)
ENGL 5000 to ENGL 7999 (by advisement only)
HIST 5000 to HIST 7999 (by advisement only)
POLS 5000 to POLS 7999 (by advisement only)
SOCL 5000 to SOCL 7999 (by advisement only)
Optional Concentration
A concentration is not required. Students may complete electives (from the elective list above) in lieu of a concentration.
Concentrations
Health Management
Complete one of the following:
Health Policy
Complete one of the following:
Electives
Health Elective
Complete one of the following:
General Elective
Complete an additional course from the Health Elective list above or one of the following
Please note: This curriculum is for marketing purposes only and is subject to change. Official curriculum can be found within the course catalog.
- In-Class Case Studies – Professors integrate case studies, small group exercises, and applied projects into the classroom to add a real-world perspective to the coursework.
- Research — Students collaborate with faculty on groundbreaking, use-inspired research in class and in our research centers—The Kitty and Michael Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy, The Social Impact Lab, and the Boston Area Research Initiative.
- Capstone — Students must complete a “Capstone in Public Policy and Urban Affairs,” a semester-long project where student teams work in partnership with local, state, or federal agencies or nonprofit institutions, to assess a problem, produce a thorough policy analysis, and recommend solutions to the client.
Our Faculty
Our faculty represents a wide cross-section of professional practices and fields ranging from finance to education to biomedical science to management to the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors and collaborate alongside students to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.
By enrolling in Northeastern, you gain access to a network of more than 255,000 alumni and 3,350+ employer partners, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and global nongovernmental organizations. Our current students and faculty across strategically located regional locations further foster a lifelong, global community of learning and mentoring.
Below is a look at where our MPA alumni work, the positions they hold, and the skills they bring to their organizations.
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Where They Work
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Boston Children’s Hospital
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- City of Boston
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What They Do
- Community and Social Services
- Business Development
- Education
- Healthcare Services
- Research
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What They're Skilled At
- Research
- Public Speaking
- Community Outreach
- Public Policy
- Nonprofit Organizations
Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on Linkedin.