Program Overview

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Public Administration (MPA) Online

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) at DePaul University prepares students interested in public administration to serve the common good and advance a just society, in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul. The MPA is designed for current government professionals or individuals seeking to pursue a career in the public sector.

Mission Statement

The Master in Public Administration (MPA) degree prepares students for leadership and administrative roles in public service. We educate students on the technical, managerial, and leadership skills required to deliver effective, accountable, and equitable government services. We promote compassion for marginalized communities and ethical service to all people with a focus on social justice, professionalism, cultural sensitivity, and transparency.

Program Requirements

• Core Requirements: 36 quarter hours
• Concentration Requirements: 16 quarter hours
• Total hours required: 52

Concentrations

The MPA program offers concentrations in:

• Cybersecurity
• Emergency Management
• International Public Management
• Metropolitan Planning and Urban Affairs
• Public Management
• Standard

Cybersecurity Concentration

Students complete MPS 542 and CSEC 440, and then choose two additional electives from the list below.

• MPS 542: Policy Design and Analysis (4 quarter hours)
• CSEC 440: Information Security Management (4 quarter hours)
• Electives:
  • CSEC 428: IT Risk Management
  • CSEC 448: Online Misinformation and Disinformation Operations
  • CSEC 456: Applied Social Engineering
  • CSEC 466: Critical Infrastructure and Control Systems Cybersecurity
  • CSEC 477: Governance Policies in Information Assurance

Emergency Management Concentration

Emergency Management is a critical concern for the public, private and non-profit sectors. The concentration explores both the conceptual elements of emergency preparedness and the practical implementation of emergency management that typically occur at the intersection of local and national politics.

• MPS 542: Policy Design and Analysis (4 quarter hours)
• MPS 554: Principles of Emergency Management and Planning (4 quarter hours)
• Electives:
  • MPS 513: Volunteerism in Global Civil Society
  • MPS 526: Local Government Administration
  • MPS 527: Behavioral Strategies for Public Service
  • MPS 552: GIS for Community Development
  • MPS 564: Public Safety Administration and Planning
  • MPS 578: Urban Resilience and Climate Adaptation Policy
  • MPS 601: Professional Development and Internship
  • PRAD 540: Crisis Communication Management
  • FMS 419: Humanitarian Logistics or MGT 520: Humanitarian Supply Chain

International Public Management Concentration

Students intending to work in international organizations require a special understanding of how public and non-profit institutional structures and managerial processes vary around the world. This concentration emphasizes the interdependence of government and non-government organizations (NGOs), while addressing a variety of management, ethics, and policy issues.

• MPS 510: International Dimensions of Public Service (4 quarter hours)
• MPS 542: Policy Design and Analysis (4 quarter hours)
• Electives:
  • MPS 511: Sustainable International Development
  • MPS 521: Leadership in Public Service
  • MPS 552: GIS for Community Development
  • MPS 573: Housing and Community Development
  • MPS 575: Study Abroad Seminar
  • MPS 577: Environmental Conflicts and Mediated Solutions
  • MPS 578: Urban Resilience and Climate Adaptation Policy
  • MPS 579: Sustainable Development Policy and International Institutions
  • MPS 601: Professional Development and Internship
  • MPS 611: Management of International NGOs
  • MPS 612: International Political Economy
  • MPS 615: Management of Intercultural Diversity
  • MPS 616: International Relations and Conflict Management
  • MPS 618: Migration and Forced Migration
  • MPS 619: International Law

Metropolitan Planning and Urban Affairs Concentration

This concentration is for students wanting to work in land use, transportation, economic development, zoning, housing, and other areas of community development. Coursework emphasizes the technical skills of public administration and the tools of analyses and development as applied in a broad public setting.

• MPS 542: Policy Design and Analysis (4 quarter hours)
• MPS 571: Metropolitan Planning (4 quarter hours)
• Electives:
  • MPS 513: Volunteerism in Global Civil Society
  • MPS 526: Local Government Administration
  • MPS 527: Behavioral Strategies for Public Service
  • MPS 552: GIS for Community Development
  • MPS 554: Principles of Emergency Management and Planning
  • MPS 572: Poverty, Inequality and Public Policy
  • MPS 573: Housing and Community Development
  • MPS 575: Study Abroad Seminar
  • MPS 576: Energy Policy and the Environment
  • MPS 578: Urban Resilience and Climate Adaptation Policy
  • MPS 601: Professional Development and Internship
  • MPS 604: Special Topics

Public Management Concentration

For those who aspire to become city managers, chief administrative officers, department directors, and senior project managers, this concentration focuses on the roles, requirements, challenges, and processes of running a public organization.

• MPS 526: Local Government Administration (4 quarter hours)
• MPS 542: Policy Design and Analysis (4 quarter hours)
• Electives:
  • MPS 520: Values-Centered Leadership
  • MPS 521: Leadership in Public Service
  • MPS 527: Behavioral Strategies for Public Service
  • MPS 529: Strategic Management and Planning
  • MPS 543: Policy Implementation
  • MPS 546: Advocacy and Lobbying
  • MPS 552: GIS for Community Development
  • MPS 554: Principles of Emergency Management and Planning
  • MPS 560: Administrative Law
  • MPS 564: Public Safety Administration and Planning
  • MPS 571: Metropolitan Planning
  • MPS 573: Housing and Community Development
  • MPS 572: Poverty, Inequality and Public Policy
  • MPS 575: Study Abroad Seminar
  • MPS 601: Professional Development and Internship
  • MPS 604: Special Topics

Standard Concentration

For students who want to design their own concentration. Students complete MPS 542 and then choose three additional electives in consultation with an advisor.

• MPS 542: Policy Design and Analysis (4 quarter hours)
• Three Electives Chosen in Consultation with Advisor (12 quarter hours)

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Apply leadership and organizational management skills and concepts in an ethical manner amidst an ever-changing public sector.
• Analyze and interact with governance structures, jurisdictional boundaries and the public policy and implementation processes.
• Analyze and synthesize data regarding an existing public affairs issue and use empirical analysis to prepare solutions for informed, decision-making in the public sector using critical thinking.
• Articulate in written or oral forms a commitment to ethical service to all people with a focus on social justice, professionalism, efficiency, cultural sensitivity, and transparency.
• Integrate the social justice lens in delivery of services and programs to a diverse public and workforce.

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

• MPS 500: Public Service Management (4 quarter hours)
• MPS 501: Foundations of Public Service (4 quarter hours)
• MPS 514: Government Financial Administration (4 quarter hours)
• MPS 522: Fundamentals of Human Resource Management (4 quarter hours)
• MPS 533: Applied Statistics for Public Service (Using Excel) (4 quarter hours) or MPS 536: Applied Statistics for Public Service (Using SPSS)
• MPS 541: Economic Foundations of Public Service (4 quarter hours)
• MPS 583: Research Methods for Public Service (4 quarter hours)
• MPS 593: Integrative Seminar (4 quarter hours)
• MPS 594: Ethical Leadership in Public Service (4 quarter hours)

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.

Student Handbook

Students in the School of Public Service will follow many of the requirements, rules, and regulations set by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the DePaul University Graduate Student Handbook. There are additional academic regulations specific to students in the School of Public Service.

Academic Probation

All students within the School of Public Service must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher as part of their requirements for graduation. As a result, any student who earns a cumulative GPA below 2.7 (B-) is placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation are required to meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss their performance and determine a plan for improvement.

Dismissal

Students who are not able to raise their cumulative GPA to a minimum of 2.7 within two academic quarters (after being placed on academic probation) are subject to dismissal from the program.

Readmission

If a student is dismissed from the program (as outlined in the dismissal policy), they may reapply through the formal admission application process.

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate from the program, students must complete all program requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher. If a student's cumulative GPA is below a 2.7, they may be denied graduation.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

While School of Public Service courses are open to non-degree seeking graduate students, pre-requisite requirements for certain courses may be enforced.