Program Overview

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Public Administration (Emergency Management), MPA

The Master of Public Administration program with a concentration in Emergency Management is a professional degree that can be completed full-time or part-time. This program is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to manage and assume positions of leadership in the field of emergency management within government, private, nonprofit, and civic organizations.

Program Description

The program consists of a core curriculum emphasizing managerial and analytic skills needed in a large range of careers that serve the public good. Through a focused set of electives, the concentration in emergency management provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to manage and assume positions of leadership in the field of emergency management. An all-hazards and all-threats orientation paired with a focus on community resilience and communication provides the student with a generalist perspective, which is critically important for the disaster managers of today and tomorrow.

At a Glance

• College/school: Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions
• Location: Downtown Phoenix, ASU at Hainan
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Accelerated Program Options

This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. Accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving students who want the opportunity to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.

Degree Requirements

• 42 credit hours including the required capstone course (PAF 509)
• Required Core (27 credit hours)
  • PAF 501 Public Service Research I (3)
  • PAF 502 Public Service Research II (3)
  • PAF 503 Public Affairs (3)
  • PAF 504 Microeconomics of Public Policy I (3)
  • PAF 505 Public Policy Analysis (3)
  • PAF 506 Public Budgeting and Finance (3)
  • PAF 507 Public Human Resource Management (3)
  • PAF 508 Organization Behavior (3)
  • PAF 574 Diversity, Ethics and Leading Public Change (3)
• Required Concentration (9 credit hours)
  • PAF 520 Public Management (3)
  • PAF 552 Integrated Emergency Management (3)
  • PAF 555 Information Technology in Emergency Management (3)
• Electives or Research (3 credit hours)
• Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
  • PAF 509 Public Affairs Capstone (3)

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements
• Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
• Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution in a related field
• Related fields include political science, criminology, planning, business, urban and metropolitan studies, and other social science fields
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program
• All applicants must submit:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • Statement of career and educational goals
  • Two letters of recommendation from academic references
  • Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: Rolling
• Spring: Rolling
• Summer: Rolling

Career Opportunities

Graduates are prepared to pursue a career in a field related to public administration or public policy. Possible positions include manager or policy analyst in a local, state or federal agency; nonprofit organization; or private organization that interfaces with the public sector.