Program Overview

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Master of Public Administration, MPA

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree at the University of Central Florida inspires students to become better leaders, creating expansive opportunities for themselves and the public service they provide. The program covers a wide range of topics, incorporating service learning, providing real-world experiences, developing community partnerships, and cultivating leadership skills.

Program at a Glance

• Program: Master
• College: College of Community Innovation and Education
• Department: Public Administration, School of
• Duration: 2 years
• Tuition:
  • In-state: $369.65 per credit hour
  • Out-of-state: $1,276.48 per credit hour

Specializations

The MPA program offers specializations in:

• Public Management and Leadership
• Local Government Management
• Community Engagement
• Public Finance and Economic Development

Dual Degree Tracks

The program also offers dual degree tracks:

• Public Administration MPA Criminal Justice MS
• Public Administration MPA Nonprofit Management MNM

Accreditation and Ranking

The MPA degree is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) and is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Highlights

• Recognized as the No. 5 online MPA program by BestColleges
• Ranked No. 21 in Best Public Affairs Programs by U.S. News and World Report
• Projected job growth for administrative services managers is 7% through 2028
• Administrative services managers make a median annual pay of $96K

Application Deadlines

• Fall: June 1
• Spring: November 1

Course Overview

The program includes courses such as:

• Foundations of Public Administration
• Public Budgeting and Financial Management
• Data Applications in Public Administration

Skills You'll Gain

With an MPA degree, you will gain skills to:

• Drive change on a local and national scale, promoting public good and social justice for all communities
• Manage various public sector programs through the planning, implementing, managing, and evaluating stages
• Analyze data to gain insights for each campaign, helping determine a path forward and areas to improve
• Lead public, private, and nonprofit organizations to make a positive impact on society

Career Opportunities

Graduates can pursue careers as:

• Administrative Services Manager
• City Manager
• City Planner
• Director of Education
• Education Administrator
• Nonprofit Manager
• Program Analyst
• Private Sector Roles

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the MPA program, students must:

• Hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 or within the last 60 credit hours
• Provide official, sealed transcripts from each university/college attended
• Submit 3 letters of recommendation
• Include a resume
• Write a goal statement

Degree Requirements

The MPA program requires:

• 27 total credits for the core courses
• 3 total credits for the capstone experience
• 12 total credits for electives
• A total of 42 credits to complete the program

Core Courses

The core courses include:

• Public Administration in the Policy Process (3 credits)
• Public Organization Management (3 credits)
• Foundations of Public Administration (3 credits)
• Research Methods in Public Administration (3 credits)
• Analytical Techniques for Public Administration (3 credits)
• Public Budgeting (3 credits)
• Public Financial Management (3 credits)
• Human Resource Management (3 credits)
• Strategic Planning and Management (3 credits)

Capstone Experience

The capstone experience is completed through enrollment in PAD 6062 - Advanced Concepts and Applications in Public Administration (3 credits).

Electives

Students must earn at least 12 credits from a selection of courses offered by the School of Public Administration, which may include:

• Urban Policy and Regional Governance (3 credits)
• Policy Advocacy for Social Justice (3 credits)
• Energy Policy (3 credits)
• Global Cities (3 credits)
• Leadership in Public Service (3 credits)
• Comparative Global Public Administration (3 credits)
• Special Issues in Public Administration (3 credits)
• Internship (3 credits)
• Cross-Sectoral Governance (3 credits)
• Public Sector Communications (3 credits)

Financial Information

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the UCF Access to Opportunities (A2O) website.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies.

Internship Information

Students without practical administrative experience in the public sector are strongly advised to complete an internship (3 credit hours) as their elective course.

Additional Program Requirements

Students must achieve a grade of "B-" (80%) or higher in every course listed under core requirements, the selected area of specialization, and in the Capstone course (PAD 6062). Students must maintain a program of study and graduate status GPA of 3.0 or higher and can only graduate with a graduate status GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students are expected to be computer-literate and have internet access upon entry to the program.