Program Overview

Public Administration: M.P.A.

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) at the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware is a professional degree program that trains diverse, motivated students to lead and manage public and nonprofit organizations.

Program Overview

Our distinctive MPA program utilizes the Delaware Model to integrate academic excellence with professional experience for aspiring and practicing public and nonprofit managers. Through coursework and experiential learning, the degree develops the leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills that are critical to competent, values-based decision-making in diverse, changing, and multi-sectored environments.

Curriculum

The 36-credit curriculum is divided into core subjects, areas of specialization, an internship, and a writing assignment. The core curriculum deals with ideas and concepts related to the field of public administration, including:

• Human resources management
• Public financial management
• Management decision making
• Quantitative analysis
• Information technology for public managers
• Organizational leadership
• Administrative/employment law
• Public economics

Specialization Areas

Specialization areas include:

• Nonprofit Management
• Public Management
• Policy and Program Development

Within these broad specializations, students focus in a topic area such as:

• State/local management
• Educational policy
• Environmental and energy management
• Planning and infrastructure
• International affairs
• Public policy analysis
• Financial management
• Health policy and management

With the approval of their academic advisor and the M.P.A. program director, students may design their own area of specialization.

Program Requirements

Students must research, write, and defend a management or policy brief under the direction of a faculty committee. With the approval of the M.P.A. program director, qualified practitioners may also participate on these committees.

All M.P.A. candidates must complete a professional-level internship (unless waived by the internship coordinator). Typically, internships are with governmental agencies, community organizations, advocacy groups, nonprofit institutions, or for-profit organizations engaged in the public good. Upon approval of the faculty, students may pursue a thesis in lieu of an internship.

Program Duration and Format

Traditional master's degree students can complete the M.P.A. program in two years of full-time study. Part-time and online options are also available. Current UD undergraduates can be considered for admission to the 4+1 B.A. in public policy/M.P.A. or the 4+1 B.S. in organizational and community leadership/M.P.A.

Tuition

The UD graduate student tuition rate per credit hour is $1,116.

Application Deadlines

• FALL:
  • January 15: Priority consideration to apply
  • August 15: Final deadline to apply
• SPRING:
  • December 15: Priority consideration to apply
  • January 15: Final deadline to apply
• SUMMER:
  • April 15: Priority consideration to apply
  • May 15: Final deadline to apply

Applications are accepted on a "rolling" basis upon completion and submission to the Graduate College.