Online Master of Public Administration (MPA)

An Online MPA Program That Helps Individuals Help Communities

The 100% online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program from Pace University’s Dyson College of Arts and Sciences prepares working professionals and aspiring administrators to lead in public service. Our students gain the skills to qualify for multifaceted positions that utilize complex administrative, policy, and organizational processes. Our coursework effectively prepares students to apply what they learn in the classroom to their current and future work environments.

Our dedicated and experienced faculty will aid students in capitalizing on their own unique strengths so they can graduate confident in their ability to lead and manage in public governance, healthcare organizations, and nonprofits. Students will sharpen critical thinking and data analysis experience, build on oral and written communication skills, master the art of compromise, and gain experience applying real-world solutions and theoretical concepts to community-based problems.

Students will become experts at articulating and applying the public service values and perspectives needed to communicate and interact productively with a diverse and ever-changing workforce and constituency. Additionally, they will learn to identify, interpret, and articulate data and research that is pertinent to helping individuals and communities, influencing systemic change within government, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations.

Expand your global perspective with our short-term study abroad course to Oxford, England taught as PAA 644 Seminar in Government Management.

Please note, the PAA 644 Seminar in Government Management teaches other topics in addition to the travel abroad course.

Tracks

Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, online MPA students will be able to:

• Lead and manage in public, nonprofit, and healthcare governance.
• Participate in and contribute to the public policy process.
• Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment.
• Articulate and apply a public service perspective.
• Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at-large.

Career Opportunities for Online MPA Graduates

MPA graduates find a wide range of public service opportunities within government, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations. Below are a few examples of job titles that are relevant to MPA graduates.

• Administrative Coordinator
• Annual Fund Administrator
• Assistant City Manager
• Budget Analyst
• Budget Director
• Business Manager, School Districts
• Chief Executive Officer
• Chief of Staff
• City Manager
• City Planner
• Commissioner of Finance
• Communication Strategist
• Healthcare Manager

Who Can Benefit

• Current and aspiring public management professionals
• Career changers
• Community/organization leaders
• Government employees
• Private sector employees who work closely with the public sector
• Recent college graduates
• Healthcare administrators

Program Mission

The mission of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is to prepare pre-service and in-service students in the New York City metropolitan area, the state of New York, the US, and the world to become value-driven public service leaders, managers, and analysts. We offer our graduates the knowledge of roles, values, skills, and practices that will help them become competent global leaders and professionals capable of effective, ethical, innovative, and creative leadership in public service, government, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations. Our MPA program draws on and values the diversity of our students, faculty, alumni, and community, which contributes to the advancement of practice and scholarship in public administration, affairs, and policy. The mission is realized through the pursuit of five goals:

1. 1. Graduate competent professionals, leaders, and analysts with effective, ethical, innovative, and creative management and leadership skills in public service;
2. 2. Demonstrate a research-based and community-based impact through generation, application, and dissemination of knowledge that articulates, incorporates, and balances economic public service values (e.g. efficiency, effectiveness, accountability, professionalism) with democratic ones (e.g. equity, fairness, transparency, responsiveness) to guide the actions of successful public administrators;
3. 3. Emphasize the importance of practical experience through a) the use of analytical, managerial, and research-based learning, b) opportunities for students to work with faculty on research both inside and outside the classroom, c) fostering the need for work experience in the application of public administration knowledge through capstone projects and internship experiences;
4. 4. Nurture a sense of service to the community and the profession by a) partnering with key organizations and specialized research institutes, b) engaging with a wide, diverse, and connected alumni network, and c) collaborating with world-class universities in the United States and abroad;
5. 5. Promote a diverse and inclusive learning environment by aligning the MPA program with Pace University’s motto of Opportunitas by providing access to quality education for all students, including those from all backgrounds (ethnic/race, gender, country of origin, economic, cultural) and first generation college students.