Effective government depends on professionals who can translate policy into action. It demands people who can manage budgets, coordinate programs, and lead teams in service of the public good.

Yet according to a 2024 Partnership for Public Service survey, only 23% of Americans currently trust the federal government, even as 90% say an effectively functioning government is essential to a strong democracy. The gap between those two numbers represents a real opportunity for skilled public administrators.

Pace University offers an online Master of Public Administration with a track in Government Management that develops the skills public sector professionals need to take on greater responsibility and broader leadership roles. From municipal management and budget analysis to policy development and program administration, the curriculum reflects the real challenges faced at every level of government.

Skills You’ll Gain

Through the Government Management track, you’ll develop expertise in:

  • Public Budgeting and Financial Administration: Develop fluency in government budgeting processes, revenue forecasting, and the financial frameworks that guide public sector resource allocation, including intergovernmental fiscal transfers and tax structure analysis.
  • Policy Development and Analysis: Research, draft, and evaluate public policies, applying analytical frameworks to assess their potential impact on communities and institutions.
  • Public Program Management: Build the skills to plan, implement, and oversee government programs that matter most to constituents, including performance measurement, accountability reporting, and stakeholder communication.
  • Intergovernmental Relations: Understand how federal, state, and local governments interact, and develop strategies for navigating complex multi-agency environments and policy implementation.
  • Public Sector Leadership and Ethics: Apply leadership theory to government management contexts, with emphasis on ethical decision-making, transparency, and public accountability.
  • Research Methods and Applied Statistics: Design and conduct quantitative and qualitative research to inform government decision-making, including survey methods, inferential statistics, and data-driven approaches to policy analysis and program evaluation.
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To learn more about the online Master of Public Administration, fill out the fields in this form to download a free brochure. If you have any questions at any time, please contact an enrollment specialist at (914) 758-1080.

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Career Outcomes

MPA in Government Management graduates go on to roles across municipal, state, and federal agencies. Discover how you can apply your Pace online MPA skills to key positions in the government management field:

  • Government Consultant | Salary Average: $112,547 | Salary Range: $46k-$156kGovernment consultants advise public sector agencies on policy, operations, and organizational strategy. They help departments solve complex problems and improve service delivery. Your MPA training in policy analysis, budgeting, and intergovernmental relations gives you the analytical and communications skills to work effectively across agencies and levels of government.
  • City Manager | Salary Average: $102,935 | Salary Range: $63k-$190kCity managers oversee the administrative functions of municipal governments. They coordinate departments and execute policies set by elected officials. Our coursework prepares you to navigate the operational and political dimensions of local government leadership.
  • Director of Operations | Salary Average: $90,963 | Salary Range: $56k-$143kOperations directors manage the systems and processes that keep government agencies running efficiently. Your training in organization theory, management, budgeting, and financial analysis equips you to oversee staffing, resources, and day-to-day operations.
  • Executive Director | Salary Average: $110,862 | Salary Range: $59k-$226kExecutive directors in the public sector lead agencies, departments, and public-facing organizations at the highest administrative level. Coursework across public administration, economics, and government management prepares you to set strategic direction and manage complex organizational environments.

Course List

Core Courses (21 credits)

This course provides an introduction to the field of public administration including its history as an academic discipline and a field of service. It focuses on the organization and structure of American national, state, and local governments and examines their powers, responsibilities, and functions in the federal system. The course emphasizes the impact of a changing political environment on the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government as they influence the development of public policy. Specific case examples illustrating the principles of public administration will be taken from government, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations.

This course examines organizations from three perspectives, as closed, natural, and open systems. It will help students to understand better the relationship among organizational structure, organization functions, and individual and group behavior. Behavioral forces and their implications will be addressed as students are exposed to concepts of power, control, and change within appropriate contexts. Leadership will be discussed from a situational perspective with emphasis on the complexity of the modern organization in the government, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors. Knowledge of organizational theory will be used to enhance students’ understanding of management functions.

This course introduces the principles of economics as applied to the government, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors in the United States. This course will provide an analysis of the role of public and nonprofit institutions in the private market economic system. Special attention will be paid to the interaction of economics and the political process. Specific topics to be covered are: public vs private goods, market failure and externalities, supply and demand analysis, public choice theory, indifference curve analysis, macroeconomic stabilization, the public debt, and economic development and growth. Economic analysis will be applied to contemporary policy issues such as public welfare, healthcare, the environment, transportation, education, and taxation.

This course provides an in-depth analysis of budgeting and finance as applied to government, healthcare, and the nonprofit sectors. Its main focus is on principles of public finance and budgetary analysis as seen in financial decision making. Topics introduced in the course include the budget cycle, budget methods, budget reform, taxation and tax structures, intergovernmental fiscal relations, and cost and break-even analyses. The course also involves computer applications of these concepts to problems in government, healthcare, and nonprofit sector decision-making.

This is a core course in the MPA program. It covers the fundamentals of research methods for public administrators. The course is designed to assist public administrators in the consumption and production of research in their field. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches to research will be covered and public administration students will be given direct experience in both of these research areas.

This course teaches the fundamentals of statistical and quantitative methods as applied to public administration. The course is designed to integrate statistical and quantitative methods and decision making. Topics to be included are: basic measurement and experimental design probability and probability distribution, samples and sampling techniques, inference and hypothesis testing, contingency tables, analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and simple and multiple regression analysis. Emphasis will be placed on the applications of these concepts to issues and problems in government, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations.

The program culminates with a Capstone Project Seminar which provides the student with the opportunity to carry out an analysis of an organization with which they are familiar. It may be one in which the student is currently employed or the site of an administrative placement during the program. The specific focus of the analysis will be determined by the interests of the student and approved by the project advisor. Seminar discussions will assist the student to relate concepts to the functioning of ongoing organizations, thus tying the curriculum to the world of work. A formal presentation of the analysis will be required.

Government Management Track Courses (12 credits)

This course studies the relationships among the several levels and forms of government (federal, state, local, regional, interstate and intrastate districts, branches, agencies, and quasi-public structures). The course describes the possession or sharing of responsibility for initiation and execution of public policy, fiscal provision, program design, and implementation in terms of the administrative problems that are seen in a federal structure. Case studies are discussed, illustrating examples of attempts at intergovernmental coordination and planning.

This course will examine the theories and concepts used in the study of public policy. It describes the development and use of models for policy formulation, analysis, and evaluation. Policies of special, professional interest to the student are examined in detail with emphasis on the development of analytic skills. Faculty guidance is provided in the assignment of special readings as the student develops policy research papers.

This course focuses on examining the various forms of municipal government such as the council-manager, mayor-council, and commission forms of local government. It explores the history of the plans, their evolution and growth, and procedures for adoption. In particular, the course examines the respective roles and responsibilities of the manager and those of elected officials and how the two interact with respect to municipal functions and the delivery of services. Also discussed are critical issues relating to the organization and management of municipal line agencies and support systems.

This seminar focuses on events that impact on the capacity of the public administrator to implement public policy. Examples include changes in civil service law, mandated services, changes in intergovernmental financing, etc.

Elective Courses (9 credits)

Choose three electives in consultation with the department faculty advisor. Other courses may be selected as electives with prior approval of the faculty advisor.

See Our Full List of Elective Courses

Frequently Asked Questions

Full-time students can complete the online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program in as little as two years, while part-time students typically complete the program in three to four years.

Yes, some MPA students choose to complete the degree part time while maintaining a full-time work schedule.

Not at all. The track is equally valuable whether you’re currently working in a public sector role or looking to transition into government from another field. It’s also a strong fit for individuals interested in pursuing political careers at the local, state, or federal level.

The Pace Office of Graduate Admission informs applicants of the committee’s decision within 1-2 weeks of your completed application submission. Accepted students receive their letter of acceptance from Pace via email.

Admission Summary

The application process is streamlined for your convenience.

Step 1: Complete the online application

Step 2: Submit additional materials

  • Official transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Academic and personal statements

Step 3: You’ll hear from our admissions teams in 1-2 weeks

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