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Master of Public Administration (STEM)

Arielle Baldwin, SPA/MPA '21
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Announcing our new STEM-designated MPA

Our STEM-designated MPA prepares graduates to meet the growing demand from employers for public administration professionals skilled in data-informed decision-making and the application of advanced quantitative methods to improve organizational and program effectiveness. STEM designation allows non-U.S. nationals to qualify for a 24-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension, providing up to three years of work authorization in the U.S. without requiring employer sponsorship.

Students will follow the 18-credit Advanced Public Administration Analytics Specialization. This specialization prepares students to lead in an increasingly data-driven public sector. Students build advanced skills in quantitative analysis, program evaluation, and artificial intelligence with the flexibility to tailor coursework to their professional goals. Drawing on courses across American University, the curriculum combines cutting-edge technical training with a deep understanding of public policy and management. Graduates are prepared to turn complex data into evidence, insights, and better public decisions.

Access Powerful Networks

You’ll learn from world-renowned scholars whose expertise spans public administration, management, and policy. Our students master contemporary administrative, management, and leadership best. They hone their analytical, decision-making, and communication skills, and learn to navigate organizational, human resource, and budgetary challenges while managing complex programs. What’s more, AU’s prime location in the nation’s capital offers students singular access to internship opportunities and policy makers. These direct connections to the nation’s change-makers, along with our extensive alumni network, will quickly open doors.

Get Ready to Lead

Ranked 4th in Public Management and Leadership by U.S. News and World Report, the MPA program positions you for leadership and executive roles in public agencies, national and international nonprofit organizations, and private firms. If you want a degree that will equip you to drive change and craft solutions to today’s most pressing challenges in public administration, AU’s MPA is the one for you.

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Degree Requirements

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) requires 39 credit hours of approved graduate work for students entering the program with a bachelor's degree. 12 credit hours are electives that can comprise an area of concentration. Required core courses comprise 27 credit hours, including a Public Administration Capstone class. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in all coursework is required to remain in good standing and to earn the degree. Full-time status is considered to be 9 credit hours per semester. Students are expected to complete the degree within two years, including one summer.

The Public Administration Capstone tests students' abilities to integrate and synthesize MPA coursework and apply it to significant public management challenges. The course requires students to apply curriculum content, critical thinking, research, and writing skills through a substantial management analysis project. The Capstone is taken in the final semester of study, and is offered in fall and spring semesters only.

Internship

Students without significant professional work background participate in either a for-credit or non-credit internship. Students electing the internship for credit register for the course as part of a concentration. Students electing the non-credit internship are required to complete a survey about the experience.

More information about course requirements can be found here.

For more information, please contact the SPA Graduate Admissions Office at 202-885-6230 or [email protected].

The School of Public Affairs operates on a rolling admissions basis for our graduate programs. This means that applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis until programs reach capacity for either Spring or Fall entry. While previous academic or professional work in the career field is not required, your application file should demonstrate a serious commitment to a career in this field. Please consult the following web resources to learn more about building an application file for the program:

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Application Requirements
FAQ(s)
International Student Application and Admission

For more information, please contact the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions at 202-885-6230 or [email protected].

 

Please consult SPA’s Tuition and Funding page to gain an understanding of the cost of tuition, student fees, and associated discretionary costs.

All admitted students—domestic and international--who meet the priority deadlines for Spring and Fall entry (November 1 and February 15, respectively) are considered for merit aid as part of a separate review process. An admitted student’s application file is the basis of review. There is no separate application required for consideration. Merit aid options consist of partial tuition remission, graduate assistantships, and a limited number of named scholarships. All inquiries about SPA merit aid should be directed to [email protected].

All domestic students are encouraged to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if they wish to apply for Federal student Loans. American University's FAFSA code is 001434. The Office of Financial Aid (OFA) at American University will review this information and will notify you of your eligibility. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree delves into leadership in public and nonprofit organizations, the organizational environment, and the analysis of public management issues. Our Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree emphasizes evidence-based ideas and approaches and the use of data and research methodologies to find solutions to policy challenges. As an example, the Social Policy focus area in the MPA program and the Social Policy concentration in the MPP program may cover similar topics and may even offer some of the same courses and faculty, but the courses will have different emphases depending on the program you’re pursuing.

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% of Graduates are now Working, Grad School, or Both
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Sarah Aldridge

SPA/MPA '22

SPA helped Sarah Aldridge translate a passion for grassroots engagement into a career in nonprofit advocacy. “SPA combined a practical, applied foundation in public administration with opportunities to engage with my personal interests - from education policy to campaign management and women in politics,” said the Director of Congressional Affairs at Voices for National Service, who trains other nonprofit professionals to engage with their members of Congress on behalf of AmeriCorps. “I came to this position from the Hill,” she added. “I love using my past experience to help coach folks on the best way to get a member's attention.”