Public Administration (M.P.A.)

What the Program Covers

The online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program prepares students for leadership roles in public and nonprofit organizations. The curriculum builds skills in program evaluation, budgeting, planning, personnel management, and policy analysis. Professionals with five or more years of experience—or a Certified Public Manager credential—can enroll in the reduced-credit Executive MPA. Note that the GRE is not required for admission to this program.

Public Administration graduates learn how to apply evidence-based decision-making to improve public sector and nonprofit organizations. 

Program Highlights

• Earn your public administration master’s degree fully online and asynchronously 
• Study with public service professionals and professors who bring strong analysis and best practices to your learning 
• Start in the fall, spring, or summer and graduate in just 16 months 
• Choose between two capstone tracks: 
  • Management and Leadership – focusing on organizational strategy and public sector leadership 
  • Program Planning and Development – focusing on program design, evaluation, and implementation

Students may add the optional Recreation Management and Policy track to focus on recreation administration within public service. 

Program Delivery and Options

All core courses are delivered online asynchronously. Students may take optional electives in person on UNH campuses. An optional Washington, DC Colloquium brings students to Washington, DC for a week of meetings with policymakers and practitioners. 

MPA Requirements

Students enrolled in the Carsey School's Master of Public Administration program are required to complete a 36-credit program, consisting of 12 courses as follows:

• 3 MPA BASIC Core Curriculum Courses
• 3 MPA ADVANCED Core Curriculum Courses
• 6 MPA CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE Track Courses:
  • Management and Leadership Track: 2 Capstone Courses + 4 Elective Courses
    OR
  • Program Planning and Development Track: 4 Applied Project Capstone Courses + 2 Elective Courses

Optional Recreation Management and Policy Track can be added to the MPA CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE Tracks above: Choose a minimum of 3 RMP courses from the list of MPA ADVANCED Core courses.

These provide students with a strong foundation in theory and the applied skills necessary to foster democratic involvement, accountability and administrative competency in the provision and delivery of public services in towns, cities, state agencies, and a wide range of nonprofit and non-governmental organizations. Further opportunities for depth and specialization are provided through a broad range of MPA ADVANCED Core and MPA-Approved Elective courses which vary by semester. For a culminating graduate experience, students choose an MPA capstone experience to match their interests in Management and Leadership or Program Planning and Development, and can choose to add the optional Recreation Management and Policy Track to further specialize in recreation administration.

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A range of MPA ADVANCED Core courses are offered each term and vary each year. MPA ADVANCED Core courses can also be taken as MPA-Approved Elective courses. Students may also propose relevant Elective courses if they make sense in terms of the student’s interests and academic plan. Discussion with your Graduate Academic Advisor should inform this choice.

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As a culmination of their graduate work, students in the Master of Public Administration's Management and Leadership Track are tasked with reflecting upon the professional applicability of their MPA skillset and drawing from the ePortfolio that they built throughout the program. Students are presented with a real-world problem in public administration and asked to write a paper exploring the problem and proposing recommended solutions.

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Students in the Master of Public Administration's Program Planning and Development Track complete a four-term applied capstone project as the culmination of their graduate work. This capstone experience is designed to provide an opportunity to directly apply theories learned in the classroom to a major applied project within a community.

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Students pursuing the Recreation Management and Policy Track should select a minimum of 3 RMP courses from the list of MPA ADVANCED Core courses to meet MPA ADVANCED Core and/or MPA-Approved Elective program requirements. Students should consult with their departmental Graduate Academic Advisors at the Carsey School and Recreation Management & Policy for guidance on which RMP courses are relevant based upon their interests. Note that some RMP courses are offered online, while other courses are currently offered on campus only. Check course details for course location specifics.

MPA Sample Degree Plans (36 Credits):  Fall Start

CAPSTONE TRACK: MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

CAPSTONE TRACK: PROGRAM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

¹

A range of MPA ADVANCED Core courses are offered each term and vary each year. MPA ADVANCED Core courses can also be taken as MPA-Approved Elective courses. Students may also propose relevant Elective courses based upon their interests. Consult with your Graduate Academic Advisor for guidance and course selections.

²

As a culmination of their graduate work, students in the Master of Public Administration's Management and Leadership Track are tasked with reflecting upon the professional applicability of their MPA skillset and drawing from the ePortfolio that they built throughout the program. Students are presented with a real-world problem in public administration and asked to write a paper exploring the problem and proposing recommended solutions.

³

Students in the Master of Public Administration's Program Planning and Development Track complete a four-term applied capstone project as the culmination of their graduate work. This capstone experience is designed to provide an opportunity to directly apply theories learned in the classroom to a major applied project within a community.

⁴

Students pursuing the Recreation Management and Policy Track should select a minimum of 3 RMP courses from the list of MPA ADVANCED Core courses to meet MPA ADVANCED Core and/or MPA-Approved Elective program requirements. Students should consult with their departmental Graduate Academic Advisors at the Carsey School and Recreation Management & Policy for guidance on which RMP courses are relevant based upon their interests. Note that some RMP courses are offered online, while other courses are currently offered on campus only. Check course details for course location specifics.

Accelerated Master's Overview

Accelerated Master’s programs offer qualified University of New Hampshire undergraduate students the opportunity to begin graduate coursework in select graduate programs while completing a bachelor’s degree. Accelerated master's programs are designed to provide students with an efficient and cost-effective pathway to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree or graduate certificate, enhancing career opportunities and long-term earning potential.

Accelerated Master's Highlights

• Begin studying advanced topics while an undergraduate student with the opportunity to complete a master’s degree or graduate certificate early.
• Master’s degree program students: Earn up to 12* graduate (800-level) course credits while completing a bachelor’s degree. This coursework will count as dual-credit toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
• Graduate certificate program students: Earn up to 8* graduate (800-level) course credits while completing a bachelor’s degree. This coursework will count as dual-credit toward both the bachelor’s degree and the graduate certificate.
• Students complete the bachelor’s degree, and then officially matriculate into the master’s or graduate certificate program to complete the remaining required graduate-level coursework.

*Some exceptions apply. 

Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements

• A minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA is required.*
• A minimum of 90 undergraduate credits must be completed prior to enrolling in graduate (800-level) courses.
• Streamlined Graduate School Application (two letters of recommendation; most standardized tests and application fee are waived).*

*Some exceptions apply.

Accelerated Master's Requirements

• Students must attend a mandatory orientation session.
• Students must submit a special registration form each semester for dual-credit courses and note any DegreeWorks exceptions.
• Students may defer graduate matriculation for up to one year after earning their bachelor’s degree in most programs.
• See the Accelerated Master’s Catalog Policy and Accelerated Master’s Website for additional information and a list of programs. Note that some programs have additional requirements (e.g. higher-grade expectations) compared to the general policy.

Public Administration (M.P.A.) Accelerated Option

This graduate degree program is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with the following undergraduate program(s):

College of Health and Human Services

COLLEGE OF LIFE SCIENCES AND agriculture

College of Liberal Arts

College of Professional Studies - Manchester

 College of Professional Studies - Online

• Develop in-depth understanding of the structure of public sector organizations and common issues faced by public and nonprofit managers
• Communicate effectively with public managers, policymakers, and the general public
• Manage organizations, processes, and people in the public and nonprofit sectors
• Apply critical thinking skills to address public issues and solve problems
• Collect and analyze data to inform public decision-making