Master of Public Administration

Students in Excelsior's MPA program discuss coursework

Master of Public Administration

Master of Public Administration

Students in Excelsior's MPA program discuss coursework

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Expand Your Professional Impact with an Online MPA

100% Online Learning

The Excelsior University Master of Public Administration (MPA) program prepares you for career advancement in all levels of government or in either local or global service organizations. Our MPA graduates are ready to become skilled public service leaders who work toward improving their communities.

A successful career in public administration hinges on your ability to understand how issues and opportunities affect a diversity of people. Starting with Excelsior’s unique set of core courses, you’ll learn with your fellow students from across our programs and disciplines to begin your graduate education building connections and expanding your worldview in a suite of three courses focusing on ethical leadership, strategic talent management, and data-driven decision making.

The MPA program helps you master both the personal and the business side of public administration, with coursework that shows you how to harness information technology, respond to ethical issues, foster constructive collaboration, and more. Gain practical experience in honing your presentation skills and leadership and finish the program with a complete professional portfolio ready to present to prospective or current employers.

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Start March 3

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PROGRAM DETAILS

Online MPA

  • Major Core21 Credits
  • Concentration9 Credits

    Master of Public Administration

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  • General
    • Dive deeper into issues affecting the public and nonprofit sectors with courses like Mediation, Business Communications, Labor Relations and Conflict Resolution, Grant Writing, and Change Management, among others.

  • Cannabis Control
    • Understand the impacts of cannabis legalization in our communities, states, and nation. The curriculum fosters strong critical thinking skills crucial to keeping pace with the fast-changing environment, and innovative courses meld industry and practitioner-based readings with scientific research.

  • Explore Common Careers

    Graduates at commencement
    Core subjects like Ethics and Public Administration and Theory have made me a better manager; others like Public Management in a Political Environment and Statistical Analysis for Decision Making have prepared me to participate in senior management teams.

    Craig Breverman
    MPA, 2019

    Middle States Commission on Higher Education logo

    Institutional Accreditation

    Excelsior University is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission) www.msche.org. Excelsior University’s accreditation status is accreditation reaffirmed. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on June 23, 2022 was to reaffirm accreditation. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States.

    All of Excelsior University’s academic programs are registered (i.e., approved) by the New York State Education Department.

    FAQ

    An MPA program prepares you to lead in the public and nonprofit sectors with skills that include:

    • Finance
    • Technology planning
    • Human resource management
    • Strategic decision-making
    • Ethics

    A master’s degree in public administration opens doors to a wide range of fulfilling and impactful careers within the public and nonprofit sectors:

    • Program manager
    • Development director
    • Legislative aide
    • Policy analyst
    • Nonprofit consultant

    Excelsior’s MPA program provides you with a deep understanding of public policy, management, and leadership principles specifically tailored to the public sector. These skills can be valuable career advancement assets in a variety of fields, such as international development, environmental policy, and social justice.

    Excelsior’s MPA program offers a concentration in Cannabis Control.

    An MPA, or Master of Public Administration, is a graduate degree focused on preparing you for leadership roles in the public sector and nonprofit organizations. It emphasizes skills like public policy analysis, program evaluation, financial management, and organizational leadership. An MBA, or Master of Business Administration, is geared toward business and management careers in the private sector. It focuses on areas like finance, marketing, operations, and strategic management.