Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Designed for pre-career and in-career students, the master's degree program in public administration at Rutgers SPAA provides professional competencies in public administration and nonprofit management and gives students a broad understanding of the field and its relevant issues. Students become competent at defining pu­­­blic problems, analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, developing and communicating creative solutions, and implementing ethical and practical courses of action.

> Discover Why Rutgers SPAA is the place for aspiring leaders to gain the knowledge and skills required for successful Careers in government or the nonprofit sector
> Read our Alumni Stories to see what some of our alumni do with their degrees from Rutgers SPAA

Program Quick Facts

• Program: On Campus | 100% Online
• Credits: 42 (33 Core Credits | 9 Concentration/Elective Credits)
• Priority Application Deadline: Fall: July 1 | Spring: Dec. 1

MPA Core Curriculum Areas of Study

1. Foundational: Provides understanding of public administration contexts and key professional competencies for public and nonprofit sectors
2. Analytical: Examines quantitative and qualitative data methods and research design
3. Managerial: Provides foundations in organization and human resources management
4. Financial: Examines financial contexts and budgeting skills
5. Applications: Provides students with the opportunity to utilize what they have learned in the program via a real world capstone project

Capstone Project

The capstone provides students with an opportunity to integrate learning from various courses with application to real-world issues and career ambitions. Students work individually under the guidance of a faculty member to develop either a research paper (thesis) on a topic of interest, or a professional portfolio (often in the form of a website) showcasing their academic work, community engagement, and professional competencies. The outputs are a final project as well as a presentation to fellow students, faculty members, and invited guests. The capstone seminar serves as a culminating experience in the MPA program.

For recent capstone portfolios by SPAA students see MPA Capstone Portfolios.

Curriculum

Candidates for the MPA degree complete 42 credits of coursework, which includes a required core curriculum of 33 credits and 9 credits for electives. Each course represents three credits; there are a total of 14 courses in the degree.

For course descriptions and prerequisites see Courses.

Core Curriculum (33 Credits)

Electives (9 Credits / 3 courses required)

Three elective courses are required to earn the MPA degree. Students enrolled in the MPA program can graduate with a concentration, a concentration and a certificate, or neither a concentration nor a certificate. Taking two courses (6 credits) in the same area of study is considered a concentration. A certificate requires 9 credits. Students may take elective courses outside of SPAA from relevant Rutgers departments and schools with the prior approval of the MPA Director.

Rutgers SPAA offers the following MPA concentrations:

Admission Requirements / To Apply

For admission requirements and application information and deadlines see Apply Now.

Program Costs

For information on tuition rates and program fees see Tuition & Fees.

Academic Policies, Procedures & Forms

For MPA program information such as the student handbook, mission statement, and advisement forms, see Academic Policies, Procedures & Forms.

Degree Completion / Individualized Dual-Degree Option for the MPA

Apply your graduate credits from another program toward earning your Rutgers MPA, either on campus or 100% online. Learn more about our Degree Completion / Individualized Dual-Degree Option for the MPA.

For More Information

To learn more, Request Information or Join a SPAA Info Session. If you have questions about a program or the application process, contact Aaron Gibbs, associate dean of student and academic services, at algibbs@rutgers.edu.