Master of Public Administration

a woman pursuing her master degree in public administration in missouri stands at a white board pointing to and explaining a hand drawn graph
MPA On-Campus Hyflex Main Campus

DEGREE TYPE

Master's Degree

PROGRAM TYPE

Graduate

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Be fearless in service with your master of public administration.

You have a deep commitment to public service and your community and are ready to step into a role where you can make an impact. The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a professional degree that prepares you for a career in management of government and nonprofit organizations to do just that.  

Students have the option to complete a thesis or an internship within a non-profit or government setting to complete their capstone course, letting you customize the degree to your needs and interests. 

Where Bold Ideas Take Shape

Develop the skills to be a responsible and ethical leader with the ability to make decisions strategically. This is where you make it happen: 

  • Engage in the development of leadership skills to successfully communicate with a range of individuals, communities and organizations. 
  • Develop the ability to organize information and ideas and to communicate them effectively, both in written reports and oral presentations. 
  • Analyze the ethical considerations confronting public and nonprofit organizations serving diverse communities in an evolving world. 

What Can You Do with a Master of Publication Administration?

Graduates of the Master of Public Administration program can look forward to rewarding careers in a wide variety of governmental and nonprofit organizations. Although an MPA is often considered a practitioner degree for those who will be doing public or nonprofit administration, a number of graduates go on to pursue doctorates to become college or university faculty. 

Employment Opportunities 

  • Emergency Management Director 
  • Operations Research Analyst 
  • Human Resources Manager 
  • Postsecondary Education Administrator 

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Missouri MPA by the Numbers

  • $96K

    Operations Research Analyst

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the median annual salary of operations research analysts is $95,820.

  • $89K

    Emergency Management Director

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the mean annual salary for emergency management directors is $88,890.

  • $146K

    Human Resources Managers

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the mean annual salary for human resource managers is $145,750.

Public Administration Curriculum

The Master of Public Administration degree requires the completion of 36 hours of coursework, consisting of 21 hours of core courses, 12 hours of elective courses, and a 3-credit-hour capstone, internship or thesis. A full-time student can often complete the program in two years, subject to appropriate planning for the internship.

In addition to the criteria established for general admission to graduate studies, applicants must have the following:
  1. 1. An undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or higher on a 4.0 scale
  2. 2. Resume
  3. 3. A letter of intent addressing professional goals and objectives. The letter should address what the applicant expects to achieve through graduate level study. The letter should be typed and a maximum of 750 words in length.

Application materials must demonstrate the student’s commitment to a career in governmental or nonprofit organizations.

GRE, LSAT, or GMAT scores are not required but may be submitted to strengthen application.

Letters should be addressed to the Director of Admissions. All documents should be submitted directly to the Office of Admissions.

36 hours required

Core Requirements:
  • PS502 Fundamentals of Public Administration (3)
  • PS505 Organizational Theory and Behavior (3)
  • PS518 Public Policy Analysis (3)
  • PS545 Research Methods (3)
  • PS603 Public Personnel Administration (3)
  • PS615 Government Budgeting Process (3)
  • PS655 Federalism (3)
  • PS697 Internship (3)

OR

  • 3 Hours Thesis

Choose one 12-hour track:

Nonprofit:
  • PS631 Nonprofit Management (3)
  • PS632 Nonprofit Marketing (3)
  • PS636 Grants and Fundraising (3)
  • PS691-696 Topics in Political Science (3)
State and Local Governance:
  • PS621 Social Media and Politics (3)
  • PS691-696 Topics in Political Science (3)
  • PY571 Introductory Behavioral Statistics (3)
  • SC560 Organizational Communication (3)
Choose one with advice of program coordinator:
  • GR698 Master’s Final Comprehensive Examination (0)
  • GR699 Master’s Oral Examination (0)
  • The capstone internship (PS697) involves 120 hours of work with the host organization, and the writing and defense of a scholarly internship paper on the experience.
  • Undergraduate students who apply for and meet the eligibility requirements of the Accelerated MPA Program can take as many as four of the 500-level core courses and have them count toward both their undergraduate and MPA degrees.
  • The University requires that at least 18 credit hours of the 36-hour program must be at the 600 level.
  • Students are also expected to comply with Graduate School general requirements, including continuous enrollment provisions, etc.

Public Administration Degree Map

Equipped to Lead. Inspired to Go Further.

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Headshot of Amanda Rogers missouri mpa student

Amanda Rogers

Class of ‘18, Master of Public Administration

I am learning about being a government employee and how to manage and work in a non-profit organization. I get excited when I think of the policies that need to be fixed to help more people and how I can change them with my education and experience.

College of Humanities and Social Sciences 

This degree is housed within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The College prepares students for lifelong careers. We boast programs that train students in problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, organization, and adaptability. Skills employers value, so we prepare you for basically any career field.
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What will it cost?

Getting the Job

Your education is just one piece to launching an extraordinary career. Once you’ve mastered the material, you still have to find the job you want, make the right connections, and sell your knowledge and experience—if all this is giving you anxiety, don’t panic. SEMO’s Career Services office is here to help you with the next step. Our boldly supportive faculty will provide the expertise and support you need, so you’re landing your dream job in no time.
Career Services

Accelerated MPA

You can take courses for your MPA as an undergraduate saving you time and money. The courses can count towards both your bachelor’s and master’s degree.
Accelerated Master’s Degrees

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Related Programs

With an MBA, you’re prepared for a variety of business careers with focus in managerial, finance, and leadership skills designed to prepare you for executive and supervisory roles. 
Program Details Degree Map

DEGREE TYPE

Master's Degree

PROGRAM TYPE

Graduate

LOCATION

Main Campus - Cape

DEPARTMENT

MBA

Political Science, Philosophy & Religion

Contact Us

Location

Office

Carnahan Hall 211

Mailing Address

One University Plaza, MS 2920
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
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