MPA/MPP Degrees
MPA and MPP programs are professional degree programs that prepare students for mid and upper level careers in the public service. Public service these days take many forms, from working in governmental agencies (federal, state and local / municipal) to consulting, from multilateral agencies such as United Nations, World Bank, Asian Development Bank to non-profits (international or local). Nowadays each of these programs provides courses designed to equip their students with essential knowledge and skills in policy analysis and public management. In general however MPA programs place more emphasis on management and implementation techniques / approaches, while MPP programs emphasize policy analysis, research and evaluation. Over the years the curricula of MPA and MPP programs have blended and converged as it has become obvious that familiarity with policy analysis would benefit the implementation process and vice versa.
The Masters of Public Administration (MPA) degree is the professional degree for a public service career in management. These degree programs teach the skills and techniques used by leaders and public managers to translate public policies into effective and feasible programs and projects, and to determine the most effective ways for implementing programs and projects while addressing organizational, personnel, timing and budgetary challenges. MPA graduates work in a wide variety of public service fields and in all levels of government (federal, state, local, and regional), in nonprofits, international organizations, and in the private sector.
The Masters of Public Policy (MPP) degree emphasizes the research, analysis and evaluation of various social, global, economic, health, environmental and other public issues to develop effective, feasible and equitable policy solutions. As analysts, public managers, and leaders, MPP graduates work with quantitative and qualitative information and data to develop and assess alternative policy solutions to current and emerging social, economic and environmental issues. They can pursue careers in various fields of public service and in all levels of government (federal, state, local, and regional), in nonprofits, in the international arena, and in the private sector.
MPA (Master of Public Administration)
Coursework for MPA candidates typically includes required core courses and a concentration or specialization. Core courses often include public management, organizational theory, budgeting and financial processes, information technologies, policy and program formulation, implementation and evaluation, decision making and problem solving, political and legal institutions and processes, economic and social institutions and processes, organization, management and leadership concepts and behavior, and ethics. Please see the curriculum page for more information about the curriculum in MPA programs.
A typical MPA program usually takes two years. Students typically take essential core courses during the first year of the study. In the second year of their study student take courses related to their specialization interest. Many of the programs require two-month internship as part of the curriculum. Students can complete their MPA degrees in less than two years by taking more courses in early semesters. Note that some universities also offer one-year intensive MPA programs as well. Most of the Executive MPA programs last for a year and designed for students with several years of professional experience.
MPA students who know their specialization interests before beginning their coursework may want to consider a program that offers that specialization or concentration. Specializations and concentrations offered by MPA programs include but are not limited to nonprofit management, health care management, environmental management, criminal justice, regional planning and urban affairs, as well as election administration, aviation security, and social entrepreneurship. MPA program specializations and concentrations can be searched in the database of graduate schools in this web portal.
MPP (Master of Public Policy)
Coursework for MPP students typically includes required core courses and elective courses. Core courses often include data analysis and evaluation, microeconomics, political analysis, ethical analysis, research design, program evaluation, organization and management concepts and behavior. Elective courses enable students to focus on their concentration / specialization of interest.
A typical MPP program usually takes two years. Students usually complete essential core courses during the first year of the study. In the second year of their study students take courses related to their specialization interest. Many programs require two-month summer internship as part of the degree program. Students can complete their MPP degrees in less than two years by taking more courses in early semesters. Note that some universities do offer one year intensive MPP programs.
MPP candidates who know their specialization interests before beginning their coursework may wantselect a program that offers that specialization or concentration. Specializations and concentrations offered by MPP programs include but not are limited to such policy areas as environment, education, social welfare, health, urban affairs, non-profits, information technology/e-governance, government revenue and expenditures, and global issues. MPP program specializations and concentrations can be searched in this web portal’s database of graduate schools.
Some students have very specific career goals in mind, and one important factor in choosing between degrees is whether they offer specializations of interest to you. The definition of “specializations” or “concentrations” varies across programs and schools, but the general idea is that the program features a coherent set of courses in a specific area of study for which you can develop significant professional competence. Such specializations typically involve at least 3 courses, and can also involve internships, special seminars, and in some cases more formally structured “certificate” programs that certify your completion and achievement of competency in the area.
MPA / MPP Specializations
Specializations vary widely across schools and programs—some schools have decades of experience in particular niches. And again, there is overlap among the MPA and MPP programs with respect to specializations. For example, international development specializations are now available in both of these degrees, as are specialties in non-profit and NGO (non-governmental organizations). Nonetheless, MPPs generally offer the widest set of specializations in policy fields including but not limited to social welfare, global issues, environment, education, public finance, information technologies, energy, and transportation. MPAs often offer specializations in areas like local government management, IT for government, change management, non-profit management, strategic management, program management and budgeting/finance.
Accreditation of MPA/MPP Programs
Accreditation is a signal that a program has met a set of standards regarding curriculum, administration, program mission, student admissions, faculty quality, student services and placement, and facilities. It means the program has gone through a rigorous process of self study, an accreditation commission review, and an extensive on-site campus visit by a team of experts. In brief, accreditation is one of many indicators of quality that a student can use when considering MPA/MPP programs.
NASPAA accreditation has existed for more than 25 years, and more than 158 graduate programs in public affairs are currently accredited by NASPAA. However, in the field of public administration, public affairs, and public policy, accreditation is voluntary (unlike other fields, like medicine, where graduation from an accredited program can be a prerequisite for licensure). An unaccredited MPA or MPP program may not necessarily be a program of inferior quality. It is up to potential students, therefore, to do the investigation of quality themselves at programs that are not accredited, and to ask questions about curriculum and the faculty quality. Learn more
