The Master of Public Administration is a professional degree program that attracts those planning leadership or managerial careers in federal, state, or local government, as well as current public administrators who want to augment their professional experience. The program is designed to develop the insights and skills needed to plan and help formulate policy, and to organize, manage, and implement programs and operations. In seeking to develop these general competencies, studies discuss the political, social, economic, and legal context of public administration and offer broad-based training in management, organizational behavior, research methods, policy analysis, personnel, and budgeting.

A baccalaureate degree will qualify applicants to enter this program. Whether gained by undergraduate study or workplace experience, a familiarity with business statistics and introductory calculus is required.