Master of Public Administration
Gain a top-quality education, grow your career, and join a network of proven leaders in the public and nonprofit sectors.
The UConn Master of Public Administration (MPA) program provides students with the skills and experience to lead in the public and nonprofit sectors.
UConn MPA students earn an exceptional education from the only Connecticut school accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the global standard in public service education. They learn from researchers and educators who are nationally-recognized in their fields.
As a UConn MPA student, you’ll gain a strong academic foundation through core courses and develop professional expertise in a focus area of your choosing. You’ll also get hands-on experience in our Internship in Professional Practice, which provides a paid internship and full-year tuition scholarship with a top Connecticut state agency, municipality, or nonprofit organization.
Why Choose UConn
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Tuition Waiver
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Outcomes and Careers
Alumni of UConn’s MPA program create, manage, and lead programs at nonprofit organizations and in government agencies at the national, state, and local levels. Their successes contribute to our national reputation and our ability to attract high-caliber students from around the world.
By earning your MPA through the UConn School of Public Policy, you’ll join our network of talented alumni who in turn mentor current students.
Career Development Resources
Alumni quote option 1 – we can also add photos
“UConn’s School of Public Policy provided me with high-quality academic experience complimented with real-world and practical applications that have served me throughout all levels of my career.”
Melissa McCaw ’14 MPA
Director of Finance | Town of East Hartford, Conn.
“UConn’s School of Public Policy provided me with high-quality academic experience complimented with real-world and practical applications that have served me throughout all levels of my career.”
Melissa McCaw ’14 MPA
Director of Finance | Town of East Hartford, Conn.
“UConn’s School of Public Policy provided me with high-quality academic experience complimented with real-world and practical applications that have served me throughout all levels of my career.”
Melissa McCaw ’14 MPA
Director of Finance | Town of East Hartford, Conn.
Alumni quote option 2
UConn’s School of Public Policy provided me with high-quality academic experience complimented with real-world and practical applications that have served me throughout all levels of my career.
Melissa McCaw ’14 MPA
Director of Finance | Town of East Hartford, Conn.
Academics
Effective fall 2023, the 42-credit MPA program is organized around core courses (24 credits), focus area/elective courses (12 credits), and a supervised internship (six credits).
Internships are an integral part of the MPA program. Students who do not have significant career experience must complete six internship credits.
Students must take the following courses:
- PP 5340. Introduction to Public Policy and Management
- PP 5345. Project Management in the Public Sector
- PP 5361. Theory and Management of Public Organizations
- PP 5364. Public Finance and Budgeting
- PP 5365. Human Resource Management
- PP 5370. Applied Research Design
- PP 5375. Economic Analysis for Public Policy and Management
- PP 5376. Applied Quantitative Methods
Below is a model course of study for students pursuing full-time and part-time study in the UConn MPA program. You can learn more about our courses on our course descriptions page.
Year 1 Fall
- PP 5340: Introduction to Public Policy and Management
- PP 5375: Economic Analysis for Public Policy and Management
- PP 5361: Theory and Management of Public Organizations
- PP 5376: Applied Quantitative Methods
Total Credits = 12
Year 1 Spring
- PP 5370: Applied Research Design
- PP 5364: Public Finance and Budgeting
- PP 5365: Human Resource Management
- Focus Area/Elective
Total Credits = 12
Year 2 Fall
- Elective/Focus Area or PP 5345: Project Management in the Public Sector
- Elective/Focus Area or PP 5345: Project Management in the Public Sector
- Elective/Focus Area
- Internship (begins in Fall)
Total Credits = 9
Year 2 Spring
- Elective/Focus Area or PP 5345: Project Management in the Public Sector
- PP 5390: Supervised Internship (6 credits)
Total Credits = 9
Total Program Credits = 42
Year 1 Fall
- PP 5340: Introduction to Public Policy & Management
- PP 5375: Economic Analysis for Public Policy and Management
Total Credits = 6
Year 1 Spring
- PP 5365: Human Resource Management
- PP 5364: Public Finance and Budgeting
Total Credits = 16
Year 2 Fall
- PP 5376: Applied Quantitative Methods
- Elective/Focus Area
Total Credits = 6
Year 2 Spring
- PP 5370: Applied Research Design
- Elective/Focus Area
Total Credits = 6
Year 3 Fall
- Elective/Focus area
- PP 5361: Theory and Management of Public Organizations
Total Credits = 6
Year 3 Spring
- Elective/Focus area
- PP 5345: Project Management
Total Credits = 6
Total Program Credits = 36
Note: The above model program assumes waiver of internship requirement. Visit our internship page for waiver guidelines.
Supervised Internship
Our Internship in Professional Practice program provides UConn MPA students with a full-year tuition scholarship and a paid internship with a top Connecticut employer.
Students use these meaningful internship experiences to test classroom theory and develop contacts that might lead to a position after graduation.
MPA students can choose to pursue a joint master’s degree program in public administration.
Offered in conjunction with El Instituto: Institute of Latina/o, Caribbean, and Latin American Studies, this joint degree program prepares students with the functional skills and knowledge in public administration and at the same time engage them in interdisciplinary study and research related to the Latina/o, Caribbean, and Latin American world.
Students in this program will have nine credits counting toward their MPA waived, with a Master of Arts in International Studies concentration in Latina/o and Latin American Studies (LLAS) providing in-depth specialization in lieu of the MPA focus area. Students can waive another three credits toward the MPA if they take PP 5370: Applied Research Design or another appropriate public policy methodology course to satisfy the methods course requirement of the MA in LLAS.
Applicants must apply to and be accepted by both the MPA and the MA in International Studies programs. Funding opportunities may be available through El Instituto or the School of Public Policy. To be considered for a graduate assistantship (GA), please submit your applications by February 15 and select “YES” in the online application to the question: “Applying for a GA/Fellowship?”
The School of Public Policy offers joint degree programs in public administration and survey research, which prepares students with the functional skills and knowledge in public administration and at the same time engage them in interdisciplinary study and research related to survey design, data collection, and data analysis techniques.
Students in this program will have three credits counting toward their MPA waived upon successful completion of PP 5376: Applied Quantitative Methods. An additional nine credits of public policy coursework toward the MPA will be waived, with courses within the MA in survey research providing in-depth specialization in lieu of the MPA “focus area.”
Applicants must apply to and be accepted by both the MPA and MA in survey research programs. Support through the School of Public Policy is competitively available through a limited number of graduate assistantships (GAs). To be considered for a GA, please submit your application by February 15 and select “YES” in the online application to the question: “Applying for a GA/Fellowship?”
Offered in conjunction with the School of Law, the joint MPA and Juris Doctor (JD) degree program prepares students with the functional skills and knowledge in public administration and at the same time engages them in interdisciplinary study and research related to law.
Applicants must apply to and be accepted by both the MPA and the UConn JD programs.
Offered in conjunction with the School of Social Work, the joint MPA and Master’s of Social Work (MSW) prepares students with the functional skills and knowledge in public administration and at the same time engages them in interdisciplinary study and research related to social work.
The MSW degree has three concentrations: Policy Practice, Community Organizing, and Individuals, Groups, and Families. In applying to the MSW program, a student selects one of them to pursue. All MSW concentrations give students a holistic understanding of the systems of oppression that stifle the ability of some members of society to thrive, which pairs well with either the MPA or MPP.
Applicants must apply to and be accepted by both the MPA and UConn MSW programs.
Admissions
Students apply to the UConn MPA program via the UConn Graduate School’s online application.
For more information about the UConn MPA program, please contact:
Outreach Coordinator, School of Public Policy
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