Master of Public Administration

Mission

The MPA program is a dynamic, collaborative interdisciplinary degree program committed to preparing students for career success in the public and nonprofit sectors. The program content reflects the urban/metropolitan setting of the University as well as the focus of the Department of Urban and Public Affairs. We are committed to:

• Providing our pre-service and in-service students with a flexible program of study that emphasizes critical thinking, evidence-based problem solving and engaged service learning.
• Encouraging diversity and inclusiveness in the curriculum, in the classroom and by engaging with the community we serve.
• Advancing scholarship, competence and professionalism in program and public service activities.

Program Overview

Students in the MPA program are a blend of recent college graduates and seasoned professionals, many of whom are already working in the public and nonprofit sectors. Employers value the MPA degree as an indication of a graduate’s readiness to assume an executive-level management position as well as a commitment to public service. The typical program length is two years for full time students and four years for part time students.

About fifty students are enrolled in the MPA program. All MPA courses that are delivered in a traditional classroom setting are offered by MPA faculty on weekday evenings to accommodate working students. Some MPA courses are a hybrid format (reduced meeting times with an online component) and others are offered entirely online. The flexibility in coursework serves the needs of both our in-service and pre-service students.

Like its private sector counterpart, the Master of Business Administration, the MPA is a terminal degree designed for managers. Rather than focus on one aspect of public management, the MPA degree encompasses all of the skills expected of the public or nonprofit manager.

Current graduation rates and employment outcomes for the most recent graduates are available here. To see additional information on where our graduates are working and what they think about their jobs, view the most recent alumni survey results.

Curriculum

The MPA curriculum is flexible and allows students to choose a concentration that meets their interests and career aspirations. The MPA degree plan consists of 21 credit hours (7 classes) in the MPA core requirements, 12 credit hours (4 classes) in a concentration area chosen by the student, and 3 credit hours of a practicum, internship, or thesis. The internship involves approximately 200 real-time hours of practical experience over a period of not less than one semester.

For detailed information on the courses required and available for the Masters of Public Administration, consult the UofL Graduate Catalog

Concentrations

The available concentrations reflect the program’s mission and urban focus. The three concentrations are Urban Governance, Nonprofit Management, and Diversity Management and Leadership. Each concentration requires 12 credit hours (4 classes) of advanced coursework within that area.

For detailed information on the courses required and available for each of the different concentrations, consult the UofL Graduate Catalog

The MPA Student Guide provides the schedule of course offerings for both full-time and part-time students, along with more detailed information about the MPA program.

Internship/Practicum

The MPA degree requires 200 hours of professional practice in addition to coursework. Because the MPA is a professional degree, the degree holder is expected to understand the theory behind each management component, know best practices in the field and demonstrate the ability to put theory and practice together in the capstone course, PADM 682.

The internship/practicum should be completed at or near the end of a student’s program of study. Both the internship and practicum require a paper that applies theory and best practices to the student’s professional experience. Students already working in the public or nonprofit sector

For pre-service students, internships are available in public and nonprofit organizations in the Louisville area, as well as in Frankfort (state government) and beyond. Students will work with their faculty leader to identify and secure an internship that is consistent with their career goals. UPA partners with the KY City County Managers Association (KCCMA) on a number of initiatives, and MPA Director Aaron Rollins serves on the KCCMA Educational Committee. For more information on this organization and possible internship opportunities that they provide, check out their website.

The practicum is designed for the in-service student. All students currently working the public or nonprofit sectors will have an opportunity to complete a special project within their organization to satisfy the requirement. The practicum also requires a (shorter) paper that includes a description of the project and the project results.

For more information about the internship, download the internship handbook. To apply for the internship, download the internship forms (zipped).

For more information about the practicum, download the practicum handbook. To apply for the practicum, download the practicum forms (zipped).

Admissions

The MPA program has a rolling admissions policy; the admission decision is made as soon as the application package is complete. Students may begin in any semester, but beginning the program in the fall semester ensures the program can be completed on schedule.

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. There is no preferred bachelor’s degree. MPA students come from a diverse educational background including the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities. A completed application form, a transcript of all undergraduate course work, a statement of purpose, and two letters of recommendation are required. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are recommended, but are not required. Applicants whose native language is not English and who do not hold a degree from a university where the language of instruction is English must submit the results from an English proficiency exam. The minimum acceptable scores are 105 for Duolingo English, 80 for TOEFL, and 6.5 for IELTS.

Tuition/Financial Aid

Current tuition rates for University of Louisville students are here.

Tuition for Kentucky residents for academic year 2022-2023 is $8,011 per semester for full-time (9 or more credit hours) or $891 per credit hour. Tuition for out-of-state residents is $15,353 per semester for full-time or $1,706 per credit hour.

The Department of Urban and Public Affairs has limited scholarship funding for MPA students. Scholarship awards are highly competitive. Students wanting to apply for scholarship funding should plan to have a complete application packet by January 31 and should contact the program director for more information.

The University also offers financial support for graduate students. Interested students should check the Graduate School Financial Support website regularly for financial aid opportunities.

MPA Program Faculty

The core MPA faculty cover a range of disciplinary concentrations, and serve as the governing body for official MPA business and initiatives. Note that other UPA faculty also teach courses within which MPA students are likely to enroll.

Patrick Exmeyer, Assistant Professor of Urban and Public Affairs
Janet Kelly, Professor of Urban and Public Affairs
Steve Koven, Professor of Urban and Public Affairs
Aaron Rollins, Associate Professor of Urban and Public Affairs
Sumei (May) Zhang, Professor of Urban and Public Affairs

Contact

Program Questions: mpa@louisville.edu
Aaron Rollins, Ph.D., Program Director
Phone: (502) 852-7955
Email: aaron.rollins@louisville.edu

Public Information on Program Outcomes