Master of Public Administration

Apply Now!

The Department of Urban and Public Affairs offers an urban-focused Master of Public Administration (MPA), that is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) . The MPA offers concentrations in urban governance, nonprofit management, and diversity management and leadership.

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 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 50 students are enrolled in the MPA program. Half are already working in the public or nonprofit sectors (in-service) and half are preparing for a career in the public or nonprofit sector (pre-service). All MPA courses that are delivered in a traditional classroom setting are offered on weekday evenings. 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 on-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 graduating class 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, 3 credit hours (1 class) in a relevant elective, and 6 credit hours of a practicum/ internship or a thesis. The practicum/internship involves a minimum of 300 real-time hours of practical experience over a period of not less than one semester.

Concentrations

The concentrations reflect the program’s mission and urban focus. Each concentration has a faculty leader who has experience in that area and will advise students on internships and careers in the field.

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.

Practicum/Internship

The MPA degree requires 300 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 approximately 300 hours of professional practice and a paper that applies theory and best practices to the student’s professional experience.

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. Although we make every effort to assist students in obtaining paid internships, we cannot guarantee that every internship placement will be paid.

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.
For more information about the practicum, download the practicum handbook.

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 complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 78.

Apply Here

Tuition/Financial Aid

Current tuition rates for University of Louisville students are here .

Tuition for Kentucky residents for academic year 2020-2021 is $7,530 per semester for full-time (9 or more credit hours) or $837 per credit hour. Tuition for out-of-state residents is $14,587 per semester for full-time or $1,621 per credit hour.

The Department of Urban and Public Affairs has limited scholarship funding for MPA students. The amount of the funding varies from year to year, but is typically about $1,000 per semester. Scholarship awards are highly competitive. Scholarship decisions are made in the late spring for the upcoming fall semester, so students wanting to apply for the scholarship should plan to have a complete application packet by April 1 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.

Contact

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