https://publicadministrationdegrees.smu.edu/master-of-public-administration/
Lead Faculty and Academic Coordinator: Eva Chiang
General Information
To be successful and fulfill the needs of the populations they serve, public sector leaders must understand the inner workings of their organization, manage complex day-to-day operations and understand how to implement impactful policies. A Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) is designed to prepare professionals for leadership roles in public service, government, nonprofits and related sectors. These degrees often include coursework in public policy implementation, management, budgeting and organizational leadership. The online program uses a combination of asynchronous assignments for self-paced, flexible learning and synchronous evening classes held on Zoom, where students can connect with classmates, instructors and guest speakers. There are two required, on-campus immersion experiences.
Students will:
- Design, implement, and evaluate public policy, and understand the unintended consequences of policymaking
- Develop leadership and management skills needed for effective governance in public sector organizations
- Apply ethical decision-making frameworks to ensure transparency, accountability, and public trust
- Identify policy solutions and the political and economic institutions that influence the policy process
- Communicate and advocate in order to effectively engage stakeholders
Admissions Requirements
A prospective student must submit undergraduate transcripts, resume, two letters of recommendation, and personal statement with his/her application. If English is not the applicant’s native language, they must submit English language proficiency test scores. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
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