Public Administration (M.P.A.)
https://carsey.unh.edu/master-public-administration
This hybrid Master of Public Administration program (MPA) offers you the opportunity to learn the skills you need in all aspects of public and nonprofit management including leadership, program evaluation, budgeting, planning, personnel management, collective bargaining, and policy analysis. Our flexible MPA curriculum is accessible online or in person, enabling you to learn in a way that works for you while addressing issues that are important to your region. Carsey School MPA graduates are prepared to engage with their communities, ensure accountability, and have the administrative competency to achieve their organization's mission in an effective and sustainable manner.
- The program’s flexible schedule accommodates full-time working professionals with year-round courses offered online or in person with classes meeting just one evening per week
- Study with public service professionals and professors who bring strong analysis and best practices to your learning
- Graduate in as little as 16 months (full time) or 21 months (part time)
Program Delivery & Location: Academic courses are offered online or in person (evenings) on the UNH Manchester campus, with additional elective courses offered on the UNH Durham campus.
Accelerated Masters Eligible: Yes
Students enrolled in the Carsey School's Master of Public Administration program (MPA degree) are required to complete a thirty-six (36) credit program, consisting of:
- Four (4) BASIC Core Curriculum Courses
- Three (3) ADVANCED Core Curriculum Courses
- Five (5) ELECTIVE Courses
These provide students with a strong foundation in theory and the applied skills necessary to foster democratic involvement, accountability and administrative competency in the provision and delivery of public services in towns, cities, state agencies, and a wide range of nonprofit and non-governmental organizations. Further opportunities for depth and specialization are provided through a broad range of elective courses which vary by semester. As a culminating graduate experience, students engage in a capstone project within their community, enabling students to directly apply what they've lerned throughout their MPA program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MPA BASIC Core Curriculum Courses (4 Courses): | ||
| PA 800 | Foundations and Theories of Public Administration | 3 |
| PA 805 | Introduction to Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| PA 809 | Organization and Management in Public and Non-profit Sectors | 3 |
| PA 908A | Capstone in Public Administration 1 | 3 |
| or PA 908B | Capstone in Public Administration | |
| MPA ADVANCED Core Curriculum Courses: Choose Three (3) | 9 | |
| Performance Management in Public and Non-Profit Organizations | ||
| Policy and Program Evaluation | ||
| Administrative Law | ||
| Leadership Theory and Practice | ||
| Human Resource Management in Public and Non-profit Sectors | ||
| Financial Management and Budgeting in Public and Non-profit Sectors | ||
| Art of Negotiation | ||
| Public Management Techniques | ||
| Legal and Policy-Making Environment on Public and Non-Profit Sectors | ||
| Non-Profit Management | ||
| MPA ELECTIVE Courses: Choose Five (5) 3-Credit Public Admin 800/900 level Elective Courses (or related discipline with MPA Academic Advisor's approval) 2 | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
For more details on the MPA program, visit the MPA website.
Notes:
| 1 | The Capstone project is the culmination of the student's graduate work, applying academic knowledge with practical experience. Students with public or nonprofit sector professional experience should enroll in PA 908A Capstone in Public Administration (3 credits) and those without this experience may need to enroll in PA 908B Capstone in Public Administration (6 credits) with their MPA Academic Advisor's approval. |
| 2 | One or two of the required elective courses may be waived for students who have successfully completed specific training programs as identified on the MPA Credit Waivers webpage. |
16-Month MPA Sample Degree Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| PA 800 | Foundations and Theories of Public Administration | 3 |
| PA 802 | Grant-writing for Public and Non-profit Sectors | 3 |
| PA 817 | Legal and Policy-Making Environment on Public and Non-Profit Sectors | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| January Term | ||
| PA 816 or PA 803 |
Public Management Techniques or Performance Management in Public and Non-Profit Organizations |
3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| PA 805 | Introduction to Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| PA 809 | Organization and Management in Public and Non-profit Sectors | 3 |
| PA 818 | Non-Profit Management | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| PA 807 | Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations | 3 |
| PA 815 | Art of Negotiation | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PA 804 | Policy and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| PA 813 | Human Resource Management in Public and Non-profit Sectors | 3 |
| PA 908A or PA 908B |
Capstone in Public Administration 1 or Capstone in Public Administration |
3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
21-Month MPA Sample Degree Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| PA 800 | Foundations and Theories of Public Administration | 3 |
| PA 817 | Legal and Policy-Making Environment on Public and Non-Profit Sectors | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| January Term | ||
| PA 816 or PA 803 |
Public Management Techniques or Performance Management in Public and Non-Profit Organizations |
3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| PA 805 | Introduction to Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| PA 809 | Organization and Management in Public and Non-profit Sectors | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| PA 807 | Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations | 3 |
| PA 815 | Art of Negotiation | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PA 804 | Policy and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| PA 813 | Human Resource Management in Public and Non-profit Sectors | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| January Term | ||
| PA 803 or PA 816 |
Performance Management in Public and Non-Profit Organizations or Public Management Techniques |
3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| PA 814 | Financial Management and Budgeting in Public and Non-profit Sectors | 3 |
| PA 908A or PA 908B |
Capstone in Public Administration 1 or Capstone in Public Administration |
3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
36-Month MPA Sample Degree Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| PA 800 | Foundations and Theories of Public Administration | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| January Term | ||
| PA 816 or PA 803 |
Public Management Techniques or Performance Management in Public and Non-Profit Organizations |
3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| PA 805 | Introduction to Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Summer | ||
| PA 807 | Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PA 804 | Policy and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| PA 813 | Human Resource Management in Public and Non-profit Sectors | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| January Term | ||
| PA 803 or PA 816 |
Performance Management in Public and Non-Profit Organizations or Public Management Techniques |
3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| PA 809 | Organization and Management in Public and Non-profit Sectors | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Summer | ||
| PA 815 | Art of Negotiation | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PA 817 | Legal and Policy-Making Environment on Public and Non-Profit Sectors | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| PA 814 | Financial Management and Budgeting in Public and Non-profit Sectors | 3 |
| PA 908A or PA 908B |
Capstone in Public Administration 1 or Capstone in Public Administration |
3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Notes:
| 1 | The Capstone project is the culmination of the student's graduate work, applying academic knowledge with practical experience. Students with public or nonprofit sector professional experience should enroll in PA 908A (3 credits) and those without this experience may need to enroll in 908B (6 credits) with their MPA Academic Advisor's approval. |