Public Administration, Financial Management Specialization, MPA

Description of Program

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a 36 credit hour program. The MPA program will provide students with competencies in the context of a broad understanding of public administration including complexities of community problems, bureaucracy of public organizations, responsibilities of public managers and leaders, and rights of citizens. The program is designed to prepare students to manage and lead all aspects of public organizations. In addition, students will learn to carry out research involving the application and analysis to address issues in public service practice.

Click here for potential career opportunities within the MPA.

Learning Outcomes

• Manage programs in public organizations
• Assess the effectiveness of public service programs and policies within government agencies
• Interpret administrative laws and regulations for program implementation in public organizations
• Apply public administration knowledge in addressing challenges in public organizations

Basis for Admissions

Admission to the Master of Public Administration program requires a conferred bachelor’s and/or a conferred master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Public Administration Degree Program is a 36 credit program comprised of 24 core credits, and 9 specialization credits, and 3 capstone credits. Graduates of the NCU program must complete 36 credit hours.

Students assume full responsibility for understanding both the foundational, specialization and capstone requirements of the program. Switching programs after completing coursework may result in reevaluation, monetary loss, loss of credit hours and/or the need to take additional credit hours. Students’ Academic and Finance Advisors can assist with any questions related to program requirements.

The University may accept a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in transfer toward the Master of Public Administration for graduate course work completed at an external accredited college or university with a grade of “B” or better. See the Transfer Credit Policy for additional information.

Note: Students with a conferred BBA degree from NCU who complete graduate-level coursework with a grade of “B” or better to satisfy required undergraduate specialization credit hours may be eligible to apply up to 12 graduate-level credit hours from the BBA program to the MPA program. Please see the Bachelor of Business Administration program for program-specific course requirements.

Time to Completion

NCU allows 5 years to complete all Master’s programs of 36 credits or less.

The median time to completion for this program is 27 months.

Time to completion varies depending upon the pace in which a student completes courses and the number of transfer credits accepted. As most NCU students are working adults, balancing educational, professional, and personal commitments, our academic and finance advisors will work with you to develop a program schedule that works best for your needs.

Students following the preferred schedule designed by the Dean for this program, and applying no transfer credits, can expect to finish in as little as 19 months.

Course Sequence

The Master of Public Administration program can be completed in 36 credits. 

• PUB-5000 - Introduction to Public Administration
• PUB-5002 - Government and the Public Interest
• PUB-5004 - Public Sector Human Resources Management
• PUB-5005 - Public Budgeting and Finance
• PUB-5007 - Quality Management in Public Administration
• PUB-5012 - Public Policy Process
• PUB-5020 - Organizational Behavior and Theory
• Specialization Course 1
• Specialization Course 2
• Specialization Course 3
• PUB-5018 - Survey of Research Methods
• PUB-6010 - Capstone Seminar