Public Administration - M.P.A.

Masters

Learning Format

Hybrid

Types

Master's
Public Administration - M.P.A.

Drive Change with a Master’s in Public Administration

Are you ready to take the next step in your career and make a meaningful impact in the public sector? Our Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) program at Framingham State University is designed to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge needed to thrive in government and non-profit organizations. Whether you are currently serving in public administration, working in the private sector, or seeking to enter the field, our program provides a comprehensive and pragmatic approach to public service education.

Why Choose Framingham State’s MPA Program?

Balanced Approach: Our curriculum strikes the perfect balance between theory and practice. You’ll gain a deep understanding of the normative and empirical aspects of problem-solving, organizational management, budget and resource management, policy-making, and program administration.

Real-World Focus: We prepare you to tackle the increased responsibilities and challenges that come with today’s interconnected public, non-profit, and private sectors. Our program emphasizes the practical skills needed for effective management at all levels of government and within service-oriented non-profit organizations.

Flexible Learning: Complete your MPA entirely online, allowing you to balance your studies with your professional and personal commitments. Our flexible format is ideal for those new to public administration as well as seasoned professionals looking to advance their careers.

Career Advancement: With a generation of public administrators nearing retirement, now is the perfect time to step into leadership roles. Our program provides a pathway to high-level management positions in government, policy analyst roles in the private and non-profit sectors, and opportunities that increasingly offer remote work flexibility.

Diverse Opportunities: Incorporate your policy interests into your research work, building powerful intellectual capital that sets you apart in the job market. Our graduates are well-prepared for a variety of roles, from policy analysis to program administration, and everything in between.

Join a Community of Changemakers: Framingham State’s MPA program is committed to developing a new generation of diverse public officials. Our graduates are not only equipped with the administrative expertise needed for today’s challenges but also inspired to make a difference in their communities.

MPA Video

Crocker Grove

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. The evaluation of a candidate is primarily based upon the applicant’s quality point average which is used as an indicator of intellectual development and ability. Extracurricular activities, employment and non-employment experiences, career goals, and motivation for graduate work serve as additional admission criteria.

 In addition to a suitable QPA or possession of other indicators of academic success, admission will be granted only to persons with acceptable employment experience.

Applicants must:

  • Complete the online graduate admission application.
  • Submit the $50.00 application fee.
  • Have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
  • Submit a typed, 300-word personal statement discussing their motivation for seeking a master’s degree in view of prior formal education, current job responsibilities, and career plans.
  • Provide two letters of recommendation submitted on the Framingham State University Letter of Recommendation form and sent directly to the University’s Graduate Admissions office by the recommender. One letter must be from an employer or supervisor, and the other must be from a faculty member who has taught the candidate at collegiate level if the candidate attended classes in the last five years;
  • Have acceptable employment experience. Acceptable employment is usually a minimum of one year of full-time paid experience in the field and is usually verified by appropriate letters of recommendation. This requirement may be waived after a personal interview.
  • Have an overall undergraduate quality point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in a program acceptable to the admissions committee is expected. Students who do not meet these requirements may be offered the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to do successful graduate work by:
          1. Taking two advisor-approved courses and earning a grade of B (3.00) or better in each course;
              OR
          2. Taking either the Graduate Management Admissions Test, Graduate Record Examination, or the Miller Analogies Test and achieving a score in the 60th percentile higher.

Evaluation of the materials submitted by the applicant for admission to the Masters of Public Administration program will begin as soon as all required documents have been received. Applicants may be admitted to the program for the fall and spring semesters, although courses may be taken during the summer.


EFFECTIVE AS OF THE 2023-2024 GRADUATE CATALOG
 

Program Requirements

Program Requirements

This program consists of ten (10) courses which are divided into a core component (seven courses) and an elective component (three courses).

Students are expected to be familiar with office/management-level software.

Students may take courses in any sequence subject to the following general requirements:

  • PADM 901 Foundations of Public Administration serves as a foundation for the core and elective courses in the Public Administration program. Students are recommended to complete this course prior to taking other core courses.
  • Students must meet course prerequisites.
  • PADM 984 Seminar in Public Administration is the culminating course in the student’s program and may not be taken before the final semester of the program. Exceptions, requiring advisor approval, may be made for students taking an elective course over the summer. Registration for the seminar requires prior written approval from the Dean of Graduate Studies. Students will not be able to fulfill this requirement with a course transferred from another institution.


Undergraduate Prerequisite (1):

Student at commencement

Learning Outcomes

The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to manage in the public and non-profit sectors. Students will learn the theory and practice of management and leadership, policy analysis, budgeting, and program evaluation in the public and non-profit sectors.

At the conclusion of the program students will be able to:

  • Analyze public domain problems, thinking critically to create and evaluate potential solutions.

  • Integrate current and preferred management practices of fiscal and human resources, policy-making, and program administration to improve service delivery among non-profit/government organizations.

  • Assess their knowledge and experience of ethics and integrity and reflect on ways to incorporate public service values in administering agencies, policies, and programs.

  • Produce proficient clear oral and written communication by presenting succinct, well-organized materials and analysis tailored to the needs of internal and external organizational stakeholders.

Meet Your Coordinator

Headshot of Giuliano Espino

Giuliano Espino, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Political Science, Law, & Global Studies and Coordinator, Master of Public Administration
508-626-4801
gespino@framingham.edu
O'Connor Hall

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