M.P.A. Public Administration at University of South Florida

Programme overview

The M.P.A. is a multi-disciplinary programme preparing students for leadership and management careers in government and quasi-governmental organizations, non-profits and the private sector. It is accredited by the NASPAA Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration).

Faculty: College of Arts and Sciences | Department: School of Public Affairs | Duration: 36 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Tampa, FL, United States

What you will study

The 36 credit hours comprise a 24-credit core (Research Methods, Public Organizational Theory and Leadership, Public Budgeting, Political Economy for Public Managers, Policy Design and Implementation, Human Resources Management, Quantitative Analysis, Government Technology for Decision-Making), 9 credits of electives from Public Administration or Urban and Regional Planning, and a 3-credit capstone (Practice of Public Management). Pre-service students complete an additional 3-credit supervised internship in a governmental or nonprofit organization.

Career pathways

Leadership and management roles in local, state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations and special service districts.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

M.P.A.: two letters of recommendation minimum (one from a faculty member, one from a work supervisor or manager); a personal statement of career goals; a resume or CV showing work experience; approval by the M.P.A. Admissions Committee and an admissions interview if deemed necessary. Applicants must also meet University of South Florida graduate admission and English proficiency requirements.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Master's and Educational Specialist admission is offered for Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.

Final university deadlines for master's and Educational Specialist programmes: June 1 for Fall, October 15 for Spring, February 15 for Summer. Programme-specific priority deadlines apply for funding and consideration; priority applications receive maximum consideration and later applications are considered on a space-available basis.

The nonrefundable graduate degree-seeking application fee is $30, paid through the Online Graduate Application site; international applicants may pay by electronic fund transfer from international banks. Test scores (GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, etc.) are required only if the programme requires them.

Explore more study programmes

Business