Live Chat Now
Available
Give us a call

Send us a text

855.890.3001

855.890.3001

Master's Degrees

Master's Degree in Public Administration

Learn to Lead in Government and Healthcare

Learn to mold work environments that flourish outside the traditional boundaries of business with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration here at DeVry University and our Keller Graduate School of Management. Whether you study online or in a hybrid format1, choose from emphases in Government Management or Healthcare Management to further hone your skillset.

Get to Know Our Master’s in Public Administration

Our Master’s in Public Administration program can help you gain skills to lead important projects in the public sector. Develop your leadership and team-building abilities, explore project management systems and learn to manage organizational change. Your chosen program emphasis will customize your coursework to help you prepare to pursue your personal and professional goals.

Government Management Emphasis

Prepare to utilize your managerial experience within federal, state or local government with coursework in governmental finance and public policy.

Healthcare Management Emphasis

Build your skills in the field of healthcare management with coursework in health rights, responsibilities, policy and economics.

Classes Start Every 8 Weeks
Accelerated Schedule*
12 months
Average 10 credits per semester
OR
Normal
Schedule
2 years
2 months
Average 6 credits per semester

ACCELERATE AT YOUR PACE

Choose the schedule that best fits your goals and commitments. *With at least 9 credit hours, of qualifying Prior Learning Credit and an accelerated pace, you can earn your Master's Degree in as few as 12 months.2

Or, follow a normal schedule and complete your program in 2 years 2 months.3

2Accelerated time to complete requires at least 9 credit hours of Prior Learning Credit. Per 12-month period, assumes completion of 3 semesters, enrollment in an average of 10 credit hours per semester and continuous, full-time year-round enrollment with no breaks.
3Assumes continuous year-round enrollment for 7 semesters and an average of 6 credit hours per semester and that students remain on a normal schedule throughout their program.

Knowledge & Skills

What You'll Learn

Our Master’s in Public Administration degree program covers the following:

  • Management Theory and Practices
    Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of enterprise-wide functions relevant in the global economy.
  • Collaboration
    Work collaboratively in a team environment. Coordinate and share information to achieve a common goal.
  • Problem-Solving
    Use business and management principles to problem-solve a variety of workplace challenges.
  • Project Planning
    Develop a project plan including objectives, timing, budget, key tasks and measurements for success.
  • Project Management Tools
    Integrate project management tools to ensure projects are completed on time, on budget and within scope
  • Project Cost and Schedule Management
    Analyze organizational strategies, goals and procurement techniques to ensure quality, cost and schedule measures are satisfied.

Accreditation and Recognition Matters

Our Master’s in Public Administration is accredited4 by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) www.acbsp.org 

Embedded Programs

Embedded Programs - Demonstrate Skills at Every Step

Want to earn a graduate certificate on the way to your Master’s in Public Administration? Now you can with our unique 2-in-1 program. All courses in our Health Services Management graduate certificate are embedded within our Master’s of Public Administration program if you choose the Healthcare Management emphasis. Requesting this embedded option can allow you to earn a graduate certificate once you’ve successfully completed the required coursework.5

Master's
39
Credit Hours**
Graduate Certificate
18
Credit Hours**

**The figures displayed represent the minimum credit hours required for graduation. Additional coursework may be necessary to complete program requirements.

Career

Career Opportunities in Public Administration

Graduates of our Master’s in Public Administration degree program may consider career fields such as:
  • Administrative Services Management

  • Medical or Health Services Management

  • Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Management

  • Social and Community Service Management

6The University’s Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) with an emphasis in Healthcare Management program is not designed to prepare graduates for nursing home, assisted living facility, long-term care or home care administrator positions. Students interested in practicing a regulated profession must contact the appropriate state regulatory agency for certification or licensure requirements. For instance, in Virginia certain educational and training requirements must be satisfied for initial nursing home administrator licensure or initial assisted living facility administrator licensure; Keller’s program does not satisfy the educational and/or training requirements.
Program Courses

Public Administration Courses

Option 1: Healthcare Management Emphasis

Accounting & Applied Mathematics
ACCT5007
Essentials in Accounting, Finance and Economics
MATH5347
Applied Managerial Statistics
Strategic Business
HRM587
Managing Organizational Change
MIS5407
Innovation Through Technology
PROJ586
Project Management Systems
Management
MGMT5017
Organizational Structures and Business Processes


+ Choose one below

LEAD510
Digital Leadership
MGMT591
Leadership and Organizational Behavior
Healthcare Management
HSM541
Health Service Systems
HSM542
Health Rights and Responsibilities
HSM543
Health Services Finance
HSM544
Health Policy and Economics
HSM546
Managed Care
Capstone
PA601
Public Administration Capstone

Option 2: Government Management Emphasis

Accounting & Applied Mathematics
ACCT5007
Essentials in Accounting, Finance and Economics
MATH5347
Applied Managerial Statistics
Strategic Business
HRM587
Managing Organizational Change
MIS5407
Innovation Through Technology
PROJ586
Project Management Systems
Management
MGMT5017
Organizational Structures and Business Processes


+ Choose one below

LEAD510
Digital Leadership
MGMT591
Leadership and Organizational Behavior
Government Management
ACCT503
Financial Accounting: Managerial Use and Analysis
ACCT567
Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting
PA581
Governmental Budgeting and Finance
PA582
Policy Formulation and Implementation
PA584
Intergovernmental Management
Capstone
PA601
Public Administration Capstone

7Students who hold an undergraduate business degree, a technology degree or a degree with a technology specialization may be eligible to waive up to 3 courses (9 credit hours). Students with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines may also be eligible to waive select courses upon review of their undergraduate transcript. Course waiver availability varies by location. See Course Waivers for details.

FAQs: Master's in Public Administration

What Can I Do With a Master’s in Public Administration?

Professionals who’ve earned a Master of Public Administration degree may be prepared to pursue numerous career opportunities in the public and private sectors. In the public sector, government roles may include disaster response, education, public affairs and public health.

In the private sector, where some roles demand large-scale administrative skills, MPA graduates may find opportunities in such areas as human resources, communications and fundraising. Specific roles for MPA graduates are likely to exist in the areas of grant writing, policy analysis, nonprofit management and governance and labor relations.

Can I earn my Master’s in Public Administration online?

Yes, at DeVry, your Master’s in Public Administration can be earned 100% online, offering the flexibility to study when and where you like. If you’d like to take select courses on-campus, we also offer a hybrid option.1

How many years does it take to earn a Master's in Public Administration?

Several factors affect the time it takes to complete any academic program, including the specific program you are enrolled in, any transfer credits you may have earned, and whether or not you are enrolled full- or part-time. This degree program can be completed in as little as 12 months on an accelerated schedule,2 or 2 years and 2 months on a normal schedule.3 Visit our Graduate Admissions page for more details.

2Accelerated time to complete requires at least 9 credit hours of Prior Learning Credit. Per 12-month period, assumes completion of 3 semesters, enrollment in an average of 10 credit hours per semester and continuous, full-time year-round enrollment with no breaks.
3Assumes continuous year-round enrollment for 7 semesters and an average of 6 credit hours per semester and that students remain on a normal schedule throughout their program.

What is the difference between MBA and MPA?

While these master’s degrees are similar in that they both offer training in essential business management skills like accounting, financial management, human resources and strategy, there are some key differences between them. The coursework in an MBA program typically emphasizes cost-efficiency and profitability, while the coursework for MPA students tends to focus on social impact. MBA degree holders tend to follow a career path in the private sector, while MPA graduates may be more likely to pursue opportunities in the public sector or with nonprofit organizations.

How much does it cost to earn your Master's in Public Administration?

Several factors can influence the final cost of your MPA program or any academic degree program, such as course waivers7, qualifying transfer credits or qualification for a scholarship, grant or group pricing program8. Complete financial information, including tuition, fees and expenses, can be found in our Keller Academic Catalog.

Academic Catalog
2023 - 2024 Academic Catalog
Capstone Project
Program Guides
Public Administration: Healthcare Management
Public Administration: Government Management

1Program, course, and extended classroom availability vary by location. In site-based programs, students will be required to take a substantial amount of coursework online to complete their program.
2Accelerated time to complete requires at least 9 credit hours of Prior Learning Credit. Per 12-month period, assumes completion of 3 semesters, enrollment in an average of 10 credit hours per semester and continuous, full-time year-round enrollment with no breaks.
3Assumes continuous year-round enrollment for 7 semesters and an average of 6 credit hours per semester and that students remain on a normal schedule throughout their program.
4Conferral and Assessment Data - Available for all of DeVry and Keller's ACBSP accredited programs. For a full list of DeVry University's business and accounting degree programs accredited by ACBSP, please see the Accreditation page.
5At the time of application to the next credential level, an evaluation of qualifying transfer credit will occur and the most beneficial outcome will be applied.
6The University’s Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) with an emphasis in Healthcare Management program is not designed to prepare graduates for nursing home, assisted living facility, long-term care or home care administrator positions. Students interested in practicing a regulated profession must contact the appropriate state regulatory agency for certification or licensure requirements. For instance, in Virginia certain educational and training requirements must be satisfied for initial nursing home administrator licensure or initial assisted living facility administrator licensure; Keller’s program does not satisfy the educational and/or training requirements.
7Students who hold an undergraduate business degree, a technology degree or a degree with a technology specialization may be eligible to waive up to 3 courses (9 credit hours). Students with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines may also be eligible to waive select courses upon review of their undergraduate transcript. Course waiver availability varies by location. See Course Waivers for details.
8Students may participate in only one DeVry University-based scholarship, grant or group tuition benefit program at a time. Those who qualify for more than one program will be presumed to accept the program with the highest reduction in by- session cost. Students who qualify for and prefer a different tuition benefit program must confirm, in writing, the alternate program in which they wish to participate prior to starting classes at DeVry. Scholarship and grant terms and eligibility conditions are subject to change. Scholarships are available to those who apply and qualify. Visit our Scholarships page for more information.