Master of Public Administration (MPA)

University of Illinois Chicago

The Department of Public Policy, Management, and Analytics is part of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. The unit offers coursework leading to the Master of Public Administration (MPA) and the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration.

The MPA is a professional program fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. Its broad goal is to train both preservice and working professionals for productive careers in public service and the nonprofit sector.

The doctoral program is designed to produce graduates with demonstrated research abilities, and the creativity and potential for making significant, original contributions to the field of Public Administration. The program builds on a core of ideas and issues, with strong emphasis on theory construction and empirical research in the areas of Public and Nonprofit Management Financial Management Urban Governance and Networks and Survey Methods.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 54 credit hours. Students must select one of four areas of concentration:

• Public Management includes courses in organizational theory and public management, innovative management practices, program evaluation, and special topics courses in decision-making, strategic management, and leadership.
• Nonprofit Management provides specialized expertise in the nonprofit sector including theory, history, management, and fundraising and financial management in nonprofit organizations. Students examine the relationships between nonprofit organizations and government such as the civic base of the nonprofit sector, intergovernmental and inter-sectoral relations, advocacy, lobbying, and nonprofit budgeting for government contracts and grants.
• Financial Management includes courses in budgeting, the management of the financial affairs of government, accounting, economics, and special topics courses in areas such as public finance.
• Urban Governance and Management includes courses in intergovernmental management, topics in management and leadership in public organizations, civic engagement, and urban public policy.
  • Local Government Administration Track- includes courses in local government management, intergovernmental management, and urban expertise across the university in courses such as urban policy, urban politics, and local economic development.