Master of Public Administration

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Master of Public Administration program is to strengthen public decision making and the delivery of public services in a globalized and diverse society by educating students to lead and manage organizations at all levels of government and nonprofit institutions ethically, democratically, and effectively.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The MPA at UTA is the largest enrolled accredited program in Texas and #15 in the USA with good reason. All three MPA programs for a masters are campus, online, and a city cohort. Our MPA programs are fully accredited by NASPAA - the international accreditation body for the MPA. Set in the dynamic Dallas-Forth Worth region, the on-campus and accelerated online programs offer tremendous opportunities for practice and learning. The unique intermix of city planning, public policy, and architecture in the program’s home college (CAPPA) creates significant unique opportunities for students to co-create urban, ecological, and social fabrics.

Program Director: Dr. David Coursey

WHY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION?

Public Administration is concerned with the formulation, analysis and implementation of public policy in urban institutions. With an inter­disciplinary focus, this program gives special emphasis to the urban community and the special challenges of public managers who serve in urban areas.

• The curriculum is designed to develop leadership capacity, understanding of the political, social, and economic characteristics of today's urban environment and the ability to apply current theories of management and analysis to difficult management issues.
• The program is meant as preparation for those entering management careers in gov­ernment for the first time or as career development for those already employed who are seeking upward mobility in public management.

Understanding the value of the MPA

MPA Graduate Job Industry Examples from AY 20-21 Graduates (102 total):

• Local/Regional Government (58)
• Nonprofits (8)
• Private Sector (15, 9 in research and consulting)
• National Government (6)
• Military (1)
• Unemployed (3 with 1 seeking employment)
• Further education (1)
• Unknown (8)

*Most of our students have existing jobs and obtain the degree towards seeking increased career opportunities.

As of Fall 2022, there were 232 students in the MPA program (32 campus, 152 online, and 48 city cohort) with approximately 88% part-time students (viz., taking fewer than 9 hours a semester). This makes UTA the 15th largest MPA U.S. program. For the 116 AY16-17 initially enrolled students, 13% completed the degree within two years, 66% in 3 years, and 69% in 4-years (and 71% later or still in the program). Since AY16-17, the programs have been restructured to better fit part-time students such that expected graduation timelines are shorter. A part-time student can finish the campus or accelerated online program in 6-7 semesters and, using summer classes, as early as two calendar years.

UTA MPA Graduate Median Salaries for Texas Residents reported by SeekUT:

$68,000: one-year post-graduation
$80,000: five years post-graduation
$101,000: ten years post-graduation

The 10-year median is the highest among all UT-system MPA programs by $7,000 (UTD is second) – Source: SeekUT.utsystem.edu 

ADMISSION INFORMATION

For more information about our graduate programs, please complete the information request form or email info@pad.uta.edu

There are two different application forms depending on whether you are interested in the campus or online program. For more admission information, review the Admissions Process form.