Understand the key functions and legal requirements of government personnel systems. Examines the evolution and modern challenges in personnel policies and management tasks such as recruitment, position classification, retention, succession planning, and other topics.
Master of Public Administration (Online)
Want your career journey to improve the quality of life in your communities? The University of Texas at Arlington's internationally accredited Master of Public Administration (MPA) program provides the knowledge and skills critical to management careers in public services at all levels of government and non-profit organizations, particularly for urban and suburban areas. You will be immersed in critical skills including financial management, leadership, organizational change, and evaluating policies and programs developing your ability to enhance your community.
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Next Start Date March, 16 2026
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Prepare for a career in public service leadership
Our MPA program prepares you for impactful public service leadership roles across all levels of government, nonprofits and private organizations. Throughout your courses, you'll delve into a core curriculum focusing on managerial and analytic skills essential for careers dedicated to the public good. You'll learn how to integrate managerial, political and legal approaches to policy changes, as well as analyze ethical dilemmas and navigate the scrutiny faced by public organizations. Upon graduation, you'll be equipped with crucial research and data analysis skills needed to evaluate organizational and public policies effectively.
Who's a good candidate for this MPA degree?
Whether a recent bachelor’s degree graduate, or a few years into the workforce, the MPA could be great for you, particularly if your undergraduate was in a technical area (like accounting) and now you are seeking promotion into management but have little formal government management training. The MPA is essential to career advancement in government and non-profits, as well as business consulting firms. The MPA is also a classic graduate degree after a military career and UTA ranks among the top universities for veterans in Texas and #5 nationally.
Online MPA Courses
Our program is thirteen courses - twelve will be eight weeks (summer classes are seven weeks) and the final, capstone project is sixteen weeks. You take two sequential courses in Fall, Spring, and Summer terms and finish in seven semesters – just over two years. There are five start dates during the year meeting your demanding life (January, March, May, August, and October). Your courses develop your critical public leader skills across managing budgets and finance, promoting an ethical and effective workforce, and evaluating policies and programs. You can also specialize with an included certificate in public budgeting and finance or nonprofit management further enhancing your resume and skills. Sample courses include:
In this class, you will cover the principles and practices used by local, state, and federal governments to acquire and spend revenues. Learn practical skills enabling you to be an effective participant in the budgeting process.
Overview of financial principles in the public and non-profit sectors, financial reporting for state and local governments and non-profit organizations and evaluation.
Understand non-profits as community institutions with an outward focus: the political, economic and inter-organizational environment, fund-raising and financial management, community relations and needs assessment, the role of the volunteers, boards and community leaders, marketing and legal and government issues.
In this class, you will learn how to apply research methods in evaluating public programs.
You will earn the implications of federalism and the changing nature of intergovernmental relations on state and local management, administration, planning and policy making.
Engage in a cumulative integrative applied project where you analyze, synthesize, and formulate cogent recommendations for a real public sector problem. Work as a team on a real-life project for a local organization applying concepts from your MPA studies. Teams present and defend their report to the local organization and a forum consisting of faculty, students, and other interested parties.
Job Opportunities
With the UTA MPA, you are equipped for delivering public services across a wide variety of government and non-profit management jobs, as well as roles in private government consulting firms and businesses with significant government interactions. Career examples include:
City Manager
Data and Policy Analyst
Legislative Assistant
Budgeting, Finance, or Human Resources Manager
Non-profit director
Educational administration, particularly higher education
Program or Department Manager
High Earning Potential
UTA MPA graduates are well-paid, ranking at or near the top of all University of Texas System schools in median salary:
- $81,000: one-year post-graduation
- $95,000: five-years post-graduation
- $112,000: ten years post-graduation
How to Apply
Entering students typically have a minimum “B” (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) grade point average in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework. Many students who do not meet the minimum GPA are still admitted based on a holistic review of their record, including work experience.
Applicants must submit:
- Graduate admission application and application fee
- Official transcripts
- Personal essay and statement
- Three letters of recommendation
- GRE (waived in some cases of GPA, and other factors.)
Optional:
- Current resume or vitae
Tuition Information
The online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program offers competitive tuition rates. To learn more about our tuition rates, tuition estimator, course and class fees, click below: