what is a master of public administration mpa 
a master of public administration mpa is a master s degree in public affairs an mpa degree prepares recipients to serve in executive positions in municipal state and federal government and nongovernmental organizations ngos understanding the master of public administration mpa a master of public administration mpa degree is considered the public sector equivalent of a master of business administration mba degree in the private sector it is also closely related to the more theoretical masters in public policy mpp degree the mpp focuses on policy analysis and design while the mpa focuses on program implementation many graduate schools offer a combined j d law degree and mpa a few offer combined mba mpa programs the program s focus centers on principles of public administration policy development and management and implementation of policies it also prepares the candidate to deal with specific challenges faced in public administration as a professional level degree the mpa requires students first to have an undergraduate level degree from eligible universities students enrolled in an mpa program are expected to possess above average leadership skills and competence in economic and quantitative analysis among other skill requirements graduating with an mpa degree allows students to apply for work in various upper management positions in the federal government nonprofits global ngos and private companies mpa holders may find employment as public policy advocates and researchers as well course requirementsmpa students are required to have a bachelor s degree from an accredited college or university many graduate schools also require applicants to take the graduate records exam gre before applying programs are interdisciplinary and include classes in economics sociology law anthropology and political science most programs require two years for completion some executive mpa programs designed for experienced mid career professionals can be completed in one year also a limited number of programs grant a doctor of public administration d p a which is a terminal degree usually intended for research the d p a is considered on par with a ph d the pay for mpa required jobs varies for example according to glassdoor the average starting salary for someone with an mpa is between 135k and 250k of total pay as of february 2024 1 however pay per position can widely vary for example employment as a political scientist which often requires an mpa starts at an annual median salary of 128 020 according to the u s bureau of labor statistics based on 2022 median pay 2career applicationsgraduates with an mpa degree are primed for leadership roles within private public and nonprofit agencies those who earn an mpa are often well rounded in various areas including policy law business finance and management often newly minted mpa graduates start as analysts researchers grant writers and program managers but these entry level positions usually become executive positions for those with experience and an mpa there is a likelihood of being directly hired at a senior level because mpa graduates usually possess a keen knowledge of policy and public affairs plus an understanding of how policies impact business and economics there are plenty of job opportunities in the private and nonprofit sectors 3having an mpa offers opportunities to work with human rights groups schools nonprofit medical centers charitable organizations public media such as radio and broadcasting development groups and international organizations to name a few career paths advantages and disadvantages of an mpa degreegetting an mpa like any advanced degree takes time and money if you decide to get an mpa you will most likely take a variety of exciting courses unlike some master s programs you don t need any particular undergraduate degree to be accepted into an mpa program individuals with mpas may graduate with multiple job opportunities in a broad spectrum of career paths there are many advantages to getting an mpa beyond money and prestige and earning an mpa often means enrolling in a variety of interesting courses from international affairs to environmental law however these jobs may be highly competitive and public administrators may find themselves in high stress jobs with low turnover rates executive positions are often not vacated until someone retires especially if the pay and profile are high high profile positions in public administration mean working one on one with individuals and groups so these jobs may be challenging for those who prefer to work independently or without drawing attention to themselves provides entry into a variety of careers including overseashigh paying jobsstudying for an mpa often means interesting coursework you don t need a specific undergraduate degree to apply to an mpa program 