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Master of Public Administration (MPA)

School of Public Service Leadership

General Public Administration specialization

Strengthen the theoretical knowledge and practical skills you need to effectively manage current public issues and plan for the future. Designed around national public administration curriculum standards, the curriculum focuses on building public value by establishing collaborative networks; promoting ethical performance standards; enhancing professional communication skills; and formulating and achieving innovative solutions to the challenges of public protection, policy, and governance. Working with a rich, global network of experienced faculty and professional peers, you will gain an in-depth understanding of your own field, plus insights from professionals in other fields, such as public safety and health care, that often collaborate with you to address today's complex challenges. Courses are taught in a prescribed sequence that builds on your newly developed knowledge and skills. This specialization also offers convenient features such as electronic textbooks and auto-registration for your entire sequence of courses. People who choose this specialization are often pursuing management or leadership positions in government agencies, public service organizations, or public-private community networks.

Read what others have to say about this specialization, or leave your own comment, and be sure to check back often to converse with others about their Capella experiences.

Total Program: 48 quarter credits
Up to 12 quarter credits may be transferred into this specialization
Next Start Date: March 5, 2012
Credit: $457

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Gain more value from your degree

Expand your educational and career opportunities by choosing one of Capella's degree enrichment options.

  • Add a concentration to gain deeper expertise

    Delve more deeply into a specific knowledge area by earning a concentration that will be included on your transcript and can enhance your career opportunities. If you have elective courses in your degree program, you may be able to use them to fulfill both your degree and concentration requirements at the same time. However, completing a concentration may extend your total credits beyond the requirements of your degree.

    Concentrations available as part of this specialization include:
    • Fire Service Administration
    • Forensics
    • Health Policy and Management
    • Homeland Security
    • Public Health
    • Public Policy and Management
    • Nonprofit Management and Leadership

Core Courses (each course 4 quarter credits unless noted)

  • MPA5002 - Survey of Research and Practice in Public Administration
  • MPA5400 - Public Administration Theory*
  • MPA5404 - Public Administration Organizational Leadership and Theory*
  • MPA5408 - Finance and Accounting in Public Administration*
  • MPA5410 - Strategic Management and Planning*
  • MPA5412 - Ethics and Personal Leadership Development*
  • MPA5416 - Quantitative and Qualitative Research*
  • MPA5420 - Leadership and Human Resource Management in Public Services*
  • MPA5424 - Policy Analysis and Research*
  • MPA5428 - Integrative Public Administration Project*

Two Elective Courses

Choose any graduate courses from the School of Public Service Leadership

* This course has a prerequisite. Contact an enrollment counselor for more information.

Course Descriptions

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Learn more about our related specializations:

PhD

Master's degree





NASPAA accredited

March 12, 2011Gil Is this a NASPAA accredited program?

Program Change

August 8, 2011DeFrance I'm currently enrolled in a MBA program, but would like to enroll in the MPA program with a concentration on Nonprofit Management and Leadership since I've just accepted a position as a Program Director for a non-profit organization. Would any of my MBA classes transfer? I've only completed 4 courses.

Accounting

July 4, 2011Amanda What is the accounting and finance class for this degree like? Is it math equations or is it more of an explanation of how finace is done in this field?

GPA

August 6, 2011Tharris I just entered the MPA program and I can't find anything in regards to what minimum gpa we must maintain to stay in the program. Can someone point me in the right direction to find the information or can tell me the minimum gpa we must maintain? Please and thank you :-)
Image of enrollment counselor with expertise in masters of science degree in Capella's MS degree online program
Image of enrollment counselor with expertise in masters of science degree in Capella's MS degree online program

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