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The Master of Public Administration (MPA) prepares students and current public service professionals for challenging and rewarding careers in the changing public and nonprofit arenas. The MPA program combines curricular structure, physical facilities, and real-world fieldwork opportunities to foster the managerial skills needed to meet today's greater demands for accountability and effectiveness from public and nonprofit organizations.
This MPA program prepares students for a management career in public service sectors, including federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as nonprofits and international organizations. This type of degree can help students learn how to successfully implement policy and programs. Earning an MPA degree at the University of Arizona in particular will prepare students to be leaders in one of several different concentrations, such as Collaborative Governance, Environmental Management and Policy, Nonprofit Management, and Public Management.
School of Government and Public Policy
The School of Government and Public Policy was formed in 2009 by combining two highly ranked programs – Political Science and Public Administration and Policy - and bringing them under a single roof. Located in the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, SGPP is one of the largest schools at the University of Arizona and is uniquely situated to serve as a new model for public affairs education by promoting high-caliber research, teaching, community outreach, and civic leadership.
By offering leading programs in political science, international relations, public policy, and public management, SGPP prepares students for leadership positions in the public and nonprofit sectors.
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
University of Arizona - Main - Tucson
GRE test scores are not required for admission to the Master of Public Administration.
International students must submit one of the following test scores for English proficiency:
Please note that most gradaute student funding opportunities are based on available academic funding, and therefore limited in nature.
Please see the following webpages for additional funding options:
Fall Application Deadlines:
Fall applications will open early December of each year. Complete applications will be reviewed starting early February for admission consideration.
Spring Application Deadlines:
Spring applications will open mid-March of each year. Complete applications will be reviewed starting early September for admission consideration.
Deadlines that fall on a non-standard business day or holiday, applications will be due no later than 5pm (MST/AZ time) on the next available business day following the deadline. Please contact our department at SBS-sgppmasters@email.arizona.edu if you have further questions on these deadlines.
International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.
4832
42
24 units (3 units/course)
Any course substitutions will need prior review and approval by the Program Director and Graduate Programs Manager.
Minimum GPA in core coursework: 3.0
12 units required (3 units/course)
To help students select courses in areas that may develop career objectives, a list of elective coursework is available and categorized in specified concentrations. Students are welcome to take all elective coursework from one concentration or take elective coursework from multiple concentration areas of interest.
No more than 12 units of elective coursework may be taken outside of the School of Government & Public Policy and must be at the graduate level. Students are responsible for adhering to this policy. Please note that not every course will be offered every semester or academic year.
The following courses are considered approved electives within specific concentrations:
Collaborative Governance
Education Policy
Environmental Management and Policy
Health Policy
Law & Criminal Justice Policy
Native American Policy
Nonprofit Management
Public Management/Local Government
Public Policy
Courses not currently on this comprehensive list will need to be reviewed and approved by the Program Director and Graduate Programs Manager prior to enrollment.
Minimum GPA in elective coursework: 3.0
Internship - PA 593 (3 units)
Capstone - PA 594 (3 units)
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.
| Program-level Information | |
|---|---|
| Application Acceptance Rate | 78.87% |
| Med. Time-to-degree (years) | 2.00 |
| Department-level Information | |
| Enrollment Percent Male | 43.14% |
| Enrollment Percent Female | 56.86% |
| Enrollment Percent International | 7.84% |
| Enrollment Percent URM | 62.75% |