About the programs

Administered through the Romney Institute of Public Management, the master of public administration (MPA) program prepares men and women for leadership in the public and not-for-profit sectors.

Leadership in this context provides unique opportunities for service to others. The faculty and students of the MPA program are dedicated to the philosophy that students should develop excellence in both knowledge and management skills, based on a solid ethical foundation. The success of this philosophy is demonstrated by the wide variety of leadership positions now held by alumni throughout the world in state and local governments, federal agencies, research organizations, business firms, and diverse nonprofit organizations. Graduates are employed in a variety of careers, such as city managers, personnel directors, policy analysts, and finance directors.

Today the public sector is called on to assist in areas that were traditionally the sole domain of profit organizations. Never before has there been a greater need for professionally trained public managers, and never before has there been greater opportunity for dedicated and qualified public managers to provide leadership in shaping the course of human affairs through public institutions and programs.

The Romney Institute offers two programs leading to the MPA degree: full-time and executive. Both are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). The full-time program requires two years; approximately sixty students are admitted each year. The executive program is taught one night a week for three years. Approximately fifty students are admitted each year.