Public Administration MPA

UMass Boston

Public Administration MPA

Make an impact where leadership matters most.

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About the Program

Lead with purpose and make an impact in your community. UMass Boston’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program empowers you to drive public and nonprofit organizations with practical skills in budgeting, leadership, policy analysis, and program evaluation. Designed for working professionals, the flexible BeaconFlex live hybrid format lets you attend class in person or online, while applying what you learn directly in your career. You’ll learn alongside a diverse cohort and build connections with public agencies and nonprofits across Greater Boston. Accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) and nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report, the program positions you to lead with confidence and make a lasting impact.

Here’s your chance to:

Connect with Boston’s public service network and gain access to local, state, and nonprofit organizations for projects, internships, and networking.
Learn from real-world experts as courses are led by faculty and practitioners with hands-on experience in government, nonprofits, and policy.
Build lasting connections by collaborating with a diverse cohort and tapping into an active alumni network for mentorship and career opportunities.

mean salary of alumni

UMass Boston Survey Data, 2020-2022

of alumni employed in the field

University Survey, 2020-2022

job outlook growth (faster than average)

Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024

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Career Possibilities

Build your career while you learn. MPA students have access to résumé guidance, interview prep, career workshops, employer events, and exclusive job postings. Expand your professional network through your cohort, faculty practitioners, and alumni across government, nonprofit, health care, and public service sectors, opening doors to mentorship, career growth, and meaningful opportunities.

Here’s where this degree can take you:

Administration and finance
Criminal justice
Economic development
Educational administration planning
Environmental management
Health care management
Housing affairs
Human resource management
Information technology
Labor management
Transportation
Urban affairs

Example Employers of Program Graduates

UMass Boston Public Administration MPA alumni launch careers at nonprofits; community organizations; and local, state, and national government agencies in Massachusetts and across the country, including:

Student Stories

The MPA program at UMass Boston gave me a practical, Massachusetts-specific education in public management. After graduation, I used the knowledge and capacity that I built during the program to move into a leadership position within the state government. I learned so much not only from my talented professors, but also from my fellow students, most of whom were also mid-career students who brought real public service problems and experience to the classroom.

Amy M., '19

I chose UMass Boston for its value鈥攁n affordable, high鈥憆anking program with flexible hybrid courses. The curriculum strengthened both my analytical and management skills, setting me up for success. My favorite experience was serving as a graduate assistant, working closely with faculty and supporting my cohort. Since applying to the program, I鈥檝e advanced from junior to senior鈥憀evel staff and successfully transitioned into a new industry

Cody D., G'24

Plan Your Education

How to Apply

Deadlines:

Fall Priority Deadline: April 1
Fall Final Deadline: June 15

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Apply as a Graduate Student

Financing Your Education

Estimate Your Program Cost: Get a feel for your expected program costs using the Graduate Program Cost Calculator.

Program Cost Information: Significant on-campus tuition discounts are available to residents of Massachusetts, the other New England states, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. For more detailed information on costs, visit the Bursar's website to learn more about Regular Session Tuition & Fees for in person courses and Special Price Tuition & Fees for online courses. Please refer to Financial Aid for more information.

Graduate Student Financial Aid

Program Details

Public Administration MPA Requirements

Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:

Minimum Undergraduate GPA: 2.75
Statement of Purpose

Write a 300 word essay on your reasons for considering this UMass Boston MPA program in relation to your academic background, professional work experience, and career goals and a 1,200 word essay describing your personal qualities and development and how they have influenced your career choice.

Official Transcripts: Submit official copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all 天美传媒s attended.
GRE Scores (Optional)

Send your official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. Previous scores less than five years old will be accepted.
*If you would like to waive the GRE exam, click on 'I am not taking any standardized tests' within the examination section of the application portal.
Institutional code: 3924

Letters of Recommendation

Please include three letters of recommendation. We prefer that one letter be from a former professor or individual who can address your intellectual aptitude for graduate study; others can be from a supervisor or other professional reference.

Résumé or CV: Add a current résumé or CV noting your previous educational (a bachelor's degree is required) and working experience.

Curriculum: General Track

PUBADM 602 New England Economic Environment
PUBADM 610 Public Management
PUBADM 65X Policy Workshop (weekend seminar, 1 credit, topics rotate)
PUBADM 65X Policy Workshop (weekend seminar, 1 credit, topics rotate)

Spring I

PUBADM 601 New England Political Environment
PUBADM 620 Analytical Skills I
PUBADM 65X Policy Workshop (weekend seminar, 1 credit, topics rotate)
PUBADM 65X Policy Workshop (weekend seminar, 1 credit, topics rotate)

Summer I

PUBADM 625 Public Budgeting & Financial Management

Fall II

Elective Public Administration electives are offered on a rotating basis.
PUBADM 621 Analytical Skills II
PUBADM 65X Policy Workshop (weekend seminar, 1 credit, topics rotate)
PUBADM 65X Policy Workshop (weekend seminar, 1 credit, topics rotate)

Spring II

PUBADM 614 Human Resources Management
PUBADM 691 Capstone: Case Study Seminar (6 credits)

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the .

Curriculum: Gender, Leadership, & Public Policy Track

PUBADM 619 WPPP: Contemporary American Public Policy Issues 3 Credit(s)
PUBADM 622 WPPP: Fall Internship 3 Credit(s)
PUBADM 623 WPPP: Women in American Politics and Policy Making 3 Credit(s)
PUBADM 624 WPPP: Spring Internship 3 Credit(s)
PUBADM 628 Research Methods for Policy Analysis 3 Credit(s)
PUBADM 629 Leadership and Organizations: Gender, Power and Authority 3 Credit(s)

*Students who take 15 credits in year one must substitute a program-approved elective for PUBADM 622 and 624. They will receive an MPA at the end of their course of study. Students who take 18 credits in year one will receive the Gender, Leadership and Public Policy graduate certificate at the end of year one, and an MPA at the end of year two.

Year 2 - Public Administration Courses (21 Credits)

PUBADM 610 Public Management: Theories and Principles 3 Credit(s)
PUBADM 614 Human Resources Management 3 Credit(s)
PUBADM 620 Analytic Skills I: Skills for Policy Analysis 3 Credit(s)
PUBADM 621 Analytic Skills II: Research Methods 3 Credit(s)
PUBADM 625 Public Budgeting and Financial Management 3 Credit(s)
PUBADM 691 Capstone / Case Study Seminar 6 Credit(s)

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the .

An accelerated MPA-GLPP curriculum is available for graduates of the GLPP certificate program. It consists of all courses listed above for Year 2 of the MPA-GLPP curriculum. Please contact the MPA program (public.affairs@umb.edu) for details.

Learning Outcomes

The mission of the Master of Public Administration program at the 天美传媒 is to foster highly-competent, active, and ethical public administrators with:

A holistic understanding of the political, social, technological, and economic factors that influence the development and implementation of public policies;
Firm knowledge of the range of methodologies appropriate to policy analysis and program evaluation;
A solid grounding in the skills required for planning, implementing, and monitoring public sector programs; and
The ability to prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and antiracism in all aspects of public service.

Graduation Criteria

Program Requirements: General Track

Complete 36 credits from 15 courses including seven required courses, one elective, six policy workshops, and one case study capstone.

Capstone: Completion of a written paper and oral presentation.

Statute of limitations: Four years.

Program Requirements: Gender, Leadership, & Public Policy Track

Complete 36 credits from eleven courses including five gender, leadership, and public policy courses; five public administration courses, and one case study capstone course.

Capstone: Completion of a written paper and oral presentation.

Statute of limitations: Four years.

Contact

Graduate Program Director Amy Smith
Graduate Program Administrator, Outreach and Recruitment Jack Li
Public.Affairs@umb.edu
(617) 287-6905

Accreditation

The Public Administration MPA-GLPP track is accredited by the .

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A Program for Every Path

Whether you’re an Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) student or a working professional, the MPA program welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and offers rich on鈥慶ampus opportunities. Through the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy (CWPPP), you can engage in intersectional research, public events, leadership training, and mentorship that advance diverse voices in policy. The Center for Social Policy (CSP) provides community-rooted research on economic hardship, social inequities, and policy solutions, including participatory projects that inform real-world policy and practice. Full- and part-time options make the program flexible for academic and professional growth.