Public Administration (MPA)

Program Description

Sound leadership and management are vital to organizational and governmental effectiveness. The Master of Public Administration (MPA) at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government puts you on a path toward senior-level positions in organizations that implement and manage public policies. In this program, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of how leadership, management, policy, and politics intersect, along with the tools to enhance your communication, budgeting, and analytic skills. As a graduate of one of the largest MPA programs in the country, you will join thousands of Schar School alumni working in various roles in local, state, and national government, nonprofit management, and many other careers.

What it costs

Tuition and Fees: All of Mason’s tuition rates and fees can be found on our Student Accounts site.

Application Deadline

Application Deadline: For application information and deadlines, see the Admissions site.

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DETAILS COURSES COST CAREERS CONTACT READY TO APPLY?

Who should apply?

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is designed for people who hold or aspire to hold leadership positions in organizations that participate in the development and implementation of public policy. The mission of the MPA program is to give graduate students the opportunity to build their knowledge of politics, public policy, and management and to enhance their analytic, problem solving, and communication skills.
MPA students at Mason have the research and cultural resources of the Washington, D.C. area at their disposal. Government agencies representing all levels in the U.S. federal system are located close to the campus, as are the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Institution. Another benefit is the wide range of internship opportunities available in governmental and nonprofit organizations. The MPA Program regularly has internship invitations from national, state, and local government organizations, as well as from nonprofit organizations whose principal work is at the local, state, national, or international levels. Many of these internships are paid positions.

Why choose George Mason?

With George Mason University’s prime location in the Washington, D.C. area, Schar School students gain access to leading scholars and practitioners who bring real-world experience to the classroom, providing you with the mentorship and skillsets needed to advance in your career.

The Schar School as a whole has 80+ faculty members, as well as hundreds of adjunct faculty, allowing students to gain access to a variety of perspectives and subjects through elective courses. Full-time GCPO professors have held positions at the World Bank, the US International Trade Commission, the United Nations Development Program, the US Treasury, the European Commission, the US Office of Technology Assessment, and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Beyond this, they have even more extensive consulting experience around the world.

Program requirements may change; please refer to the Public Administration, MPA program page in the Mason Course Catalog for the most up-to-date requirements. This program can be completed completely online or in a hybrid format.

The required courses emphasize the development of knowledge about public policy and management, as well as analytical problem-solving and communication skills, and third-party governance. Through these courses, students develop a shared knowledge base and skill set. The elective courses can be used by students to focus their knowledge and skill development within one concentration. Alternatively, the electives can be used to extend the breadth of study with courses drawn from a variety of concentrations or from other departments and schools across the university.

Requirements: 36-39 credits total

24 credits core courses
12 credits Electives or Concentration Courses
3 credits Professional Experience

Core Courses (24 credits)

PUAD 502 Administration in Public and Nonprofit Organizations | 3 credits
POGO 511 Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government | 3 credits
PUAD 520 Organization Theory and Management Behavior | 3 credits
PUAD 540 Public Policy Process | 3 credits
PUAD 700 Ethics and Public Administration | 3 credits
PUAD 703 Collaborative Public Management | 3 credits
Select one course from the following:
- PUAD 613 Economic Analysis in Public Administration | 3 credits
- PUAD 645 Policy Analysis | 3 credits
- POGO 611 Advanced Data Analysis for Policy and Government | 3 credits
- POGO 646 Policy and Program Evaluation | 3 credits
Select one course from the following:
- PUAD 660 Public and Nonprofit Accounting and Finance | 3 credits
- PUAD 662 National Budgeting | 3 credits
- PUAD 663 State and Local Budgeting | 3 credits
- PUAD 664 Nonprofit Financial Management | 3 credits

Electives or Concentration Courses (12 credits)

Students may take their electives within one of the concentrations which follow. As an alternative, with the approval of their advisor, students may select their electives from several concentrations or fields. Students not pursuing a concentration may select electives from Schar course offerings.

Students may declare only one concentration. PUAD 794 Internship and POGO 796 Directed Readings and Research may be applied to a concentration where content is appropriate and with prior written approval of the student’s advisor. Other courses may also be applied to a concentration with prior written approval of the advisor.

Concentration in Administration of Justice (ADJ)

Concentration in Emergency Management and Homeland Security (EMHS)

Concentration in Environmental Science and Public Policy (EVPP)

Concentration in Human Resources Management (HRM)

Concentration in International Management (IM)

Concentration in Nonprofit Management (NPMG)

Concentration in Policy Studies (PS)

Concentration in Public Management (PMG)

Concentration in Public and Nonprofit Finance (PNF)

Concentration in State and Local Government (SLG)

Concentration in Managing Across Sectors (MAS)

Professional Experience (3 Credits)

Certification that the student has experience in public administration outside the classroom and is ready to take leadership responsibilities must be exhibited by one of two ways:

relevant professional experience, approved by the program director
PUAD 792 Advanced Seminar in Applied Public Administration Research | 3 credits

Tuition

Tuition and Fees: All of Mason’s tuition rates and fees can be found on our Student Accounts site.

Please Note: In addition to the tuition and fees described above, various course and lab fees may be assessed depending on the course(s) in which the student is enrolled. Please refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees.

Financial Aid

For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid.

The Master of Public Administration program prepares students for a range of industries and roles in the public and private sectors. In a recent graduating class career outcomes survey, the following were the top employers of MPA program graduates:

Arlington County Government
Booz Allen Hamilton
Deloitte Consulting
Fairfax County Government
FBI
IBM
ICF International
Lockheed Martin
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Pan American Development Foundation
Peace Corps
Social Security Administration
SRA International
Vanguard Communications
World Bank

Career Outcomes Link: https://schar.gmu.edu/why-study-here/career-services/career-outcomes

USEFUL RESOURCES
Program Contact	Bonnie Stabile Email: bstabile@gmu.edu
Program Website	https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/masters-programs/masters-public-administration-mpa
School Contact	Schar School Graduate Admissions Phone: (703) 993-8099 Email: schar@gmu.edu
Schar School of Policy and Government Website	https://schar.gmu.edu/

Application Requirements

Graduate application and fee
750-1,000 word written statement of your goals and interest in the program
Current resume
Unofficial transcripts from all previous institutions attended in the U.S. For international institutions, transcripts may be unofficial but should include cumulative transcripts, degree certificate, individual semester marksheets (if applicable), and diploma (if applicable)
Two letters of recommendation. At least one recommendation should be from an individual who is qualified to attest to the candidate’s academic potential
Additional requirements for applicants with international credentials

If you have any questions during the application process, please contact schar@gmu.edu or (703) 993-2280.

Scholarship Requirements

The Schar School of Policy and Government awards merit-based scholarships based on an applicant’s academic achievements.