Master of Public Administration Program

The UWM College of Letters & Science and Lubar School of Business jointly present the Master of Public Administration (MPA). The program is designed to provide theoretical and practical preparation for careers in public and non-profit administration with three areas of concentration:

  • Municipal management
  • General public administration
  • Non-profit management

A professional degree program, the MPA includes applied work in several related disciplines: Political Science, Urban Planning, Economics, and others. The conceptual and analytical skills developed through the MPA curriculum are critical to the effective management of public agencies and programs. Contemporary public officials are required to make complex choices and implement programs and policies within severe financial, legal, political, and organizational constraints. More than ever, it is crucial that administrators be able to work with a variety of people, both within and outside the public sector. Professional education in public administration thus encompasses fiscal control, quantitative analysis, organization management, decision analysis, and a working understanding of government institutions and legal procedures.

In addition to the academic coursework, students may gain valuable experience in supervised fieldwork and applied research, while a choice of concentrations within the curriculum makes it possible to pursue intensive training in a specific subfield of public administration. Our MPA graduates will be uniquely prepared to understand the responsibility and accept the challenge of managing in the public sector.

Application Deadlines

  • Summer Semester – April 15
  • Fall Semester – August 1
  • Spring Semester – December 15

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