Master of Public Administration

The program strengthens public decision-making and the delivery of public services in a globalized and diverse society.
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Online MPA

The online MPA 39-credit hours (with internship waiver) provides a convenient, flexible way for working professionals or recent graduates to earn their MPA degree regardless of their schedule or location, without sacrificing academic quality.

Online MPA
City Cohort

The 39-hour city cohort program mixes daytime classes at city government locations with online learning tailored to city management and includes an emphasis in economic development and urban management.

Learn more about the City Cohort format
On-Campus MPA

The program is designed to be completed in five semesters by full-time students and either six or seven semesters by part-time students whether the student takes the capstone 5399 with two other courses their last semester.

On-Campus

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Master of Public Administration program is to strengthen public decision making and the delivery of public services in a globalized and diverse society by educating students to lead and manage organizations at all levels of government and nonprofit institutions ethically, democratically, and effectively.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The MPA at UTA is the largest enrolled accredited program in Texas and #15 in the USA with good reason. All three MPA programs for a masters are campus, online, and a city cohort. Our MPA programs are fully accredited by NASPAA - the international accreditation body for the MPA. Set in the dynamic Dallas-Forth Worth region, the on-campus and accelerated online programs offer tremendous opportunities for practice and learning. The unique intermix of city planning, public policy, and architecture in the program’s home college (CAPPA) creates significant unique opportunities for students to co-create urban, ecological, and social fabrics.

Program Director: Dr. David Coursey

WHY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION?

Public Administration is concerned with the formulation, analysis and implementation of public policy in urban institutions. With an inter­disciplinary focus, this program gives special emphasis to the urban community and the special challenges of public managers who serve in urban areas.

  • The curriculum is designed to develop leadership capacity, understanding of the political, social, and economic characteristics of today's urban environment and the ability to apply current theories of management and analysis to difficult management issues.
  • The program is meant as preparation for those entering management careers in gov­ernment for the first time or as career development for those already employed who are seeking upward mobility in public management.

UTA MPA RANKINGS

  1. #1 Top 50 Online MPA Programs (intelligent.com, 2019)
  2. #9 Top 30 Online MPA Programs (onlinecollegeplan.com, 2019)
  3. #15 Best Value MPA Program (valuecolleges.com, 2019)
  4. Top 38% Best Public Affairs Programs (U.S. News & World Report's, 2018)
  5. Best MPA Careers in Urban Management (onlinemasters.com, 2018)
  6. #23 Online Program Among Accredited Schools (onlinemasters.com, 2018)
  7. #9 Most Affordable MPA Among Accredited Schools (onlineeu.org, 2018)
  8. #41 MPA Ranking (topmanagementdegrees.com, 2018)
  9. #10 Online MPA Program (greatvaluecolleges.net, 2018)
  10. #11 Online MPA Program (mpadegree.org)

MPA Graduate Job Industry Examples from AY 23-24 Graduates (77 total)

  • Local/Regional Government (40)
  • Nonprofits (9)
  • Private Sector (15)
  • State government (5)
  • National government (2)
  • Military (0)
  • International government (0)
  • Unemployed (0)
  • Further education (2)
  • Unknown (4)

*Most of our students have existing jobs and obtain the degree towards seeking increased career opportunities.

As of Fall 2024, there were 183 students in the MPA program (27 campus, 110 online, and 46 city cohort) with approximately 90% part-time students (viz., taking fewer than 9 hours a semester). Most of our students have existing jobs and obtain the degree towards seeking increased career opportunities. UTA is the 25th largest accredited MPA program in the world and the second largest in Texas. 1 For the 113 AY 18-19 initially enrolled students, 15% completed the degree within two years, 72% in 3 years, and 79% in 4-years (and 81% later or still in the program. A part-time student can finish the program in 6-7 semesters and, using summer classes, as early as two calendar years. In AY23-24, 88% of classes were taught by full-time faculty with no variation across campus, online, or city cohort modalities.

UTA MPA Graduate Median Salaries for Texas Residents reported by SeekUT:

$81,000: one-year post-graduation

$95,000: five years post-graduation

$112,000: ten years post-graduation

The median salaries are among the highest in all UT-system MPA/MPP/MPPA – Source: SeekUT.utsystem.edu

> 1. Source: Latest available NASPAA Data Center – Fall 2018 enrollments

ADMISSION INFORMATION

For more information about our graduate programs, please complete the information request form or email info@pad.uta.edu

There are two different application forms depending on whether you are interested in the campus or online program. For more admission information, review the Admissions Process form. 

A+ FOR THE MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PRORAM

CAPPA's MPA program is accredited by the NASPAA Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation and listed on the Annual Roster of Accredited Programs in conformity with NASPAA standards

15th LARGEST ENROLLED U.S. PROGRAM

CAPPA's MPA program is among the highest ranked program in the public administration field.