Master of Public Administration (MPA) Degree

Take your career to the next level with a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree—and gain the skills you need to become the capable and confident leader you know you can be.

Available on campus or entirely online, Hilbert’s 16-month MPA degree will develop and promote your leadership potential with rigorous and engaging coursework in program planning and evaluation, organizational theory and management, human resource management, finance and budgeting, values and ethics, and more. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the complex public sector as you acquire the leadership and analytical skills employers in every industry value.

What Can You Do With a Master of Public Administration Degree?

Earning Hilbert’s Master of Public Administration degree can position you as a strong, decisive and ethical leader. In our MPA degree program, you can not only gain the research and analysis skills needed to become a discerning and data-driven decision maker, but the ethics and values to become a transformative force for good as well.

Hilbert graduates go on to lead organizations in the public and private sectors with competency and integrity, in jobs ranging from program administrator and policy manager to budget analyst, compliance officer and social/community services manager.

Master of Public Administration Degree Benefits

Your Master of Public Administration degree prepares you to make a greater impact as a leader in your chosen field. It shows employers that you are ready to take on key leadership and management roles, whether you are looking to advance in your current career or start fresh in an entirely different field. Beyond expanded job opportunities, the benefits of a Master of Public Administration degree include increased earnings potential, greater job security and the professional satisfaction that comes from taking your career to new heights!

MPA Degree Careers

A Master of Public Administration degree can help you qualify for and advance in an array of rewarding careers, including:

• Administrative services manager
• Budget analyst
• Chief executive officer
• Compliance officer
• Development coordinator
• Director of transportation
• Economic consultant
• Environmental consultant
• Health care administrator
• Human resources manager
• Logistics analyst   
• Management analyst
• Operations manager
• Policy manager
• Public affairs manager
• Public works manager
• Social/community services manager
• Urban planner

MPA Degree Job Outlook

Why Choose Hilbert for Your Master of Public Administration Degree?

Unique to Hilbert, the Master of Public Administration curriculum includes an integrated research project threaded throughout the program. Unlike most graduate programs that ask for a final semester thesis, Hilbert’s MPA degree program allows for a more thorough application of theory and research since the project starts early in the program. Your coursework will explore theory, while your research will inform your knowledge as you explore practical applications in a final capstone project. This focus on practical skills for real-world situations is the key to a Hilbert College education.

More reasons to pursue your graduate degree at Hilbert:

• An innovative curriculum with an accelerated cohort model
• Enroll in on-campus classes held Saturdays or study entirely online
• An experienced, multi-disciplinary faculty
• Practical experience and research opportunities
• Take one class at a time—courses are scheduled in 7.5-week terms
• An opportunity to develop a professional network at the local, national and international levels

Listen to Hilbert graduate Barbara Fedchak describe her experience in our master of public administration (MPA) program.

The Master of Public Administration program at Hilbert College is designed to integrate theory and practice while expanding your knowledge about current events and research. Students will develop and prepare a research project throughout the curriculum and present their findings upon completion of the capstone course. Key components of the program include:

• Public policy
• Organizational management
• Values and ethics
• Strategic planning

The MPA degree curriculum consists of 36 credit hours (or 39 hours, including an optional 3-credit internship, for students who have not yet achieved full-time employment in their field). The program uses an accelerated cohort model that’s convenient for individuals who are employed full time. Students take one course at a time and move with a cohort, creating chances to meet new colleagues and build lifelong friendships. Cohorts remain together throughout the 16-month program, starting a new course of study every 7.5 weeks with one 15 week course. 

You can choose to enroll in on-campus classes held on evenings or weekends, or complete your degree entirely online.

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