Master of Public Administration (MPA)
The Masters of Public Administration degree is a flexible professional degree for those interested in managing, leading, and most of all, serving the public. Deciding to pursue an MPA is a strategic way of ensuring you have a master's degree that is fulfilling and practical. If you want to make a difference, come join us.
MPA graduates are found in a variety of fields and policy areas across all career sectors. And since the arena of public service is so vast, the degree will enable you to synthesize and transfer all of your education, volunteer work, and professional experience into a meaningful career.
We try to keep our class size small.... ideally seminar sized. Our student body is usually limited to 30-40 well-qualified students.
Nationally Ranked & Accredited
The UNO MPA program is one of four MPA programs in Louisiana that are professionally accredited by NASPAA. For more information about our accreditation, see NASPAA Accreditation.
Mission of the UNO MPA Program
In support of UNO's urban mission, the MPA program seeks to enhance the quality of public service, primarily in the Greater New Orleans area, through:
- Academic programs that prepare students for leadership in public and nonprofit organizations;
- Research that is relevant to the tasks of public administration and policy making, and;
- Outreach that applies faculty expertise to the needs of the broader community.
Choosing the UNO MPA Program
- The program offers outstanding faculty who combine academic excellence and practical experience, access to special expertise in hazard policy, nonprofit leadership, and transportation administration.
- Opportunities to work and learn in New Orleans
- Convenient class schedules; instruction in a traditional classroom setting with some coursework offered online
- A diverse student body
Student Learning Outcomes
Student Learning Outcomes specify what students will know, be able to do, or be able to demonstrate when they have completed a program of study.
Joint Juris Doctorate Degree
We offer a joint JD (law degree) with the School of Law at Loyola University New Orleans.
The Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration program is designed for those seeking an advanced degree in the field of governmental administration. The program is interdisciplinary, with equal participation from the Loyola College of Law and the Master of Public Administration program in the Department of Political Science at the University of New Orleans.
Applicants for this joint program must apply separately to the Loyola College of Law and to the UNO MPA program. The schools together will determine whether the applicant is eligible for the combined program.
Academic Requirements
You must apply to each program separately. You are considered a J.D./M.P.A. student only after you have been admitted to both programs.
The Loyola College of Law accepts the nine semester hours from the MPA program only after the entire 30 semester hours of required graduate MPA courses have been successfully completed. The MPA program accepts the nine semester hours from the Loyola College of Law only after the 81 semester hours of law courses have been successfully completed. Students must successfully complete all required courses in both programs.
Academic Standards
The nine hours of credit earned at UNO in the MPA program will count toward the total earned hours at Loyola, but will not affect the student's cumulative Loyola grade point average. No credit will be awarded for a course taken in the UNO/MPA program unless the grade is at least equal to a C+ on the Loyola grading scale. No credit will be accepted until a student has successfully completed the first year of study at Loyola with an average of 2.3 or better. The student must maintain an average of 3.0 or better in the MPA program.
Students failing to meet all of the requirements of the program are awarded either the Juris Doctor or Master of Public Administration degree only if they fulfill the requirements for the individual degree as outlined in the Loyola College of Law or UNO Graduate bulletin, respectively.
At a Glance
- Professionally accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration
- Nationally ranked by U.S. News and World Report
- Established at UNO in 1978
- 95% job placement within 6 months of graduation
- 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio
- 15 average graduate class size
- Accelerated pathway to Ph.D. in Justice Studies and Ph.D. in Urban Studies
- Specializations in Nonprofit Leadership and Hazard Policy
Specializations
The MPA program offers specializations in Nonprofit leadership (NPL) and Hazard Policy.
Enhancing the Quality of Public Service
According to the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the Masters of Public Administration (MPA) degree is the core professional degree for a management career in public service. The curriculum is designed to aid students in developing the skills and techniques used by leaders and managers to implement policies, projects, and programs that resolve important societal problems. Graduates of an MPA program work in all levels of government (federal, state, and local), in nonprofits, in international organizations, in consulting firms, and in the private sector.
