Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), Binghamton University's Master of Public Administration (MPA) program works in collaboration with community-based organizations to prepare students to be tomorrow's leaders, innovators, and public and non-profit service managers. Graduates are equipped with practical, real-world experiences and the theoretical framework needed to tackle today's toughest societal issues.
An MPA is a marketable professional degree that prepares students for management careers in public and nonprofit organizations. It is ideal for students who are committed to public service, would like to be leaders in public and nonprofit organizations, and want to make a positive difference in the world.
As organizations reshape, restructure, and respond to shifts in economic, demographic, and social realities, public servants must be trained as problem solvers. Opportunities abound for those able to think critically, creatively, and ethically. With a variety of roles to fill in every city and state, MPA students are attractive hires for positions that allow them to make positive change. Graduates can also compete for business and other private-sector openings that require management and financial analysis experience.
Degrees Offered
Dual-degrees
Complete two separate master’s degrees as the same time! By carefully structuring the sequence of courses, recognizing comparable course offerings and using courses in one program to count as electives in the other. Generally, a dual or double degree program can be completed in 3 years of full-time study, rather than the traditional 4 years (2 years per degree) that it would take to earn the degrees separately. Apply to both degree programs separately:
- MPA in Public Administration (Dual-Degree with MSW)
- MPA in Public Administration (Dual-Degree with MS in Student Affairs Administration)
- MPA in Public Administration (Double-Degree with MA/MS in Sustainable Communities)
- MPA in Public Administration (Double-Degree with MS in Systems Science)
- MPA in Public Administration (Double-Degree with MS in Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention)
Certificate Programs
- Certificate in Local Government Management
- Certificate in Non-Profit Administration
- Certificate in Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention
Professional Development
This program affords students the chance to get involved in community and public affairs as soon as they begin the program. The faculty serve in a range of community organizations in advisory and management roles and lend their connections to students as they develop their own individualized courses of study.
Students are afforded more than 300 hours of professional experiences through internships with public or non-profit organizations in the greater Binghamton area, across the country, and around the world. The Department of Public Administration hosts the Philanthropy Incubator, a unique program that gives students the chance to work through community issues and distribute grant money to local non-profit organizations.
These opportunities -- as well as certificates in local government management and non-profit administration and a specialization in sustainable communities -- allow students to personalize the MPA program to fit their academic and professional interests.
After You Graduate
Internships provide networking opportunities and often precipitate long-term employment. Alumni of the MPA program have gone onto various civic activities, working at the community, city, county, state, and national levels, with 40% pursuing careers in government, 30% in non-profit organizations, and 10% in the private sector. Another 10% of alumni work outside the U.S. Those completing double/dual-degree programs are qualified to pursue many careers in social work, at educational institutions, and in nursing.
