Master of Public Administration
Established in 1976, the University of Utah’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program empowers aspiring and continuing professionals from across the government, nonprofit, and private sectors to serve and lead for the public good. Our program integrates rigorous scholarship with practical insights to provide students tools to create positive change in their communities and beyond. Two program options are available:
- Our evening MPA program can be completed in two (or more) years and offers students the option to pursue one of several emphases/concentrations or joint degrees.
- Our Executive MPA program offers students with at least five years of relevant professional experience the opportunity to complete their studies in 19 months through a combination of weekend and condensed class scheduling.
Both programs are built on a robust curriculum founded on the principles of ethical administration, the legal foundations of public service, an appreciation for the role of the nonprofit sector in contemporary governance, and a genuine concern for social justice. The MPA is administered by the College of Social and Behavioral Science’s Programs of Public Affairs, alongside the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of International Affairs and Global Enterprise (MIAGE).
The MPA Program is proud to be accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the global standard in public service education.
For additional information and assistance contact MPA Program Manager, JaTara Greenidge.
About Us
The University of Utah MPA mission is (1) to prepare a diverse group of experienced and aspiring administrators in applications of essential administrative competencies to public and nonprofit organizations, within political, legal, and ethical contexts. The program strives to expand opportunities for students to participate and lead in professional work and civic affairs, with strong legal standards, ethical commitment, compassion, and appreciation for the roles of other officials and community stakeholders in 21st century governance; (2) to emphasize the importance of faculty and students creating and disseminating new knowledge and developing insights that enhance our ability to govern in the public interest, and (3) to underscore our duty as faculty, staff, and students to devote time and expertise to our profession, communities, academic field, and university.
NASPAA Universal Required Competencies:
- To lead and manage in public governance
- To participate in and contribute to the public policy process
- To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions
- To articulate and apply a public service perspective
- To communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry
Program Mission-Specific Competencies
- To understand and articulate broadly defined ethical standards for decision making
- To understand and articulate the legal foundations of public administration and policy
- To develop awareness of approaches to leadership and the centrality of context to its effectiveness
- To articulate an understanding of nonprofit administration and the roles in public governance.
The table in this tab shows graduation data for the 85 students admitted to the MPA program in the 2017-2018 admissions cycle. This includes the number of students still enrolled (i.e., not yet graduated), the number that graduated within two years of admission, those that graduated within three years (including those that graduated within two), and those that graduated within four years (including those that graduated within two or three).
Still enrolled |
7 |
Graduated within 2 years |
22 |
Graduated within 3 years |
50 |
Graduated within 4 years |
72 |
Total (Students Graduated and Persisting to Graduation) |
85 |
*The data was collected in collaboration with the Registrar’s Office at the University of Utah
The chart in this tab shows post-graduation job placement data for the 56 students who graduated from the MPA program in the 2021-22 academic year.
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