Master of Public Administration
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***Announcement: The MPA Program Goes Online
Starting in Fall 2009 the Northeastern MPA program became the first in New England to offer the degree online! Students admitted to the MPA program will now have the option of pursuing the degree on the Boston campus, online, or through a combination of online and on-campus coursework. Admissions standards and curriculum requirements for both the online and on-campus programs are identical. Please follow the link for information on how to apply if interested in starting your MPA this coming spring or fall semester.
For information on Northeastern's online MPA program please view our Online MPA Program Information Guide. For more information about online courses,including frequently asked questions and an online course demo, please visit www.northeastern.edu/online/about-us-faqs.asp.
For a list of online and on-campus courses being offered this current year, please click here.
Welcome to the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at Northeastern University! Founded in 1969, the MPA program is designed to integrate theoretical foundations with practical skills directed toward defining and developing analytical, conceptual and practical competencies for management careers in the public, non-profit, or private sectors. With classes scheduled after 5 PM or provided online, the program is designed for both the full-time student and the professional, who is attending classes part-time.
The information on this page is of use to current and prospective students alike. We also encourage you to peruse the other sections of our website, to gain further information on our department, our faculty, and the special programs and opportunities we offer our students. We look forward to working with you to help develop and sharpen the skills and capacities needed for a career in public service.
Mission Statement
The mission of the MPA program at Northeastern University is to serve the needs of the public affairs community, including students, working professionals, faculty, and researchers by providing a practice-oriented and research-based graduate educational experience. The faculty pledge the best instruction available in a set of courses designed to integrate theoretical foundations with practical skills. Our MPA Program will prepare students to be effective in a dynamic and increasingly diverse professional environment. We also commit ourselves to assisting students in every possible way to secure internships, post-graduate employment, and overall career advancement. Students, in turn, are expected to meet high levels of academic excellence combined with ethical and professional integrity. Committed to the ideals of public service and advancing the public interest, we seek students who share the same enthusiasm.
Accreditation
The MPA program at Northeastern University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, the membership association of graduate programs in public administration, public policy and public affairs. NASPAA's twofold mission is to ensure excellence in education and training for public service and to promote the ideal of public service. NASPAA accreditation signifies that a master's program in public affairs and administration has gone through a rigorous process of voluntary peer review conducted by the Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA), and has met NASPAA's Standards for Professional Master's Degree Programs in Public Affairs, Policy and Administration.
The MPA program at Northeastern went through its most recent NASPAA accreditation review in 2004, and has been reaccredited through 2010.
Why an MPA degree?
The MPA is a professional degree. Acceptance into an MPA program signifies a high level of achievement in previous professional and academic efforts and demonstrates a commitment to excellence in public service. Our graduate students come from a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds. We have students from every section of the United States and nearly every corner of the globe. Many students are currently employed in the public or non-profit sectors. To gain a sense of the many opportunities for social change offered through an MPA degree please click on the logo below to view some videos made by current MPA and MPP students from various schools across the country.
What does our Program offer?
At Northeastern University, three general themes underlie our efforts to help you develop and sharpen the skills and capacities you'll need for a career in public service or in the nonprofit sector.
- We make every effort to provide students with effective and relevant instruction in a curriculum that integrates theoretical foundations with practical skills. In turn, we expect students to extend every effort in their courses to meet high standards of academic excellence.
- Our program is directed toward defining and developing analytical, conceptual and practical competencies. Practicing public administrators among our adjunct faculty and student body provide linkages with all levels of government, permitting us a unique opportunity to maintain a high level of professional relevance.
- Finally, We strive to emphasize the "public" dimension of public administration. We view ourselves as being distinct from the private sector, motivated first by ethical and democratic imperatives to serve the public interest. Throughout the Program's curriculum and activities, we will reiterate and focus upon our public responsibilities.
The MPA program is comprised of over seventy students served by full-time professors at Northeastern University as well as part-time faculty who are professionals in the various fields of public administration. Areas of faculty expertise include policy analysis, budgeting, U.S. government, and public law, as well as a variety of substantive policy areas.
How to Apply
Admission to the MPA program is on a rolling basis throughout the academic year, although applicants for fall admission who are seeking financial aid are advised to apply by February 1. All applications must be submitted online and all supplemental materials should be submitted to The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
The Deadlines for Spring 2010 admission are:
- February 1, 2009: Priority deadline for applicants interested in departmental assistantship and scholarship consideration.
- October 1, 2009: International masters applicants - rolling admissions up to this date.
- December 1, 2009: Non-international masters applicants - rolling admissions up to this date.
- December 15, 2009: Non-international special student applications. This is for non-degree part time study only.
The Deadlines for Fall 2010 admission are:
- February 1, 2010: Priority deadline for applicants interested in departmental assistantship and scholarship consideration.
- May 1, 2010: International masters applicants - rolling admissions up to this date.
- August 1, 2010: Non-international masters applicants - rolling admissions up to this date.
- August 25, 2010: Non-international special student applications. This is for non-degree part time study only.
Required Admission Materials:
- Online graduate school application and fee
- Three letters of recommendation submitted via online application process (at least one preferably from a former professor)
- Official copies of all transcripts (mailed to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences)
- A current resume
- A personal statement explaining career interests and reasons for applying to this program
- Proven English language proficiency (See below for details.)
- Aptitude scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) are not required. However, students whose undergraduate record is below 3.0 out of 4.0 or those who do not have adequate academic or professional experience in public administration or political science, may consider taking the GRE to supplement their applications. GRE scores may also increase your chances for certain financial aid awards.
English Proficiency for all International Applicants: International students are required to meet one of the following standards:
- TOEFL (79-80 iBT)
- IELTS (6.5 or higher)
- Degree earned at a U.S. institution, or
- Degree earned at an institution where English is the only medium of instruction.
Undergraduate Records: A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 out of 4.0 is required of most applicants. Candidates for the MPA program usually come with a background in the social sciences, but we welcome prospective students from varying academic backgrounds who have relevant experience and who are committed to pursuing careers in public administration.
How to Apply: Apply for the MPA program online
Degree Requirements
Graduates of the MPA Program must successfully complete 42 semester hours (or fourteen courses) of credit in a prescribed curriculum. Full-time students can expect to complete the degree in two academic years. Coursework is divided between 24 credits in eight required courses, referred to as the core, and 18 credits in six elective courses. For students without work experience, an internship is required and replaces one of the elective courses.
The MPA Core
The following eight core courses are required of all MPA students.
- POLS 7202 Quantitative Techniques
- POLS 7203 Techniques of Policy Analysis
- POLS 7301 Public Personnel Administration
- POLS 7302 Organizational Theory and Management
- POLS 7303 Budgeting and Financial Management
- POLS 7304 Economic Analysis and Institutions
- POLS 7305 Institutional Leadership and the Public Manager
- POLS 7306 Capstone in Public Administration
Each core course is offered at least once a year on-campus,and at least once every two years online. Students are encouraged to complete their core courses as early as possible with the exception of POLS 7306, which should be completed as close to the end of their studies as possible. Students should consult with their academic advisor when planning the sequencing of their core courses.
Internship Requirement
An internship (POLS 8407) is required for all students without the equivalent of six months full-time experience in a government or non-profit setting. When required, POLS 8407 is counted as an elective toward the required 42 credit hours.
An internship comprises 225 hours of work over a semester and concludes with a written analysis of the internship experience or work done in it, with the specific topic approved by the supervising faculty member. For more information on these requirements and assistance in finding an internship, please visit our Internships and Job Opportunities page or make an appointment with our internship advisor. However, students who are interested in an internship should consult with the internship advisor at least six weeks prior to the semester in which the internship is to be undertaken.
Students who have sufficient and relevant full-time work experience and do not wish to pursue the internship experience, must formally waive the internship requirement by submitting a Graduate Student Petition Form to the Administrative Coordinator of Graduate programs, along with a recent copy of their resume.
Electives
Electives are offered in an array of areas, including urban policy and administration, education, health policy, American government, and business-government relations. With permission, up to six semester hours (two courses) may be taken in other graduate programs at Northeastern. Up to six semester hours may also be taken as "directed study" in particularly specialized areas, subject to the prior approval of the graduate program. No more than nine semester hours may be earned through a combination of directed studies and internships.
Certificates and Concentrations
The MPA program at Northeastern does not officially offer concentrations. However, students who are seeking an area of concentration can petition the department to take up to four courses in an agreed upon area of concentration and have those four courses count toward the six required elective courses specified in the curriculum. The petition must indicate the area of concentration, the relationship of this area to the student's career goals and the four proposed courses, including descriptions. Students who are pursuing this option may be allowed to take more than two course outside the department.
Grading
Students must have a final grade point average of at least 3.000 to obtain the MPA degree. In addition, an overall grade point average of 3.000 is required in the core courses with no grade of F. A total of six semester hours of repeated courses and/or additional courses may be taken in order to satisfy degree requirements. Each course may be repeated only once. The initial grade received in a course that has been repeated, as well as grades received for transfer credit, will be excluded from the final average.
Satisfactory progress in the MPA Program is defined as maintaining a grade point average of 3.000. Students who fall below this average in one semester must consult with their academic advisor. Students who fall below this average in two consecutive semesters are subject to dismissal from the program.
How much does the MPA Program Cost?
Tuition costs for the MPA program are set by the University and College of Arts and Sciences. Tuition charges for both online and on-campus courses are the same and are determined based on a per-credit rate for the College of Arts and Sciences. For current tuition rates please check with our Student Billing Office and scroll down to link to the year for which you want information.
Many of our part-time and full-time degree students also receive departmental, university, or federal financial aid to help with costs. For information on these opportunities please see our Financial Aid and Awards page on this website.
Program Policies
Structure and Administration of the MPA Program
The MPA Committee is the chief policy-making body for the Program. Decisions regarding curriculum, program direction and development are within the jurisdiction of this committee. The chair of the Program supervises day-to-day operational matters and coordinates such activities as curriculum planning, program development, student affairs, and recruitment of adjunct faculty.
Advising
Academic advising is provided by full-time faculty members and covers course planning, program policies, and career advice. New students are assigned faculty advisors according to their intended area of focus or, if pursuing a generalist degree, alphabetically.
Students may choose their own advisors by reviewing the fields of expertise of each faulty member, and may petition to change advisors once they are in the program. All students are urged strongly to speak to an advisor before registering for courses each semester. The Department requires that all new students and students with an overall grade point average below 3.00 to meet with an advisor before registration.
Changes in Requirements
Continuing development of the Masters in Public Administration Program necessitates occasional revision of the curriculum. When no hardship is imposed on the student because of changes, and when the facilities of the program permit, the student is expected to meet the requirements of the most recent Program Guide. However, if it can be demonstrated to the MPA Committee and the director of the Graduate School that doing so imposes substantial hardship, the requirements in the Program Guide of the year in which the student matriculated will be applicable.
The 2009-2010 Student Guide is available on-line or in the Graduate Program Office. This Guide provides information on program requirements, curriculum, financial aid, and other aspects of the graduate programs in the Department of Political Science.