The Masters of Public Administration (MPA) is the primary professional degree for the practice of public administration. The goal of our program is to prepare candidates for positions in public sector and nonprofit organizations. About 30-40% of our graduates go to work for private employers, many of whom are not-for-profit organizations that provide services to the public. Equal emphasis is placed upon our two categories of students: in-service students who wish to improve their capabilities and career potential and pre-service students who seek to enter the public service and eventually rise into managerial positions.

The mission of the Master of Public Administration program is to prepare well-educated public servants to effectively administer the organizations of governance in the 21st century. Academic training in the Askew School is grounded in the best traditions of citizenship, emphasizing integrity and stewardship, civility, inclusion and empowerment, openness and accountability, skills in research and administration, and leadership.

The Askew School faculty members have developed general goals for all of our students that our curriculum and community activities should promote:

Student Goals and Objectives

1. To help build a public service community between Askew School faculty, students, alumni, employers, professional associations to help mentor and network for our students;

2. To understand and strengthen the public service ethic, and to build high standards of ethical management and problem solving;

3. To develop an understanding of the public, private and non-profit sectors, and the challenges of governance across the sectors to promote community and a healthy society;

4. To understand how to function effectively in the larger political, economic and social environment;

5. To be skillful in inter-organizational networking and collaboration across sectors to develop and implement policy and services;

6. To understand organizational, policy and management theory, and apply it to relevant situations;

7. To be able to define organizational and policy problems, develop reasonable alternatives, present them in the policy decision making process, and implement them;

8. To communicate clearly and succinctly in oral and written form;

9. To know how to apply technology (including information management skills, spreadsheets, data analysis and word processing) to the work environment for management, analysis and problem solving;

10. To develop critical skills (e.g., in presentations, computer usage, conflict management, contract management, facilitative leadership, change management) to be an effective public manager;

11. To develop self-awareness and understanding of self in relation to public policy processes, the organizations that employ or contract with us, and the communities in which we live and work; and

12. To enhance career placement and career development, as a springboard to new levels and job promotions; to provide for a lifetime of professional development.

Special goals for our In-service (or mid-career) students

A. to provide a framework for a lifetime of professional development;

B. to enable experienced students to become capable generalist administrators or to gain further specialized knowledge, depending upon the individual's career aspirations; and

C. to offer the opportunity to complete the MPA degree through either full or part-time study.

Special goals for our Pre-service students

A. to learn to relate theory to practice through successful completion of an internship and an action report;

B. to select those courses and internship experiences that will provide the soundest possible basis for career entry and progression, including an elective professional specialization that is tailored to the student's background and aspirations; and

C. to assist students in obtaining appropriate internships and career placements.

The MPA Handbook is where you will find information specifc to the program. For a complete guide, download the MPA Handbook (PDF).

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