What Can You Do With an MPA?

Public servants perform meaningful work and have the chance to operate on the cutting edge of trends that are reshaping the public sector. According to a 2024 report by consulting firm Deloitte, public sector employees are actively working to do things such as:

Harnessing the power of technology to enhance the productivity of public organizations
Collaborating across traditional boundaries to improve the effectiveness of public programs
Strengthening the public sector’s resilience and ability to respond to crises
Finding innovative ways to improve customer service

Completing a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program can significantly enhance an individual’s public administration expertise and prepare them for a rewarding career in public administration leadership. Earning an MPA can lead to any of a number of fulfilling careers in the public or nonprofit sector that enable professionals to make a lasting difference in the world.

MPA Definition

Defining the MPA degree starts with defining public administration itself. In its broadest sense, public administration involves overseeing and managing the resources — funding, personnel and information — necessary to develop and implement the programs and services that government entities and charitable organizations provide. Those programs and services are initiated through policies, and evaluating the effectiveness of those policies is an important aspect of public administration.

MPA Programs and Public Administration Values

MPA programs are centered on critical public administration values such as:

Democratic values, including respect for democracy and the rule of law
Equity and diversity in the administration of public programs
Integrity and accountability
Professionalism
Public service that upholds the highest standards

Key Objectives of MPA Programs

The Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration, an accreditation organization for public administration educational programs, establishes standards for what students should learn in public administration programs. Specifically, these programs strive to prepare students to:

Manage and lead in a manner consistent with the public interest
Participate in the policy process and make contributions to that process
Apply critical thinking and evidence-informed decision-making in dynamic environments
Communicate and advance a public service point of view
Operate in a manner that is productive and culturally responsive

What Can You Learn in an MPA Curriculum?

Coursework in an MPA curriculum is designed to help students hone certain key skills that they can apply to any of a range of public administration careers. MPA programs typically require students to complete 36 credit hours that include required courses and electives, both of which are outlined below.

Required Courses

The courses that MPA programs require students to take establish a solid foundation for working in public service. Examples of the topics that required courses cover include:

Survey of public administration: Provides students with a broad introduction to the discipline of public administration and its theories and methods
Analysis of public policy: Offers students the knowledge and skills required to shape and evaluate public policies
Analytical decision-making: Helps students develop expertise in using relevant tools and analytical processes to make decisions in public administration
Budgeting in the public sector: Explores the financial administration of government entities and how budgets reflect policy priorities
Constitutional and administrative law: Helps students develop expertise in administrative law and its function, as well as laws that public administrators should know
Evaluation of programs: Covers important skills in designing, implementing and evaluating public programs
Leadership and ethics: Helps students gain expertise in the connections between ethical leadership and ultimate outcomes for an organization

Elective Courses

The elective courses in MPA programs offer students the opportunity to develop expertise in areas of interest for specific types of MPA careers. Elective courses cover topics such as:

Grant writing and administration: Provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to apply for and oversee grant awards
Urban planning: Helps students gain expertise in aspects of urban planning, such as the tools that professionals use in the planning process, the role of citizen participation and the legal bases of urban planning
Emergency management: Gives students insight into managing efforts to deal with disasters, including mitigation, planning and response efforts
Crime and public policy: Provides students with a basic understanding of crime and crime policy analysis, as well as knowledge of policing, imprisonment and the connection between labor markets and crime
Human services administration: Covers important aspects of human services agencies, such as the clients those agencies serve and how services are delivered, as well as agency structure and administration
Homeland security: Offers students expertise in areas such as homeland security strategy, crisis communication and the collection of intelligence
Nonprofit management: Gives students an overview of the processes involved in nonprofit functions such as fundraising, volunteer recruitment and board governance

Benefits of a Public Administration Education

Completing an MPA program helps equip students with a wide range of knowledge and skills that can help them to:

Strengthen their leadership and management skills
Progress along a public administration career path and assume increasing levels of responsibility
Work in a career that enables them to make a difference in society and improve the lives of others
Become eligible for positions of responsibility at the local, state or national level
Work for organizations that offer professional development opportunities to continue enhancing their public administration expertise
Fill positions in the public sector that offer benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans and ample vacation time

Public Administration Skills

Individuals have many different career opportunities with an MPA, and developing certain public administration skills can help them succeed in any career devoted to public service.

The skills outlined below, which students strengthen by completing an MPA program, help individuals make the most of their public administration careers.

Communication

Serving the public effectively depends on strong communication, so people who work in public administration benefit from developing their ability to communicate, both orally and in writing. For example, people in public administration careers often need to make presentations or write reports that make points clearly and enable their audience to understand critical information.

Collaboration

Being able to collaborate with other stakeholders, for example, with individuals in other agencies or community groups, helps public service administrators achieve many goals. By collaborating with diverse groups, administrators also are more likely to consider varying points of view in setting public policies.

Problem-Solving

Public service issues can be complex, and people who fill positions in public administration need to be able to develop solutions to difficult issues. This can also extend to finding ways to resolve internal conflicts within a public service organization or external conflicts with outside parties.

Organization

Public administrators can be called upon to handle a variety of responsibilities, so they benefit from developing good organizational skills. From running meetings to conducting research to staying on top of the current operations of public service programs, the duties of individuals working in public service can vary greatly. They need to take an organized approach to carrying out all of their immediate and long-term responsibilities.

Delegation

Working in a leadership role in public administration entails delegating important duties to program staff. Being able to effectively delegate is a skill, and good public administrators know how to assign tasks in a manner that aligns with individuals’ abilities and expertise. Strong public administrators know when to give staff autonomy in completing their assigned tasks and exercising their own judgment.

Budgeting

Whether they are working for a nonprofit organization or a government agency, public service professionals need to have good budgeting skills. Being able to monitor a budget, link funding with specific initiatives and seek new sources of funds can be invaluable to an individual who works in public service.

Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is critical to achieving a public service organization’s mission. Public service administrators need to know how to craft a plan that can lead to the accomplishment of objectives that support the overall mission. They also need to be able to establish timelines for completing objectives and monitor whether their organization operates within those timelines.

8 Public Administration Careers

Completing an MPA degree program can prepare individuals to pursue any of an extensive variety of public administration careers. Some specific examples of what you can do with an MPA are detailed below.

1. Compliance Officer

Compliance officers concentrate on ensuring that an organization follows all applicable laws and regulations. They play an important role in educating organization employees on legal and regulatory requirements. A compliance officer’s responsibilities can extend to ensuring that an organization establishes and follows internal controls to help achieve compliance with all requirements.

Though it is not required, compliance officers can demonstrate their expertise by earning a certification such as the International Association of Risk and Compliance Professionals’ certified risk and compliance management professional (CRCMP) certification.

The median annual salary of compliance officers was $75,670 as of May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS projects 5 percent growth in compliance officer positions from 2022 to 2032. That growth rate exceeds the BLS’s forecast of 3 percent growth across all occupations during the same time period.

2. Social and Community Service Manager

Social and community service managers oversee programs that support and strengthen the well-being of people in their community For example, they can manage programs that support particular groups of people such as older people, unhoused individuals, people with mental health challenges or those with substance abuse disorders.

Social and community service managers identify the specific needs of a community, administer programs that seek to address those needs and then evaluate the effectiveness of the programs.

According to the BLS, social and community service managers had a median annual salary of $77,030 as of May 2023. The BLS projects a robust 9 percent job growth rate for social and community service managers from 2022 to 2032.

3. Urban and Regional Planner

MPA careers also include those in urban and regional planning. In this field, individuals develop strategies for how a community will use its land and infrastructure. Urban and regional planners analyze a community’s needs, then research and plan how to use land and infrastructure to meet those needs. In conducting their work, urban and regional planners communicate with stakeholders, examine the feasibility of potential uses of land and infrastructure, and consider the social and environmental issues that can affect the plans for a community.

While certification is not a requirement to work in urban and regional planning, the American Planning Association’s American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) offers certification for urban planners who wish to demonstrate their credentials in the field.

According to the BLS, urban and regional planners had a median annual salary of $81,800 as of May 2023, and the profession is expected to see 4 percent job growth between 2022 and 2032.

4. Emergency Management Director

Emergency management directors develop and help carry out the plans and processes to be used to respond to emergencies and natural disasters. They identify and assess risks and hazards that could occur, offer training in emergency response and assess the damage after an emergency or natural disaster has occurred. Emergency management directors can also apply for federal disaster aid and coordinate with other organizations to share resources in the event of a disaster.

Some employers require individuals to demonstrate their emergency management credentials by earning a certification such as the International Association of Emergency Managers’ certified emergency manager (CEM) credential.

The BLS reports that, as of May 2023, emergency management directors had a median annual salary of $83,960, and employment in the field is expected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032.

5. Budget Analyst

Working as a budget analyst is another popular MPA career choice. Budget analysts focus on planning and monitoring an organization’s finances. Budget analysts are responsible for preparing regular budget status reports, examining budget requests from various departments and overseeing the organization’s expenditures. Budget analysts also prepare the organization’s overall budget, keep managers apprised of funding availability and advise leadership on financial matters.

While certification is not always a requirement to work as a budget analyst, people who work in the field can enhance their credentials by earning a certification such as the AGA’s (formerly the Association of Government Accountants) certified government financial manager (CGFM) credential.

According to the BLS, budget analysts had a median annual salary of $84,940 as of May 2023. The BLS forecasts 3 percent growth in budget analyst positions from 2022 to 2032.

6. Fundraising Manager

As their job title implies, fundraising managers focus on bringing in funds such as donations and grants for an organization. This responsibility includes duties such as crafting and implementing fundraising strategies, planning and holding fundraisers, completing and submitting grant applications, and monitoring the achievement of fundraising goals. Working as a fundraising manager can also require identifying and meeting with potential donors.

Certified Fund Raising Executive International offers the certified fundraising executive (CFRE) certification to fundraising professionals who want to enhance their credentials in the field. However, certification is not generally required to work in the profession.

The BLS reports that fundraising managers had a median annual salary of $119,200 as of May 2023, and the number of jobs in the field is expected to grow 5 percent between 2022 and 2032.

7. Policy Analyst

Policy analysts research proposed and existing policies and identify the possible effects and ramifications of those policies on the community. Policy analysts also develop and advise others about new policy proposals. Analyzing data is a large component of a policy analyst’s responsibilities, as is presenting the results of that analysis both orally and in writing.

The BLS groups policy analysts within the category of political scientists, who had a median annual salary of $132,350 as of May 2023. The BLS projects strong job growth for political scientists, with 7 percent growth expected from 2022 to 2032.

8. City Manager

After gaining experience in positions of increasing responsibility, individuals with an MPA can work as a city manager. The primary role of a city manager is to oversee all the functions of a city’s government, including areas such as human resources, finance and budgeting. A city manager is responsible for carrying out the decisions that the city council members make, ensuring that the city’s functions comply with all requirements and addressing citizens’ concerns.

Although certification is not required for the role, earning a designation such as the National Certified Public Manager Consortium’s certified public manager (CPM) credential can help aspiring city managers demonstrate their expertise.

The BLS includes city managers within the category of top executives, whose median annual salary was $103,840 as of May 2023. It also projects 3 percent job growth for top executives through 2032.

Careers With an MPA Offer Rewarding Work in Public Service

Earning an MPA is a great way to launch a fulfilling career. The many positions available to MPA program graduates enable people to apply their public administration expertise to strengthening our society and improving the lives of others.

Individuals who have an interest in pursuing graduate education in public administration can explore Augusta University Online’s Master of Public Administration degree program to learn how it can help them achieve their career goals. Preparing public administrators to strengthen their communities, the program provides students with relevant knowledge and skills that they can put to use in a rewarding public administration career.

Start progressing along the public administration career path today.

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