Southern Utah University's master of public administration can be completed on-campus or 100% online. This NASPAA-accredited program gives students valuable experience in public sector work and can pave the way for municipal, state, and federal employment. Career opportunities for individuals with an MPA may include federal/state/local government, higher education administration, HR management, law enforcement administration, management consulting, or non-profit management. These career paths provide many substantially different opportunities and can make a difference in local and global communities.

Master of Public Administration - Higher Education Administration Curriculum Summary (36 Credits)

Core Courses (21 Credits)

PADM 6000 - Program Overview and Theory of Public Administration 3 Credit(s)
PADM 6200 - Public Sector Economics 3 Credit(s)
PADM 6300 - Administrative Law 3 Credit(s)
PADM 6440 - Research Methods 3 Credit(s)
PADM 6500 - Public Human Resources Management 3 Credit(s)
PADM 6620 - Critical Thinking and Ethics in the Public Sector 3 Credit(s)
PADM 6990 - Capstone in Public Administration 3 Credit(s)

Experiential Learning Courses (1-6 Credits)

All MPA students must complete either a professional project or a thesis. Additionally, pre-service MPA students must complete an MPA internship.

PADM 6890 - MPA Internship 1 Credit(s)
PADM 6900 - MPA Thesis 1 Credit(s)
PADM 6950 - Professional Project 1 Credit(s)

Elective Courses (9-12 Credits)

Complete 9-12 credits from the following (to reach the minimum required 36 credits):

PADM 6540 - Higher Education Law and Policy 3 Credit(s)
PADM 6550 - Student Affairs in Higher Education 3 Credit(s)
PADM 6560 - American Higher Education Environments 3 Credit(s)
PADM 6570 - Student Development in College, Theory, and Practice 3 Credit(s)
PADM 6580 - The History of American Higher Education 3 Credit(s)
PADM 6750 - Special Topics in Public Administration 3 Credit(s)
PADM 6830 - Readings and Conferences 1 Credit(s)