Public Administration, M.P.A. - COLA, UNH

What the Program Covers

The online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program prepares students for leadership roles in public and nonprofit organizations. The curriculum builds skills in program evaluation, budgeting, planning, personnel management, and policy analysis. Professionals with five or more years of experience—or a Certified Public Manager credential—can enroll in the reduced-credit Executive MPA. Note that the GRE is not required for admission to this program.

Public Administration graduates learn how to apply evidence-based decision-making to improve public sector and nonprofit organizations. 

Program Highlights

• Earn your public administration master’s degree fully online and asynchronously 
• Study with public service professionals and professors who bring strong analysis and best practices to your learning 
• Start in the fall, spring, or summer and graduate in just 16 months 
• Choose between two capstone tracks: 
  • Management and Leadership – focusing on organizational strategy and public sector leadership 
  • Program Planning and Development – focusing on program design, evaluation, and implementation

Students may add the optional Recreation Management and Policy track to focus on recreation administration within public service. 

Program Delivery and Options

All core courses are delivered online asynchronously. Students may take optional electives in person on UNH campuses. An optional Washington, DC Colloquium brings students to Washington, DC for a week of meetings with policymakers and practitioners. 

MPA Sample Degree Plans (36 Credits):  Fall Start

CAPSTONE TRACK: MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

CAPSTONE TRACK: PROGRAM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

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A range of MPA ADVANCED Core courses are offered each term and vary each year. MPA ADVANCED Core courses can also be taken as MPA-Approved Elective courses. Students may also propose relevant Elective courses based upon their interests. Consult with your Graduate Academic Advisor for guidance and course selections.

²

As a culmination of their graduate work, students in the Master of Public Administration's Management and Leadership Track are tasked with reflecting upon the professional applicability of their MPA skillset and drawing from the ePortfolio that they built throughout the program. Students are presented with a real-world problem in public administration and asked to write a paper exploring the problem and proposing recommended solutions.

³

Students in the Master of Public Administration's Program Planning and Development Track complete a four-term applied capstone project as the culmination of their graduate work. This capstone experience is designed to provide an opportunity to directly apply theories learned in the classroom to a major applied project within a community.

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Students pursuing the Recreation Management and Policy Track should select a minimum of 3 RMP courses from the list of MPA ADVANCED Core courses to meet MPA ADVANCED Core and/or MPA-Approved Elective program requirements. Students should consult with their departmental Graduate Academic Advisors at the Carsey School and Recreation Management & Policy for guidance on which RMP courses are relevant based upon their interests. Note that some RMP courses are offered online, while other courses are currently offered on campus only. Check course details for course location specifics.

MPA Requirements

Students enrolled in the Carsey School's Master of Public Administration program are required to complete a 36-credit program, consisting of 12 courses as follows:

• 3 MPA BASIC Core Curriculum Courses
• 3 MPA ADVANCED Core Curriculum Courses
• 6 MPA CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE Track Courses:
  • Management and Leadership Track: 2 Capstone Courses + 4 Elective Courses
    OR
  • Program Planning and Development Track: 4 Applied Project Capstone Courses + 2 Elective Courses

Optional Recreation Management and Policy Track can be added to the MPA CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE Tracks above: Choose a minimum of 3 RMP courses from the list of MPA ADVANCED Core courses.

These provide students with a strong foundation in theory and the applied skills necessary to foster democratic involvement, accountability and administrative competency in the provision and delivery of public services in towns, cities, state agencies, and a wide range of nonprofit and non-governmental organizations. Further opportunities for depth and specialization are provided through a broad range of MPA ADVANCED Core and MPA-Approved Elective courses which vary by semester. For a culminating graduate experience, students choose an MPA capstone experience to match their interests in Management and Leadership or Program Planning and Development, and can choose to add the optional Recreation Management and Policy Track to further specialize in recreation administration.

¹

A range of MPA ADVANCED Core courses are offered each term and vary each year. MPA ADVANCED Core courses can also be taken as MPA-Approved Elective courses. Students may also propose relevant Elective courses if they make sense in terms of the student’s interests and academic plan. Discussion with your Graduate Academic Advisor should inform this choice.

²

As a culmination of their graduate work, students in the Master of Public Administration's Management and Leadership Track are tasked with reflecting upon the professional applicability of their MPA skillset and drawing from the ePortfolio that they built throughout the program. Students are presented with a real-world problem in public administration and asked to write a paper exploring the problem and proposing recommended solutions.

³

Students in the Master of Public Administration's Program Planning and Development Track complete a four-term applied capstone project as the culmination of their graduate work. This capstone experience is designed to provide an opportunity to directly apply theories learned in the classroom to a major applied project within a community.

⁴

Students pursuing the Recreation Management and Policy Track should select a minimum of 3 RMP courses from the list of MPA ADVANCED Core courses to meet MPA ADVANCED Core and/or MPA-Approved Elective program requirements. Students should consult with their departmental Graduate Academic Advisors at the Carsey School and Recreation Management & Policy for guidance on which RMP courses are relevant based upon their interests. Note that some RMP courses are offered online, while other courses are currently offered on campus only. Check course details for course location specifics.

Accelerated Master's Overview

Accelerated Master’s programs offer qualified University of New Hampshire undergraduate students the opportunity to begin graduate coursework in select graduate programs while completing a bachelor’s degree. Accelerated master's programs are designed to provide students with an efficient and cost-effective pathway to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree or graduate certificate, enhancing career opportunities and long-term earning potential.

Accelerated Master's Highlights

• Begin studying advanced topics while an undergraduate student with the opportunity to complete a master’s degree or graduate certificate early.
• Master’s degree program students: Earn up to 12* graduate (800-level) course credits while completing a bachelor’s degree. This coursework will count as dual-credit toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
• Graduate certificate program students: Earn up to 8* graduate (800-level) course credits while completing a bachelor’s degree. This coursework will count as dual-credit toward both the bachelor’s degree and the graduate certificate.
• Students complete the bachelor’s degree, and then officially matriculate into the master’s or graduate certificate program to complete the remaining required graduate-level coursework.

*Some exceptions apply. 

Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements

• A minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA is required.*
• A minimum of 90 undergraduate credits must be completed prior to enrolling in graduate (800-level) courses.
• Streamlined Graduate School Application (two letters of recommendation; most standardized tests and application fee are waived).*

*Some exceptions apply.

Accelerated Master's Requirements

• Students must attend a mandatory orientation session.
• Students must submit a special registration form each semester for dual-credit courses and note any DegreeWorks exceptions.
• Students may defer graduate matriculation for up to one year after earning their bachelor’s degree in most programs.
• See the Accelerated Master’s Catalog Policy and Accelerated Master’s Website for additional information and a list of programs. Note that some programs have additional requirements (e.g. higher-grade expectations) compared to the general policy.

Public Administration (M.P.A.) Accelerated Option

This graduate degree program is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with the following undergraduate program(s):

College of Health and Human Services

COLLEGE OF LIFE SCIENCES AND agriculture

College of Liberal Arts

College of Professional Studies - Manchester

 College of Professional Studies - Online

• Develop in-depth understanding of the structure of public sector organizations and common issues faced by public and nonprofit managers
• Communicate effectively with public managers, policymakers, and the general public
• Manage organizations, processes, and people in the public and nonprofit sectors
• Apply critical thinking skills to address public issues and solve problems
• Collect and analyze data to inform public decision-making

Apply now

Note:

Deadlines

Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:

• Fall:  August 1
• Spring: December 15
• Summer: April 15
• Special: N/A

Application fee: $65

Campus: Online

New England Regional: No

Accelerated Masters: Yes (for more details see the accelerated masters information page)

Transcripts

If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC. 

If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.

If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:

• Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
• Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.

Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.

Letters of recommendation: 3 required

Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.

Personal Statement/Essay Questions

Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding: 1) reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives, and 2) your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field. In addition, applicants seeking a graduate assistantship or tuition assistance also must note this request in their personal statement.

Statements must be included with your submitted application.

Resume

Resume is optional but recommended.

Additional Department Requirements

If you are requesting a graduate assistantship or tuition assistance from the department then they require that you also submit GRE test scores. Please send a photo-copy of your test scores directly to the department (they do not require an official copy). For further details please contact the department.

Important Notes

All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.

International Applicants

Due to program requirements and restrictions, the MPA Program is unable to admit international students who require F-1 visa sponsorship. The program will gladly accept applications for applicants who are working in the United States full-time on a different visa type and do not require F-1 visa support. 

Prospective international students are strongly encouraged to contact Carsey Admissions prior to starting their application. All international applicants are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. Please note that English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.