Earn a best-in-class master's degree
Take your career to the next level, and maximize your impact.
MPA or MPP: The Core Professional Public Management & Policy Degrees
MPA or MPP? Here are some things to consider.
Many people feel called to public service. They want to contribute to making their communities and the world a better place. Both the Master of Public Administration and the Master of Public Policy can help to equip students with the competencies they need to help government and nonprofit organizations be more effective at providing valuable public goods and services.
Recent Publications
Research with Impact
Explore our recent journal articles
(2020). The State of Illinois’s fiscal challenges and budget practices. Municipal Finance Journal.
Affiliated Centers & Initiatives
Our affiliated research centers and projects bring faculty and students together to address complex issues, improve the delivery of public services, & improve public policy
School Staff
Academic Programs
Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders devoted to the Greater Good
Mission, Job Placements, & More
Preparing the Next Generation of Public Service Professionals
Our MPA takes a practice-oriented, research-based approach to training those who want to serve the public good. We equip students with the core leadership, budgeting, management, and analysis skills to make an immediate impact.
MPA Program Plans & Advising Sheets
Build your Degree Plan
Program Plans
MPA students are encouraged to complete their degrees following the provided program/course plan templates. The plans are based on course offering patterns. If you need to deviate from these plans, please consult with your academic advisor.
MPA Curriculum
MPA curricular requirements are designed to impart knowledge and skills essential to meet pressing public problems and prepare students for professional and administrative employment in the governmental, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Core Coursework
The MPA core provides students with a solid grounding in the study of public management, budgeting and finance, policy development and implementation, and data analysis.
Sample Courses:
Meet Our Faculty
World-Class Faculty
Our students learn from and collaborate with our world-class faculty, whose professional engagements and scholarship spans public administration, management, policy, and human services. They are inspiring mentors, and their expertise and research play a vital role in public policy and program development, both locally and globally.