Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Public Administration
Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs
Informed by the art and science of public problem-solving, the graduate programs in the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs empower students to advance the public good through innovative teaching, high-quality research, and inclusive community engagement. These programs equip students with the analytical and ethical tools to be effective leaders and public servants who are grounded in the values of civility and integrity.
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Advance your career with a Master’s in Public Administration.
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree for working professionals is a cohort-based, online executive degree program designed to enhance opportunities for individuals in public service through a program of study that integrates the theory and practice of public administration. The program aspires to produce graduates who are literate in the field of public administration, have the skills to be effective managers of organizational resources, and possess the analytical abilities to be creative problem solvers.
Credit Hours
36
Cost Per Credit Hour*
In-state: $700
Out-of-state: $775
Testing Requirement
GRE is not required for applicants with a degree from an accredited U.S. institution.
Admission Terms
Fall
*Cost per credit hour is an estimate based on maintenance and university fees. Some programs may have additional course fees. Please contact your department for additional information on any related fees, and visit Tuition and Fees in Detail at One Stop.
Program Requirements
The degree consists of a total of 36 graduate credit hours and includes a required executive practicum. No thesis is required for completion. This program results in the same Master of Public Administration degree as the full-time, in-person MPA.
Students must take all seven of the following courses online (21 credit hours):
HBS 501 Perspectives on the Policy Process
IAC 501 Ethical Leadership in Public Affairs
HBS 504 Public Administration
HBS 511 Working with Data
HBS 531 Public Management
HBS 532 Public Financial Administration
HBS 533 HR Management in Public Organizations
Additional Course Requirements
A 9-credit (3-course) concentration is required to complete the MPA degree.
*Indicates that other courses for the concentration may be accepted upon approval by the Director of Graduate Studies.
Executive Practicum
HBS 595 Executive Practicum
A 6-credit-hour practicum is required for all students admitted into the online executive degree program. For the practicum, students must design and implement a project for their current employer or identified organization. The Executive Practicum serves in place of a comprehensive exam or internship/capstone requirement for the in-person MPA degree.
Program Concentrations
Policy Analytics*
Policy Analytics students learn to use data to provide insights and solutions to public problems. With intense additional training in economics, data analysis and visualization, students are prepared to analyze public policy problems using cutting edge techniques and to communicate their insights to a broad audience.
Economic and Community Development*
The Economic and Community Development concentration provides students with the tools to evaluate decisions by local, state, and federal governments in managing economic growth and in providing public goods and services. In this concentration, students will be equipped to work at the intersection of public policy and economic development, helping make public policy more effective and communities more successful. This concentration is delivered in partnership with the University of Tennessee’s Department of Economics.
Emergency Management*
The Emergency Management concentration focuses on equipping students with the knowledge and skills in preventing, planning, and preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters and emergent events. Students will take courses such as hazard analysis and management, collaboration and communication for disasters, and preparedness and risk mitigation.
Non-Profit Management*
The Non-Profit Management concentration is designed around the unique challenges and strategies involved in leading and operating nonprofit organizations. In this concentration, sstudents will explore topics such as strategic management and leadership of nonprofits, social entrepreneurship, fundraising, volunteerism, data analytics for social impact, and board structure and governance.
Featured Courses by Concentrations
Policy Analytics
If you choose to pursue a concentration in Policy Analytics, you’ll take the required core courses and complete the nine credit hours listed below. You may also take an additional three-credit course indicated below to earn an optional Policy Analytics Certificate.
HBS 503: Administrative Law and Regulatory Policymaking
Legal foundations of the administrative state. Agency implementation of legislation through rulemaking, enforcement, and adjudication. Legislative oversight, executive control, and judicial review of agency actions.
HBS 512: Research Design and Data Acquisition
Methods for planning and executing research from experiments to case studies. Development of research questions and hypotheses, measurement issues, and validity of inferences. Basic assumptions and techniques of research in public policy including measurement, analysis, acquiring and reporting data.
HBS 513: Data-Driven Decisions
Methods and analytic tools used to translate data into models and forecasts to support public decision-making. Emphasis on econometric and simulation approaches, including linear regression and maximum likelihood methods.
To earn an optional Policy Analytics Certificate:
HBS 514: Policy Communication and Data Visualization
Approaches to communicating complex scientific and policy information to varied audiences, media training, as well as data visualization strategies and techniques.
Economic & Community Development
If you choose to pursue a concentration in Economic and Community Development, you’ll take the required courses and complete the nine credit hours listed below. You may also take an additional three-credit course indicated below to earn an optional Economic and Community Development Certificate. You may want to complete the Tennessee Certified Economic Developer (TCED) program with the Institute for Public Service.
HBS 503: Administrative Law and Regulatory Policymaking
Legal foundations of the administrative state. Agency implementation of legislation through rulemaking, enforcement, and adjudication. Legislative oversight, executive control, and judicial review of agency actions.
HBS 544: Planning and Land Use
Regional planning within a legal, regulatory, social, and political context. Environmental and sustainable development. Role for public, private, and nonprofit entities in affecting regional performance. Project evaluation, economic impact analysis, economic development incentives, including tax-increment financing and development impact fees and taxes. Community engagement. Land use regulation and zoning.
HBS 523: Regional Economics
Sources of regional economic growth and development and the spatial distribution of people (including migration) and business. Effects of policy on regional economic activity, urban/rural land use, and the role of public infrastructure. Regional spillovers and policy coordination.
To earn an optional Policy Analytics Certificate:
IAC 504: The Art of the Possible
Conflict, communication, consensus building, and compromise in public policymaking. Emphasis on case studies.
Emergency Management
If you choose to pursue a concentration in Emergency Management, you’ll take the required courses and complete the nine credit hours listed below. You may also take an additional three-credit course indicated below to earn an optional Emergency Management Certificate. You may want to complete the Master Public Information Officer Certification or Public Sector Safety & Health Fundamentals Certification program with the Institute for Public Service.
HBS 503: Administrative Law and Regulatory Policymaking
Legal foundations of the administrative state. Agency implementation of legislation through rulemaking, enforcement, and adjudication. Legislative oversight, executive control, and judicial review of agency actions.
HBS 535: Emergency Management
Existing policies and agencies in the area of emergency preparedness and response at the federal, state, and local levels. Emphasis on case studies of past incidents, emergencies, disasters, and catastrophes.
HBS 534: Public Organization, Theory, and Behavior
Examination of organizational theory and behavior with emphasis on implications for public management. Includes theories of decision-making, leadership, communications, and group dynamics.
To earn an optional Policy Analytics Certificate:
HBS 537: Leading Across Difference
Leading and managing diverse teams to achieve collective goals.
Non-Profit Management
If you choose to pursue a concentration in Non-Profit Management, you’ll take the required courses and complete the nine credit hours listed below. You may also take an additional three-credit course indicated below to earn an optional Non-Profit Management Certificate. You may want to complete the Tennessee Certified Public Manager, Certified Municipal Finance Officer, or Certified County Finance Officer program with the Institute for Public Service.
HBS 503: Administrative Law and Regulatory Policymaking
Legal foundations of the administrative state. Agency implementation of legislation through rulemaking, enforcement, and adjudication. Legislative oversight, executive control, and judicial review of agency actions.
HBS 536: Non-Profit Management
An overview of the history, scope, and management of not-for-profit organizations.
HBS 534: Public Organization, Theory, and Behavior
Examination of organizational theory and behavior with emphasis on implications for public management. Includes theories of decision-making, leadership, communications, and group dynamics.
To earn an optional Non-Profit Management Certificate, please select one of the following courses:
HBS 537: Leading Across Difference
Leading and managing diverse teams to achieve collective goals.
ALEC 520: Leadership Development in Organizations and Community Non-Profit
Application of concepts related to developing leaders for organizing and maintaining extension and community nonprofit organizations. The foundation of this course is grounded in traditional and contemporary leadership philosophies and practices but emphasizes leadership in agricultural professions.
