The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is designed to develop professionals who can work productively at all levels of public sector management, as well as in research endeavors.

The central purpose of the program is to educate students for professional careers in public service including management and policy analysis in government and nonprofit organizations. The program is open to students without previous public service experience as well as students employed in the public sector who are seeking to advance their careers. While normally a terminal professional degree, some graduates of the MPA program have entered PhD or other programs and have assumed academic careers.