Online Master of Public Administration
UMass Lowell's fully online Master of Public Administration (MPA) Degree will provide you with the leadership skills, knowledge and credentials to advance your career in the public sector. The online MPA is designed for those looking to begin careers in government or nonprofit organizations and public servants seeking career advancement.
Our MPA offers an interdisciplinary approach with faculty who teach in the fine arts, humanities, social sciences, health sciences, education and business departments. The program concludes with a capstone experience at a public or nonprofit agency, allowing you to use newly acquired skills and knowledge while expanding your professional network.
Career Outlook
Occupations
- City managers
- Municipal department leaders
- Health and human service workers
- Music and art educators
- State government administrators
- Founders of nonprofit organizations
- Human resource coordinators
- Policy analysts
One Success Leads to Another
Apply credits from lower credentials to higher ones. Our programs are designed to build upon themselves:
Curriculum Outline
Total: 13 Courses / 39 Credits
Required Courses (4 Courses / 12cr)
- MPAD.5010 Foundations of Public Administration (3cr)
- MPAD.5020 Public and Non-Profit Budgeting and Financial Management (3cr)
- MPAD.5030 Public and Non-Profit Management and Leadership (3cr)
- MPAD.5040 Data Analysis (3cr)
- CRIM.5900 Descriptive & Inferential Statistics (3cr)
Management Skill Courses (4 Courses / 12cr)
Managing Resources (Choose 1)
- MPAD.5400 Public Finance (3cr)
- PUBH.5110 Health Care Finance (3cr)
Managing People (Choose 1)
- MPAD.5300 Gender and Administration (3cr)
- CRIM.5200 Administration of Justice (3cr)
- CRIM.5210 Managing Justice Organizations (3cr)
- MPAD.5150 Public and Non-Profit Personnel Management (3cr)
Managing Communication (Choose 1)
- MPAD.5120 Communication for Public and Non-Profit Managers (3cr)
Managing Information (Choose 1)
- CRIM.5910 Research Design (3cr)
- CRIM.5920 From Data to Practice and Policy (3cr)
General Electives (4 Courses / 12cr)
Choose 4 courses from the options below or select any of the management skill courses not already to fulfill that category requirement.
- CRIM.6130 Law and Public Policy (3cr)
- PUBH.5010 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health (3cr)
- PUBH.6250 Health Policy (3cr)
- PSYC.5460 Grant Writing (3cr)
Capstone (1 Course / 3cr)
- MPAD.6010 Capstone Experience (3cr)
Course Descriptions
Prerequisites:
CSCE Graduate Restrictions
Prerequisites:
CSCE Graduate Restrictions
Prerequisites:
Graduate Level.
Prerequisites:
CSP & ESDR Majors only.
Prerequisites:
CSCE Graduate Restrictions
Program Requirements
To be recommended for a University of Massachusetts Lowell master's degree, candidates must satisfy all of the general requirements below, plus any additional requirements that may be required by the department through which the program is offered. Any additional requirements for this program are either listed below or may be found in the University's Graduate Program Catalog.
General Requirements:
- Students must complete the program of study designed by the Department in which they are enrolled and approved by the University.
- Satisfactory grades in all subjects offered for the degree must be earned. See Academic Standing.
- All financial obligations, including tuition, fees and expenses, must be satisfied as evidenced by completion.
- Upon completion of all their courses, graduate degree candidates must submit a signed Declaration of Intent to Graduate (DIG) form to their coordinator. The coordinator will apply them in SIS, Graduation Tracking.
Graduate Program Policies
In applying for a degree program or registering for courses, each student assumes full responsibility for knowledge of and compliance with the definitions, regulations and procedures of UMass Lowell as set forth on our website. For additional information, please refer to the Graduate Program Policies found within the UMass Lowell Graduate Catalog.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition at UMass Lowell is typically half the cost of private colleges, and our online tuition is among the lowest in the nation. Tuition for online programs offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same whether you live in-state, out-of-state or outside of the U.S.
Fall 2023 Tuition |
Cost Per Credit | Cost Per 3-Credit Course* |
---|---|---|
Graduate |
||
Online | $585 | $1,755 |
Online Business** | $655 | $1,965 |
Online IT and Engineering*** | $600 | $1,800 |
Online Education | $470 | $1,410 |
Online Education for Ed.D. and Ph.D. | $500 | $1,500 |
On Campus | View Here | View Here |
Additional Costs |
|
---|---|
Term Registration Fee | $30 |
Late Fee | $50 |
Graduate Degree and Certificate Application | $50 |
Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Estimate the cost of this program with our online tuition calculator
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Master of Public Administration Admission Requirements
- F1 student visas are not issued for this program since it is offered exclusively online.
- For students from countries where English is not the national language, an English test is required: we accept TOEFL: minimum is 79, IELTS: minimum is 6.5 and Duolingo: minimum is 105.
Applying into a Graduate Degree Program
All applicants must submit:- An application
- An application fee
- A statement of purpose
- Two letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts
- No GRE required
Graduate Program Admissions Requirements
Admission to all graduate programs at UMass Lowell is contingent upon successful completion of a bachelor's degree. In many cases, applicants may register for a course before formally applying to the program; however, students requiring financial aid may want to wait until they have been formally accepted into the program to ensure that their course(s) will be covered. Contact UMass Lowell's Office of Graduate Admissions if you have questions about the application process.
Questions Regarding Your Graduate Application?
Email Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or call 800-656-4723 (for U.S. students) or 978-934-2390 (for international students).
For General Assistance:
For general questions about registering for courses or to find out who the advisor is for your graduate program, call 800-480-3190. Our admissions and advising teams are here to help!