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The Division of Public Administration
Northern Illinois University
Advancing Excellence in Public Management for Over 35 Years
Where Can You Go
with Your MPA Degree?

Northern's MPA Graduates Pursue Careers in Public, Private, and Nonprofit Sectors.
The MPA program offers an integrated course of study incorporating both theory and practice. The public policy/management core, required of all students, promotes applied problem-solving and ethical administrative practices. The curriculum appeals to both pre-career students looking for entry-level management positions and mid career executives looking for opportunities for intellectual growth and career enhancement. The MPA program teaches skills that can be readily applied to a variety of work environments. As can be seen from the following chart, MPA graduates pursue careers in many employment sectors.


Employment of NIU MPA Alumni
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For more information about the MPA program Contact:
MPA Coordinator
Division of Public Administration
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115-2854

Telephone: (815) 753-6149; Fax: (815) 753-2539
Click to obtain application form.

Federal Government*

Job Location
State Conservationist U.S. Department of Agriculture Tribal Liaison U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Senior Evaluator U.S. General Accounting Office Regional Chief Information Officer U.S. General Services Administration
Systems Analyst U.S. Social Security Administration Assistant Administrative Manager U.S. District Court
Environmental Protection Specialist U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Research Psychologist Naval Air Warfare Center
Director, Office of Financial and Information Systems U.S. General Services Administration Bilingual Claims Representative U.S. Social Security Administration
Personnel Management Specialist U.S. Department of Energy Regional O.W.C.P. Officer U.S. Forest Service
Requirements Specialist Federal Aviation Administration Operations Research Analyst U.S. Army
Account Manager U.S. General Services Administration Colonel U.S. Air Force
Communications Specialist, public Building Services U.S. General Services Administration Program Specialist U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Air Traffic Manager Federal Aviation Administration U.S. Mexico Border Coordinator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Program Analyst U.S. Social Security Administration Investigator U.S. Department of Labor
Regional Inspector General U.S. Agency International Development

State Government*

Job Location
Parole Agent Dept of Corrections IL Finance Director Auditor of State of Ohio
Administrator Dept of Mental Health & Develop. Disabilities IL Superintendent Corrections Training Academy
Management Systems Specialist Dept of Children & Family Services IL Professional Service Librarian Dept of Mental Health & Develop. Disabilities IL
Regional Administrator Dept of Children & Family Services IL Administrative Technician Dept of Public Safety, TX
Asset Manager Housing Development Authority IL Public Aid Quality Control Supervisor Dept of Human Services, IL
Court Administrator St. Clair Co. Circuit Court Nurse Supervisor Dept of Public Health, IL
Administrative Assistant Dept of Public Aid IL Director of Project Development SMD Services
Executive Policy & Budget Analyst State Budget Office WI Chief of Administration Attorney General’s Office, IL
Judicial Services Administrator Superior Court of Arizona State Wide Director of Health Information Dept of Human Services, IL

Local Government*

Job Location
1st Deputy Commissioner, Dept of Environment City of Chicago Captain/Shift Commander Elmwood Park Fire Dept.
Director, Financial Planning City of Portland City Manager City of DeKalb
Director, Dept of Economic Development Geneva Fire Chief Park Ridge Fire Dept.
Personnel Director City of Rock Island Senior Sanitarian DuPage Co. Health Dept.
Executive Secretary Village of Lake Bluff Auditor Supervisor City of Chicago
Village Administrator Village of Carey Senior Director of Economic Development Downer’s grove
Assistant to the Mayor City of Chicago Director of Environmental Health Winnebego Co. Health Dept
Director of Admin. Services Kendall County Police Commander Village of Mt. Prospect
Village Manager Buffalo Grove Director DeKalb Park District
Administrative Analyst City of Naperville English Instructor Barrington Community Schools
City Manager City of Moraine Assistant Commissioner of Aviation Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Assistant Director City of Auror Capital Budget Manager Chicago Public Schools
Planner City of Elgin Director, Capital Program Budgets & Admin Chicago Metropolitan Transit Authority
Director, Parks and Recreation Bolingbrook Park District Deputy Building Commissioner Village of Hinsdale
Deputy Commissioner Chicago Public Library Human Services Director Walworth County
Director of Business & Facilities Dixon Public Schools Chief of Police City of West Chicago
Police Officer Village of Bloomingdale Mayor City of Plano
Director of Public Works City of Rock Island Special Education Teacher Kingswood High School
School Psychologist Rich Township Lieutenant Paramedic Bloomingdale
Director of Community Development Clarendon Hills Assistant City Attorney Joliet
Public Information Officer Village of Gurnee Health Administrator City of Chicago
Operations Superintendent, Highway Dept. Chippewa County Town Manager Highland Beach
Information Systems Director Naperville Director of Engineering City of DeKalb
Bureau Chief Dept. of Mental Health & Develop. Disabilities Labor Relations Manager Oklahoma City
Information Systems Director Naperville Director, Imaging and Office Technology Wayne County

Private Sector*

Job Location
Broker/Owner Century 21 Conservation Consultant Self employed
Owner Printability Business Printing Centers Director, Project Development CRSS Constructors
Policy Analyst Health Care Finance Administration Senior Consultant KPMG Peat Marwick
President ALTT Communications Executive Director The Guidance Center
News Editor Shelbyville News Senior Software Engineer Honeywell Inc.
Business Unit Manager Wahl Clipper Corp. Real Estate Broker RE Max Landview Realtors
Security/Fraud Supervisor First Card National Account Manager EMS Inc.
Dir. Of Education Credit Counseling Centers Director, State Government Affairs American Express Company
Territory Underwriting Manager SAFECO Insurance General Manager National Cabling Services Inc.
Software Development Manager Xerox Corporation Senior Portfolio Manager National Equity Fund
Security Supervisor Anderson Consulting Associate Executive Director American Osteopathic Association
Attorney Fearer Nye, Ahlberg & Chadwick District Sales Manager Federal Express
Director of Federal Relations SBC Telecommunications Inc. Human Resources Representative ComEd
Investment Banker Edward D. Jones & Co. Physician The Dean Medical Center
President & CEO The Cummins Group Publisher Marshall Co. Publishing Company
Manager American Academy of Dermatology Stockbroker Charles Schwab
Government Relations Officer Media One

Non Profit Organizations*

Job Location
President Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois Vice President Roc Vale Children’s Home
Employment Counselor Ft. Stewart Job Assistance Center Psychologist Ulster County Mental Health
Director Association for Prevention of Child Abuse Pastoral Nurse Coordinator Centura Health
Executive Director RAMP Inc. Director Valley Academy of Performing Arts
Program Manager WSEP Director of Planning Mercy Health Center
Executive Director Bexar County Medical Society Administrative Manager Lake Michigan Foundation
Service Ministry Coordinator Fox Valley Unity Church Director North Shore Ctr. For the Performing Arts Fundation
Campaign Director Heart of Illinois United Way Assistant Executive Director YWCA
Director Rockford Human Resources Head Start Executive Director Housing Authority of Rock Island
Executive Director The Hope School Occupational Therapist Sun Health
Executive Director Children’s Development Center Coordinator Corporate Volunteer Program Chicago Cares Inc.
Property & Insurance Administrator The Salvation Army Project Manager Council of 100
Executive Director American Liver Foundation, IL. Director Parents Alliance Employment Project

*Because of the high number of MPA graduates, this is just a sampling of positions held by MPA alumni.