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.
For more information about the MPA program:
Denise E. Burchard, MPA
Assistant to the Chair
Division of Public Administration
Phone: (815) 753-6149
Email: dburchard@niu.edu
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.
