Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)

Your application materials will include:

• Complete application
• Three letters of recommendation:
  • Precareer applicants: one professional and two academic letters required
  • Midcareer applicants: three required, one academic letter preferred
• Statement of purpose (1,000-word maximum) explaining:
  • Why you want to pursue an M.P.A.
  • Why you chose our program
  • How the degree will enhance your career goals
  • Any work/volunteer experience with public/nonprofit organizations
• Transcripts (official transcripts required if accepted)
• Current resumé

This specialization will give you an advanced capacity to assume a leadership role and use strategic management and collaborative processes that facilitate the mission of government and nonprofit organizations.

Course requirements:

• PSPA 650 - Leadership in Public Sector Organizations
• PSPA 673 - Strategic Planning for Public Service Organizations

Ranked 4th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, this specialization provides insight into the latest innovations in local government service delivery, collaborative management and relations with governing boards and the public.

Course requirements:

• PSPA 630 - Local and Metropolitan Government
• PSPA 632 - Local Government Administration

This specialization offers a critical examination of techniques and problems in the areas of fiscal management, accountancy, budgetary policy and political economy.

Course requirements:

• PSPA 657X - Accounting for Public Administration
• PSPA 653 - Intermediate Public and Nonprofit Financial Management

A study of the challenges posed by the administration of nonprofit organizations in both domestic and global contexts, this specialization focuses on communication and promotion, fundraising and grant writing, and intersectoral collaboration with public and private sectors.

Course requirements:

• PSPA 624 - Resources Management for Nonprofit Organizations
• PSPA 626 - Non-Governmental Organizations and Governance

By studying public administration and management in a global context, you’ll gain leadership and management skills to enhance the mission of government agencies and nongovernmental organizations around the world.

You must demonstrate the ability to advance in one or more of the specializations with a set of four or more courses (12 credit hours) at a university outside the U.S., approved in advance by the department.

We offer a double degree M.P.A. with Strathmore University in Nairobi, Kenya.

By studying public administration and management in a legal context, you’ll gain advanced leadership and management skills to enhance the mission of government agencies and nongovernmental organizations.

This specialization requires you to apply to the NIU law school and the M.P.A. program and complete the degrees simultaneously (or have a law degree from a reputable university and apply to the M.P.A. program).

You must be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Lead and manage in public governance with legal insights
• Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions related to the legal issues of a public organization
• Articulate and apply a public service perspective while serving in a public organization or a law firm that serves nonprofit, local, state and federal government agencies
• Communicate, interact and provide a legal perspective within a diverse and changing citizenry