Should I get a Master of Public Administration?

What is a Master of Public Administration?

A Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a degree that equips you for management roles in the public or nonprofit sector. Because of the nature of the environment of this sector, it can be helpful to think of an MPA as sitting at an intersection of two to three different domains. Leadership in the public sector requires skills in management, public policy, and, often, specific subject matter areas.

If you are wondering whether you should pursue an MPA, the biggest question is whether you are aiming to work in the public sector where the overlap of these skills is valuable to you.

Management: MPA or MBA?

When thinking of leadership in terms of management skills, an MPA will overlap significantly with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. In fact, it can be helpful to think of an MPA as the public sector equivalent to an MBA, since many of the core management and leadership skills involved will overlap.

While the skills are similar, the public sector differs in important ways from the private sector. For example, while businesses are usually funded by selling goods or services, government agencies rely on budgeted funding, nonprofits often rely on charitable giving, and both regularly apply for grants. This means that, instead of shareholders, institutions in the public sector are responsible to donors and taxpayers. As a result, return on investment is often measured in terms of contribution to the public good, not profits.

MPA coursework therefore draws on similar skills to an MBA, but it applies them to challenges in a very different context.

Public Policy: MPA or Master of Public Policy (MPP)?

One of the distinctive things about leading in the public sector is that the sector is, public. This means that organizations that operate in this space are naturally more closely connected to the political realm than a business typically will be, and this means that leading in this space will naturally require developing skills in analyzing and influencing public policy. In fact, several organizations for schools and professionals in this area reflect an overlap of policy and administration, such as the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) or the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM).

So how do you decide which degree is right for you? The answer depends on whether your desired career path would draw heavily on management skills to help your organization implement policy or if your role would focus more on evaluating and improving it. An MPP focuses more narrowly on developing expertise in analyzing existing programs or policies and recommending improvements. An MPA focuses more broadly on implementing programs and policies.

There is significant overlap in applied skills, but someone with an MPP is more likely to be a consultant or an analyst, while someone with an MPA is more likely to be a director or a manager. Think of the title of your dream job, and that may suggest which path is a better fit for you.

Subject Matter Expertise: MPA or Master of (fill in the blank)?

This question mirrors the question regarding public policy skills and is often particularly relevant for those looking to move into management roles in more specialized fields like criminal justice. There are numerous specialized fields that fall within the public sector, and someone headed into leadership or management in these areas often also needs substantial knowledge of a particular subject matter area in order to lead well.

In order to decide whether to pursue an MPA or a master’s degree in a more specialized field, ask the question: “what skill set could I most benefit from developing?” If you regularly work in the subject area, you may have a sense of whether you need more depth and specialization in that subject or whether you would benefit from developing broader skills in management and policy that form the core of an MPA.

Another way to think about this decision is to reflect on the title and/or duties of your desired job. A chief, manager, or director will likely spend much of their time utilizing skills in leading teams and implementing policy, while a more specialized title may need deeper expertise in a specific area.

Think of an MPA as a general degree with opportunities for broad application, while a master’s degree in an area like criminal justice is a niche degree with more narrow application. An MPA will often provide optional emphases that allow some development of expertise in certain subject matter areas, but the overall emphasis is broader.

Should I get an MPA from a public or private university?

You will likely already be considering issues of cost, class sizes, prestige, and/or flexibility when looking for a potential school, but there are other factors that may be relevant when making your decision.

Some of these factors work as tradeoffs. Larger programs tend to be more flexible, but it’s less likely that you will form a more meaningful relationship with your peers or professors. Smaller programs can offer that closer connection, but they may cost more or provide fewer options for you.

Another important factor for you may be your personal beliefs and values. Public universities are legally required to maintain distance from religious elements of public policy, and they tend remain relatively neutral in terms of other values and ideas. Private universities are free to express and promote certain perspectives or values, and religious organizations are able to more readily integrate faith into their concept of the public good.

Further, the institution that you attend will affect the sort of peers that you find in your program. One of the most valuable learning aspects of any master’s degree is your classmates. As a broader degree, an MPA allows you to learn from peers in a more diverse field of applications. This can be incredibly valuable for a manager in a specific institution, as it means you will naturally be learning more about the other stakeholder groups that regularly operate in the public sphere alongside you.

Should I get an MPA from Dordt University?

Dordt University is a private, Christian university rooted in the Reformed tradition. Faith is incorporated into everything we do, including our academic programs. We serve and equip a community of like-minded professionals seeking to go out and do the good work of promoting the public good with a clear vision of who our God is and how he works through us to care for all of his creation.

We would love to welcome you to join this community.

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