Master of Public Administration
MPA Career-Option: Preparing Leaders in Public Service
KU's career-option MPA is designed for students who need a course schedule to accommodate their full-time jobs and personal obligations. Most career-option students currently work in public service and continue to do so while taking classes.
Applicants for the career-option MPA should have experience or a strong interest in public or non-profit management.
| Career-Option MPA | Explanation and Details |
|---|---|
| Who It's For | Professionals seeking to strengthen their leadership skills for careers in public service professions and advance in their profession without a career interruption. |
| Professional Experience | Most students in the program work full-time in the public or non-profit sector. |
| Locations | Courses are offered in three locations: the KU Edwards campus in Overland Park, the Lawrence main campus, and in Topeka at the Brown vs. Board of Education Historic Site. Students can complete the majority of their MPA coursework at their primary campus location. |
| Program Length | Students can generally complete the program in as little as three years. |
| Credit Hours | 43 credit hours* |
| Graduate Certificates | Working professionals have the opportunity to earn graduate certificates, which consist of twelve credit hour specializations, including Performance Management and City and County Management. |
| Start Date | Fall or spring semester (August or January) |
| Cost | Kansas and Kansas City metro area residents pay the graduate per credit hour tuition rate of $395. Additional fees are required based on campus and course. For more detailed information, visit the tuition and fees page. |
| Find Out More | To find out more about the MPA program, please contact an Advisor. |
* Students enrolled prior to fall 2014 will follow the curriculum at the time (see advisor for more details).