Executive Education

If you’re a mid career professional with at least several years of work experience under your belt, then an Executive MPA may be the degree for you. Why?

It combines a higher level of focus on management and leadership along with flexible course schedules. There is of course the unique and valuable opportunity to network among your peers in terms of experience and aspiration. There are dozens of NASPAA member schools which each have there own particular specifics and concentrations when it comes to their Exec. MPA programs. All of them can help you move up the ladder by providing additional professional skills and a Master Degree that fits your life.

  • Improves your odds of being hired & increasing your salary
  • Lets you learn and network with experienced public service professionals 
  • Earns your Masters degree in 1-2 years with weekend & evening classes

FAQ for Prospective Students

The Executive MPA is a Masters degree designed for individuals who work with or for public sector organizations, possess significant professional achievements and are interested in advancing their careers. The Executive MPA allows individuals to continue their full-time professional careers while developing sophisticated skills in administrative leadership and critical analysis within the public sector context. There are several executive-level Master degrees for the public sector with similar titles, such as the Mid-Career MPA, Executive Master of Public Policy, and Executive Masters of Policy Management. Collectively, these degrees represent the broad spectrum of Executive MPA programs while meeting the unique goals of public sector professionals. 

A typical Executive MPA student is a college graduate (any major) who has five to ten years of cumulative experience with public or non-profit organizations and at least three years of middle-to-upper level managerial experience. The Executive MPA is designed for experienced leaders such as directors, assistant directors, high-level technical staff, senior managers, and advisors. Some schools have different guidelines and requirements for admission, so be sure to check the school’s website, or talk to the admissions staff, to see if you are well-qualified for admission to that particular program.

The Executive MPA builds upon the extensive knowledge base that experienced public sector and non-profit professionals possess. The Executive MPA curriculum provides a hands-on and in-depth exposure to the leadership, managerial and analytic skills critical to advanced public sector professionals. Many Executive MPA programs encourage students to actively engage their professional responsibilities with the course content. Traditional MPA programs focus on the education needs of pre-service professionals and individuals early in their public sector career. Some Executive MPAs are offered as a separate “track” from a traditional MPA degree program, with their own schedule, curriculum, and cost.

The Executive MPA emphasizes the unique challenges and opportunities of public sector executives. The Executive MPA programs invites students to focus on administrative leadership and critical analysis within the context of public laws and regulations and public policy implementation. 

The Executive MPA, as a degree program, provides a portable, more widely recognized credential that you can take with you to your next job. Continuing education and leadership training have the advantage that they are shorter, and may be more topic-specific, but are limited in their marketability and resume-building capacity.

The goal of the Executive MPA is to fit the needs of busy working professionals in the public sector and related fields. Executive MPA classes are conveniently scheduled to accommodate students working full-time. In some programs, classes are held on Friday, Saturday or in the evenings. Some programs offer intensive weekend or summer sessions.

Students are expected to complete an Executive MPA in 1 to 3 years, depending on the structure of the program (evenings, weekends, intensive sessions, etc). In comparison with traditional full-time programs, the Executive MPA is typically equivalent in content and coverage to an academic year of full-time study.

A number of Executive MPA programs do offer on-line courses, but most programs rely on classroom sessions. Please contact the Executive MPA programs directly for specific course options. 

Generally, Executive MPA programs assess applicants on their professional experience, leadership record and potential for academic success. Application materials may include personal statements, resumes, and recommendation letters. Most Executive MPA programs waive GRE test scores for applicants with extensive professional experience. Please contact the Executive MPA programs directly for specific application requirements. 

Tuition for Executive MPA programs differs from program to program. Frequently, the tuition includes the cost of the credit hours and course materials. Some employers provide financial assistance to employees pursuing Executive MPAs. Please contact the Executive MPA programs directly for specific tuition rates. 

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