Minimum number of credits required to complete the program: 32
Minimum cumulative GPA required: 3.0
School: School of Arts and Sciences
Learn more about the program
The Master of Public Administration and Affairs Programs (M.P.A.A.) meets a need for students wishing to be well versed in the area of public facing/public serving management and leadership. This includes government management, nonprofit and not-for-profit management and leadership, policy process and policy analysis, among others. The program prepares students with the knowledge and skills to address important problems in society and to excel in the areas of ethical leadership, collaborative governance, public policy strategy, economic analysis, and more.
Each student in the program will be required to take four core courses and four electives, allowing them to be well grounded in the basics of the field. For those who are interested, there will be an option for students to earn a concentration in one of two subfields of the area, Governmental Management and Public Policy,
The online M.P.A.A. is a 32-credit, eight-course, eight-week term-based program that is fully online. The on-ground M.P.A.A. is a 32-credit, eight-course, 14-week semester-based program that is fully on campus.
The M.P.A.A. program is dedicated to experiential learning and requires a public affairs internship/strategic capstone, selected by the student with counsel from their faculty advisor.
Requirements for the Degree
The Master of Public Administration and Affairs can be earned by completing a one-year program comprised of eight courses for a total of 32 credits. Students may also enroll part-time and complete the degree in two years or at their own pace.
Program Outcomes
Students graduate with the skills necessary for any public service professional and an understanding of all influencing factors which contribute to the development and implementation of public policies.
* Merrimack College graduates who received a grade of ‘A’ or ‘A-’ in POL2000W: Political Science Methods can petition the Director to have MPA 6200 Research Methods and Evaluation waived. Students would then be required to take an additional elective from the list of electives for this degree. The total credits for the M.P.A.A. program remains 32 credits (eight courses). Similarly, students who graduated from another institution and received a grade of ‘A’ or ‘A-’ for a course equivalent to MPA 6200 Research Methods and Evaluation can petition the Director to waive the course. All course waivers are at the discretion of the Director.
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