Professionals in public management in a group discussion

Master of Public Administration Public Management Online


This degree was created by working professionals seeking to give back to their community. It is designed to enhance the careers of law enforcement and public sector professionals in order to affordably achieve management-, direct- or executive-level positions.

Next Apply Date: 4/22/24
Next Class Start Date: 5/6/24
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 4/22/24
Next Class Start Date: 5/6/24

Program Overview


The A-State Online MPA Public Management degree

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) Public Management track is designed to enhance the careers of law enforcement and public sector professionals in order to affordably achieve management-, director- or executive-level positions.

Unlike most MPAs, A-State’s 100% online program allows you to focus on specifics of management within public administration and gain hands-on experience through internship opportunities. The online MPA – Public Management track offers courses that focus on the skills required for effective public administration, from managing people and money to resources and programs. All Arkansas State online courses are taught by committed and professional faculty members and combine real-world experience and academic expertise.

Students are required to complete 36 hours of coursework. With the capstone option, internships are strongly encouraged for all pre-service students. Internships are normally undertaken after a student has completed 18 credit hours. Internships are open only to students with a grade point average of no less than 3.0.

Mission statement

The Master of Public Administration at Arkansas State University exists to enhance individual, organizational, social and governmental capacity in the public and nonprofit sectors by equipping pre-service and mid-career students with sound management skills and a public/nonprofit philosophy to lead public institutions of the future with integrity, innovation, excellence, and professionalism.

Within the MPA – Public Management, you will:

  • Develop dispositions, knowledge and skills for rigorous problem analysis and successful collaboration leading to comprehensive solutions
  • Build communities and social infrastructures through the use of clear communication and ethical and effective management techniques
  • Integrate theory and practice through authentic, performance-based field activities
  • Examine administrative structures and patterns of behavior in public sector organizations
  • Develop a theoretical and technical framework for understanding the fundamentals of policy analysis and evaluation and political processes
  • Gain an understanding of administrative methods associated with governmental revenues, expenditures and fiscal control of public organizations
  • Develop dispositions, knowledge and skills for rigorous problem analysis and successful collaboration leading to comprehensive solutions
  • Build communities and social infrastructures through the use of clear communication and ethical and effective management techniques
  • Integrate theory and practice through authentic, performance-based field activities
  • Examine administrative structures and patterns of behavior in public sector organizations
  • Develop a theoretical and technical framework for understanding the fundamentals of policy analysis and evaluation and political processes
  • Gain an understanding of administrative methods associated with governmental revenues, expenditures and fiscal control of public organizations

As a graduate, you will be prepared for various leadership roles in the public sector, including:

  • Human Resources Manager
  • City Manager
  • Manager, Research and Analysis
  • Director of Personnel
  • Departmental Director
  • Policy Analyst
  • Human Resources Manager
  • City Manager
  • Manager, Research and Analysis
  • Director of Personnel
  • Departmental Director
  • Policy Analyst

Additional documents

MPA Internship Guide (.PDF)

MPA Guide Online Edition (.PDF)

Textbook Information (.PDF)

State Program Approvals (.PDF)

Also available:

A-State offers a variety of graduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online graduate programs.

Total Tuition: $12,240
Program Duration: As few as 18 months*
Credit Hours 36

Accreditation

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Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

Hear from A-State MPA graduate Jeff Crow, Former Director, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, about his experience in the online program.

A-State's MPA Ranked #1 in the 10 Most Affordable Online Master’s Degrees in Public Administration by Best College Values (2017).

Tuition


Find out how and when to pay your tuition

Our MPA online program offers the same affordable tuition to in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour: $340
Total Tuition: $12,240

Calendar


Important dates for our students

Our MPA online program is designed to be flexible and convenient for working professionals, with accelerated coursework and multiple start dates a year.

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Spring 23/4/242/19/242/23/242/29/243/1/244/26/24
Summer 15/6/244/22/244/26/245/2/245/3/246/20/24
Summer 26/24/246/10/246/14/246/20/246/21/248/7/24
Fall 18/20/248/5/248/9/248/15/248/16/2410/4/24
Fall 210/14/249/30/2410/4/2410/10/2410/11/2412/6/24

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 4/22/24
Start Class 5/6/24

Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

Admissions


Steps to being admitted to our online public management program

A-State Online offers a streamlined admission process for both new students and transfers. Students who are interested in the MPA online program must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Review full admission requirements below.

Admission Requirements:

  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • Bachelor's degree

Admission requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with at least 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale or at least a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 hours
  • 500-word Statement of Purpose

Note: If you have a 3.0 – 3.199 cumulative GPA, you must make a grade of "B" or better during the first 9 hours of graduate work at Arkansas State University.

If your transcript(s) do not reflect grades of “C” or higher in courses on American national government and Research Methods, you will be required to take these courses prior to or during the first graduate enrollment period.

Application submission requirements

  • Complete online application.
  • Pay the nonrefundable $30 application fee.
  • Send official transcript(s) from the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution.
  • Submit a 500-word Statement of Purpose.

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467


Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

Additional information

Transfer credits

Applicants with prior “F” or “D” grades at the graduate level in any graduate program will not be admitted to the A-State MPA program. In addition, students who earn failing (“F") grades in the A-State MPA program are ineligible for readmission to the program. The only exception is with the Capstone.

Up to 9 graduate hours from A-State or other higher education institutions may be credited toward a program. No course can be older than six years by graduation time. Transfer credit will be evaluated by the Director of the Program. To request prior credit be evaluated, please complete the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form.

Highly Affordable Online MPA

A-State's MPA ranked #2 among the "Most Affordable Online MPA Programs" by GetEducated, 2022

Courses


A look at the online MPA – Public Management curriculum

Students pursuing this degree must complete 36 credit hours, which includes co-requisite courses (as required), MPA courses (21 hours) and Public Management track courses (15 hours) listed below.

Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.

Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
American politics. The constitution, government, and politics of the United States.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the discipline of political science, its subfields, and to the use of the social scientific method and logical inquiry.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Develops a working knowledge of the substance of contemporary research in political science and public administration and of alternative research strategies and techniques of data analysis in contemporary research.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of political processes and administrative methods associated with governmental revenues, expenditures, and fiscal control of public organizations.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An examination of the development of public administration as a profession; its history, political environment, ethics, and its method.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasis is placed on a step-by-step process through all stages of writing successful proposals and on providing technical expertise and knowledge through campus outreach efforts of faculty and students to strengthen the nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations that serve the local communities.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An examination of policies, procedures, strategies, laws and regulations implemented in human resources management for public and nonprofit organizations.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of the techniques and practices that successful managers employ to get their work done through politicians, subordinates, and citizens. Emphasis is placed on issues that are faced by first time managers.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An analysis of the theoretical, philosophical, and practical tools needed for making appropriate decisions in the role of an administrator in a public or not for profit organization.

Must complete 15 credit hours, including choosing between POSC 6603 or POSC 6473.

Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will emphasize financial planning and management in local government.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Provides a theoretical and technical framework for understanding the fundamentals of policy analysis and evaluation.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An examination of administrative structures and patterns of behavior in public sector organizations.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students are required to complete 36 hours of coursework. With the capstone option, internships are strongly encouraged for all pre-service students. Internships are normally undertaken after a student has completed 18 credit hours. Internships are open only to students with a grade point average of no less than 3.0.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Methods, elements and specific techniques of strategic planning, policy and management.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Designed for students to construct a professional portfolio to showcase, in a single document, the skills, competencies, and knowledge they have developed over their time in the MPA program.

*In order to complete in 18 months, two courses must be taken each start and must begin program in the first session of the semester.

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