Master of Public Administration
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree is a professional degree that prepares students for a career in public and nonprofit service, including the development of technical skills and specialized expertise required of individuals working with public resources in the public or nonprofit sector. This includes a grounding in the theories and principles of public administration as well as applied and hands-on learning in public policy and management topics.
The curriculum is developed to include topics related to those working as a part of the policy process as well as the implementation of public policy with competencies in policy analysis, program evaluation, public budgeting and financial management, organizational behavior and management, human resources management, and ethics for public service. As such, it is tailored leaders and managers in public/governmental entities as well as nonprofit organizations who are major players in the delivery of public services and operate with similar missions, values, and purposes as their governmental counterparts and whose successful operation requires many of the same skills and competencies.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of their degree, an MPA has prepared students for upper-level management or policy positions in public and/or nonprofit service. This could include employment in governmental agencies, nonprofits, or private companies with social missions (such as benefit corporations or social enterprises), in positions such as policy analyst, executive director, city or county manager, budget analyst or development director. Therefore, upon graduation of the MPA program, students will have the ability to:
- synthesize the major theories of the field to articulate how they inform a public service perspective;
- collect, manage, evaluate, and apply data to make decisions and solve public and nonprofit problems;
- utilize core budgeting and financial management skills to effectively advance the mission of public service organizations;
- effectively and ethically communicate and interact with a diverse and changing workforce through the application of leadership and management theories and behaviors; and
- embed leadership and management with the core values of the field which include social equity, inclusion, democratic accountability, professionalism, and ethics.
Admission Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- 3.0 grade point average. Applicants with a GPA of less than 3.0 may be considered for provisional admission.
- UW System application form (apply.wisconsin.edu)
- $56.00 application fee
- Official transcripts from colleges and universities previously attended*
- Official transcripts from colleges and universities previously attended
- If you attended less than 9 credits you do not have to send an official transcript. Study abroad transcripts are not required if a student attended an international University for one or fewer semesters. The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay retains the right to request additional official transcripts from all/or additional postsecondary institutions of higher learning attended by an applicant.
- A personal statement that describes your interest in working in the public and nonprofit sector, your professional goals as they relate to this interest, and how you believe UW-Green Bay’s MPA program can help you achieve these goals. Space for the personal statement is included in the online application.
- Resume is required for the Executive Track, only, and is optional for the General Track.
- Two letters of evaluation
- International students will also need to provide the following documentation:
- A test of English proficiency (Duolingo, TOEFL, or IELTS)
- Course-by-course transcript evaluation from a professional evaluation service currently recognized by NACES (www.naces.org). UW-Green Bay recommends one of the following evaluation services:
- Please note that this program is entirely online. International students are welcome to apply for and enroll in an online program. However, they are unable to apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa based on enrollment in this program.
*Official electronic transcripts must be sent to UWGB Admissions at uwgb@uwgb.edu directly from the institution that issued the transcript.
Degree Requirements
The 30-36 credit curriculum consists of a graduate core of six required courses (18 credits), a choice between two emphases (Public Management or Nonprofit Management), and two tracks (Traditional or Executive).
Traditional: Students completing the Traditional Track will complete 36 credit hours of approved coursework consisting of an 18-credit hour core, with an additional 12 credit hours of elective classes (in either public or nonprofit management), a 3 credit-hour internship or applied practicum project, and a 3-credit capstone.
Executive: Students completing the Executive Track will complete 30 credit hours that will include 27 credits (an 18-credit core and 9 credits of electives), as well as a 3-credit capstone course.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements: | 18 | |
| Foundations of Public Administration | ||
| Research Methods and Evidence Based Decision Making | ||
| Public and Nonprofit Budgeting and Financial Management | ||
| Public and Nonprofit Organizational Management and Behavior | ||
| Public Policy Theories and Analysis | ||
| Public and Nonprofit Ethics and Leadership | ||
| Required: | 3 | |
| Capstone Seminar | ||
| Completion Pathway | 6 | |
Traditional Option: | ||
(must complete 9 credits of electives) | ||
| Nonprofit Administration and Theory | ||
| Internship in Public Service | ||
Executive Option: | ||
(must complete 3 credits of electives) | ||
| Nonprofit Administration and Theory | ||
| Applied Concepts for Practitioners | ||
| Nonprofit Management Electives | 3-9 | |
| Public and Nonprofit Program Evaluation | ||
| Community Development | ||
| Fund Development and Grant Writing | ||
| Nonprofit Boards and Governance | ||
| Strategic Planning | ||
| Human Resource and Risk Management | ||
| Total Credits | 30-36 | |
Public Management Emphasis Degree Requirements
The 30-36 credit curriculum consists of a graduate core of six required courses (18 credits), a choice between two emphases (Public Management or Nonprofit Management), and two tracks (Traditional or Executive).
Traditional: Students completing the Traditional Track will complete 36 credit hours of approved coursework consisting of an 18-credit hour core, with an additional 9 credit hours of elective classes, 6 credit hours of required courses, and a 3-credit capstone.
Executive: Students completing the Executive Track will complete 30 credit hours that will include an 18-credit core, 6 credit hours of required courses, 3 credit hours of elective courses, as well as a 3-credit capstone course.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements: | 18 | |
| Foundations of Public Administration | ||
| Research Methods and Evidence Based Decision Making | ||
| Public and Nonprofit Budgeting and Financial Management | ||
| Public and Nonprofit Organizational Management and Behavior | ||
| Public Policy Theories and Analysis | ||
| Public and Nonprofit Ethics and Leadership | ||
| Required Capstone (All Students): | 3 | |
| Capstone Seminar | ||
| Completion Pathway | 6 | |
Traditional Option: | ||
(must complete 9 credits of electives) | ||
| Service in the Public Sector | ||
| Internship in Public Service | ||
Executive Option: | ||
(must complete 3 credits of electives) | ||
| Service in the Public Sector | ||
| Applied Concepts for Practitioners | ||
| Public Management Electives | 3-9 | |
| Environmental Policy and Administration | ||
| Urban Politics and Policy | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Regulatory Policy and Administration | ||
| Administrative Law | ||
| Human Resource and Risk Management | ||
| Public and Nonprofit Program Evaluation | ||
| Geographic Information Systems for Public Service | ||
| Community Development | ||
| Total Credits | 30-36 | |
Progress to Degree
- The candidate applies to the Master of Public Administration program by submitting the appropriate application materials.
- The candidate is admitted to the Master of Public Administration program by the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay program's admission committee.
- The student fulfills the degree requirements for the program.
- The student is awarded a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Faculty
Helpap, David, Associate Professor, Public and Environmental Affairs (Public Administration, Political Science). B.S., Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; M.A., Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Ph.D., Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Teaching interests include public policy analysis, state and local government, public and nonprofit budgeting, and introduction to public administration.
Research interests include management practices of local governments (emphasis on budgeting and public good provision), rural politics and management, public policy making at the state and local levels, intergovernmental relations, and urban politics.
Kuenzi, Kerry, Association Professor, Public and Environmental Affairs (Public Administration, Organizational Leadership). B.A./B.S., Political Science and Social Change and Development. Master of Public Administration, University of Colorado Denver, Ph.D., Public Affairs, University of Colorado Denver. Teaching interests include public policy, public and nonprofit management, fund development, and capstone.
Research interests in public and nonprofit management topics including career trajectories, nonprofit management education, DEI in the public and nonprofit sector, and collaborative governance.
Lora Warner, Associate Professor, Public Administration. B.S. (1982) Hope College; M.Ed. (1984) University of Virginia; Ph.D. (1987) Virginia Commonwealth University.
Research Interests: Teaching interests include Public and Nonprofit Management, Philanthropy, Program Evaluation, Marketing/Fundraising Strategies, and Board of Directors. Research interests include nonprofit resilience, needs assessment, evaluations of programs, career development of women, and community quality of life studies.
