Master of Public Administration

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:
      • Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
      • World Education Services (WES)
    • 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.

Emergency Management Degree Requirements  

The 30-36 credit curriculum consists of a graduate core of six required courses (18 credits), a choice between areas of emphases (Public Management [Current], Nonprofit Management [current], or Emergency Management [Proposed]), 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 area of concentration), 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. 

Core Requirements18
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 Pathway6
Traditional Option:
(must also complete 9 credits of electives)
Political and Policy Dimensions of Emergency Management
Internship in Public Service
Executive Option:
(must also complete 3 credits of electives)
Political and Policy Dimensions of Emergency Management
Applied Concepts for Practitioners
Emergency Management Electives3-9
Principles and Practices of Emergency Management
Strategic Emergency Preparedness, Planning and Implementation
Disaster Response Operations and Management
Disaster Recovery
Total Credits30-36

Nonprofit Management 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. 

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 Pathway6
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 Electives3-9
Public and Nonprofit Program Evaluation
Community Development
Fund Development and Grant Writing
Nonprofit Boards and Governance
Strategic Planning
Human Resource and Risk Management
Total Credits30-36

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. 

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 Pathway6
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 Electives3-9
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 Credits30-36

Progress to Degree 

  1. The candidate applies to the Master of Public Administration program by submitting the appropriate application materials. 
  2. The candidate is admitted to the Master of Public Administration program by the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay program's admission committee.
  3. The student fulfills the degree requirements for the program.
  4. 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.