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Master of Public Administration

(MPA)

Online

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Earn Your MPA at UW

In the same way an MBA prepares you for leadership positions in business, the Master of Public Administration degree gives you the background to pick up the reins of leadership in public and nonprofit administration.

Are you called to public service? Can you see yourself working to become a strategic leader for the greater good? Is there a cause you want to advance? The MPA degree offers you a pathway to help make the world a better place by running the agencies and organizations that provide for the planet and people in need.

Program Details

Tuition and Fees

Please visit our cost of attendance page

Program Requirements

Curriculum & Courses

Department

College of Arts & Sciences
School of Politics, Public Affairs & International Studies

What is a Master of Public Administration?

Designed for both new college graduates and mid-careerists looking to move up or change fields, UW's online MPA program gives students higher autonomy and almost no geographical limitations.

Learn to plan, deliver and promote the policies and programs that make arts organizations thrive, provide critical governmental services or help people out of homelessness. Emphasizing the development of effective and ethical administrative skills, the UW program gives you a rigorous background in how to lead complex organizations and become a forward-thinking, well-equipped leader.

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With our MPA degree, you have the opportunity to tailor your degree to your unique interests and delve further into your areas of passion. We present three elective concentrations to select from:

Options:

  • Criminal Justice
  • Environmental and Natural Resources
  • Non-Profit Administration
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Apply no matter what you studied as an undergrad. Whether you majored in English or engineering, you are welcome to apply to the UW MPA program as long as you graduated from an accredited institution.

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Online Learning At UW

The University of Wyoming presents an extensive array of fully-online and hybrid programs, alongside the online MPA. These virtual programs are equivalent to in-person options concerning educational benchmarks and official recognition. Acknowledging the unique needs of online students, we provide a variety of academic and student resources crafted to bolster your achievements throughout your UW experience and beyond graduation.

 

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What Can You Do With a Public Administration Master’s Degree?

An MPA degree prepares you for careers in management, particularly in government and non-profit organizations. Become a chief of police, an executive director of an NGO, a city manager or a corrections commissioner. UW MPA grads have gone on to run social service agencies, counties and corporate divisions, taking the applied, integrity-based education they received at UW into leadership positions locally, regionally and nationally.

Public Administration Careers

UW MPA graduates have job titles such as:

  • Director of Community Engagement and Human Capital
  • Director of Annual Giving and Grants
  • Homeland Security Grant Program Manager/Public Assistance Officer
  • Foster Care Program Manager
  • City Manager
  • Chief of Police
  • Police Lieutenant
  • Director of Habitat for Humanity
  • County Manager
  • U.S. Airforce Major
  • Chief County Planner
  • College Professor
  • Legislative Services Analyst
  • Human Resource Specialist

 

 

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Here are some places where UW MPA alumni are working:

  • Colorado College
  • University of Wyoming
  • Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Foundation
  • North Range Behavioral Health
  • State of Alaska
  • Wyoming Business Council
  • American Trucking Association
  • Cowboys Inc.
  • Wyoming Department of Workforce Services
  • State of Tennessee
  • American Red Cross
  • City and County of Denver
  • Casper College
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MPA Program Highlights

Targeted specifically to train ethical, skilled administrators to lead government and nonprofit organizations, the UW Master of Public Administration program makes it possible for you to earn this degree on your terms. Our online MPA program provides the theoretical and practical foundation necessary for you to become a principled, effective leader.

Here are some reasons to consider the UW graduate program in public administration:

Flexibility

Keep your current job and personal commitments through the convenience of our primarily synchronous online program. Full-time students normally complete their degree in 2 years while part-time students take approximately 3-4 years.

Scholarships

Become a graduate assistant. The School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies offers graduate research and teaching assistantships. There are also scholarships available for MPA students.

Connections & Networking

As an MPA student, you can enjoy the convenience of remote learning while still engaging with professors and peers in real-time through synchronous Zoom classes. This means you can learn from wherever you are while also benefiting from personal interaction. Additionally, the University of Wyoming's MPA program has a strong network of graduates serving in public administration throughout Wyoming, providing a built-in network of professional connections through LinkedIn.

Experiential Education 

Complete a required internship. Get on-the-job experience working for a government agency or nonprofit organization. (UW will waive this requirement if you already have a robust résumé.) You can also take advantage of study abroad opportunities (with the possibility of scholarship assistance) and get involved in faculty research.

 

Related Programs

Are you considering a career in public administration? These programs might also be of interest:

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School of Politics, Public Affairs & International Studies

Department 3197, 1000 E. University Avenue

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-6484

Email: sppais@uwyo.edu