Academics / Programs

Master of Public Administration

Prepare to serve as a leader in public service.

Promote progress in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Gain a diverse and flexible skill set that will prepare you for leadership in nonprofit agencies, government offices, and private businesses worldwide.

Professional Skills

  • Neighborhood development
  • Data interpretation
  • Advocacy for effective local government
  • Ethical leadership
  • Responsible business practices
  • Critical thinking and problem solving

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Concentrations & Degree Requirements
Energy & Environment
Public & Nonprofit Management
Governance & International Public Management
Social Policy
Policy Research and Analysis
Urban Affairs & Planning

Area Studies Certificates

If you’re looking for an international career in a specific region of the world, you can enhance your master’s degree with a graduate certificate from the University Center for International Studies.

Specializations

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Western Europe
  • Eastern Europe
  • European Union
  • Global Studies
  • Latin America
  • Russia

Signature Student Experiences

Experiential learning creates a strong foundation for valuable public-service skills through opportunities like collaborative research, learning abroad, and other transformative student initiatives. 

city view
Student studying abroad

Joint Degrees

You can pursue two graduate degrees simultaneously through our joint degree partnerships with other professional schools at the University of Pittsburgh and with Kobe University in Japan. This approach reduces the number of credits needed for both degrees and helps shorten your time to graduation.

 

  • MPA/Law Degree (JD)
  • MPA/Master of Public Health (MPH)
  • MPA/Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS)
  • MPA/Master of Social Work (MSW)
  • Joint degree through Kobe University in Japan
  • MPA/Master of Science in Quantitative Economics (MQE)
Centers & Initiatives
Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership
Center for Social & Urban Research
Employment Data – Class of 2020
27%
Local/State Government
3%
International Government
63%
Nonprofit/NGO
7%
Private

Success by the Numbers

The career paths of our graduates are as diverse as the members of our community. See how their successes play out in the numbers.

 

MPA Accreditation Data
 

  • Cohort: Fall 2017
  • Initially enrolled: 41
  • Graduated in two years: 74%
  • Graduated in four years: 95%

The Pitt Experience

Hear how Patrick Cornell and Tara Matthews built relationships at Pitt and forged the skills to serve in senior-level jobs in Pittsburgh.