Master of Public Administration
South Orange, USA
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 1,520 / per credit
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree offered by the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs serves students interested in careers in the public and nonprofit sectors. Ranked as the Best Program for Non-profit Management by U.S. News & World Report, the program is accredited by NASPAA. As part of that process, our New Jersey-based department goes through a rigorous self-study process where every aspect of the program is critically examined.
Why Get an MPA degree?
Our M.P.A. prepares students for leadership roles in a variety of public service settings – from the executive director of a homeless shelter to program director for an NGO fighting AIDS in Africa, to business manager of a local municipality, to chief of staff for a U.S. Senator. We are dedicated to helping each student find the career that fits him or her best and we pride ourselves on bringing academic theory into practice. Course schedules are convenient for working students, and the program is offered year-round on campus, including summers and weekends. Our South Orange, NJ campus is located only 14 miles from Manhattan and New York City. Scholarship opportunities specifically for M.P.A. students are available.
Please join us at our monthly virutal information sessions where you can connect directly with staff and learn about the benefits of studying at Seton Hall. You can RSVP at the link below
This 39-credit degree includes courses in public service management, research and statistical analysis, financial management, and managerial decision-making. Students also select a concentration:
- Health Policy and Management;
- Nonprofit Organization Management;
- Public Service: Leadership, Governance, and Policy; or
- Data Visualization and Analytics
Classes emphasize managerial and analytical skills, along with ethical and professional values. In each course, you’ll find small class sizes and a close-knit graduate student community. Our faculty are leaders who practice what they teach, including the current and previous presidents of the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC) and the former president of ARNOVA, a leading national authority on nonprofit management education research. They offer internationally recognized research and teaching programs and bring their diverse skills and experiences to every classroom.
Core (18 credits in all six classes)
- Environment of Public Service
- Research Methods
- Economic Environment
- Financial Management and Control
- Managerial Decision Making
- Human Resources
Public Sector Concentration
- Public Policy Analysis
- Public Sector Ethics
- Strategic Management
- Finance and Budgeting
Nonprofit Management Concentration
- Foundation of nonprofits
- Managing Nonprofit Organizations
- Public Policy Analysis
- Public Sector Ethics
Data Visualization and Analytics
- Data Visualization
- Cognition for Visualization
- Data Mining
- Ethical Challenges in Big Data Management
Health Policy Concentration
- Healthcare Systems
- Healthcare policy
- Healthcare management
- Ethics In Healthcare
- XXXX Plus additional 3 credits from the Health Concentration list
General Electives
- Org Theory
- Information and Computers
- Public Service Leadership
- Program Evaluation
- Leadership Institute
- Special Topics in Public Service
- Resource Development
- Financial Management of Nonprofits
- Managing Volunteers in Nonprofits
- Grantsmanship
- Special Topics in Nonprofits
- Managing Community Health Systems
- Financial Management Healthcare
- Ethics in healthcare
- HR and Legal Aspects of Healthcare Organizations
- Healthcare Economics
- Strategic Planning in Healthcare
- Quality and Information Management Systems
- Emergency Preparedness and Health Security
- Special Topics in Health Management and Policy
Capstone
- Internship
- Practicum
- Research Seminar
After graduating with an M.P.A. degree, students will be able to:
- Manage public and nonprofit sector organizations
- Apply quantitative and qualitative techniques of analysis
- Fully understand the close relationship between the public and nonprofit sectors
- Demonstrate servant leadership and ethical behavior in his/her professional life
- Apply current technological innovations in his/her professional position.
Demonstrate your commitment and readiness to succeed in business school by taking the GMAT exam – the most widely used exam for admissions that measures your critical thinking and reasoning skills.
Download the GMAT mini quiz to get a flavour of the questions you’ll find in the exam.