Program Information

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree at UVU develops the next generation of public service administrators. The MPA offers students an applied and engaging public sector education with broad based knowledge, skills, and abilities in public service administration. The interdisciplinary curriculum focuses on managing, leading, and administering vital public services and public safety functions with an emphasis on ethical considerations, communications, strategic planning, public policy issues, and research methods.

The MPA requires 36 semester hours of graduate course work; currently offered all online.  The program can be completed in 16 months for the full-time student or two years for a part-time student.

This dynamic program offers required courses in public services administration, finance, legal issues, organizational behavior, and leadership.

The Master of Public Administration program at UVU began in Fall 2017 as a Master of Public Service program.  The name was changed in Fall 2023 to reflect the curriculum and learning outcomes more accurately.  For more information, read here.

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students graduating with a Master of Public Administration will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

  • Generate evidence-based strategies for public service-related problems in a dynamic and constantly changing environment.
  • Prepare public service budgets using public finance principles and procedures.
  • Evaluate the legal, regulatory, human resource, and ethical issues surrounding public service delivery.
  • Develop leadership and organizational skills for all career levels within public services.
  • Demonstrate written and verbal communication skills to address public service-related problems.
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Course Schedules

Full-Time Course Schedule

Semester Course Title Credits
Fall - Year 1 PADM 6000 -  Public Administration 3.0
  PADM 6060: Research Methods for Public Administration 3.0
  MPA Elective Course 3.0
Spring - Year 1 PADM 6020: Public Administration Policy and Evaluation 3.0
  PADM 6050: Public Administration Leadership and Ethics 3.0
  PADM 6070: Human Resource Management 3.0
Summer - Year 1 PADM 6010: Public Administration Finance and Budgeting  3.0
  PADM 6040: Organization Behavior in Public Administration 3.0
  MPA Elective Course 3.0
Fall - Year 2 PADM 6030: Legal Issues for Public Administration 3.0
  MPA Elective Course 3.0
  PADM 6900: Public Administration Capstone Project 3.0
  Total 36.0

Part-Time Course Schedule 

Semester Course Title Credits
Fall - Year 1 PADM 6000 -  Public Administration 3.0
  PADM 6060: Research Methods for Public Administration 3.0
Spring - Year 1 PADM 6020: Public Administration Policy and Evaluation 3.0
  PADM 6050: Public Administration Leadership and Ethics 3.0
Summer - Year 1 PADM 6010: Public Administration Finance and Budgeting  3.0
  PADM 6040: Organization Behavior in Public Administration 3.0
Fall - Year 2 PADM 6030: Legal Issues for Public Administration 3.0
  MPA Elective Course 3.0
Spring - Year 2 PADM 6070: Human Resource Management 3.0
  MPA Elective Course 3.0
Summer - Year 2 PADM 6900: Public Administration Capstone Project 3.0
  MPA Elective Course 3.0
  Total 36.0

Elective Courses Currently Offered 

ESMG 6110: Disasters/Vulnerabilities/Impacts (Fall)

CJ 6220: Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice (Fall)

HLTH 6200: Issues in Public Health  (Fall)

PADM 679R: Special Topics (Fall)

CJ 6230: Criminal Justice Policy (Spring)

PADM 6400: Program Development (Spring)

ESMG 6140: Homeland Security (Spring)

CJ 6210: Information-Based Decision Making (Summer)

ESMG 6120: Emergency Planning and Response (Summer)

MPS 679R: Special Topics (Summer)