MPA Curriculum

The MPA requires 40 credit hours, including:
- 15 credit hours of required core courses (5 courses) that all students complete
- 12 credit hours toward one School of Public Affairs and Administration graduate certificate (4 courses)
- 12 hours of electives tailored to the student's interests (4 courses)
- Final reflective course to finish the degree and transition into the profession (1 course)
Start in Fall or Spring.
Complete classes at the Lawrence Campus or online.
In-person and synchronous, online courses occur one night a week, starting at 6:00 p.m.
Accelerated, in-person course options are also offered in the Summer and early Spring semesters.
Students may complete the degree in 5 semesters of full-time enrollment or complete the degree by enrolling part-time. Students may take up to 7 years to complete a master's degree at KU.

Domestic Student Application Deadlines

Fall Admission: July 1
CGSC Leavenworth Fall Admission: August 15
Spring Admission: December 1
City/County Management Fellowship / Fall Admission: February 1

International Student Application Deadlines

Fall Admission: June 1
Spring Admission: November 1

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MPA Core Courses - 5 Courses (15 credit hours)

The MPA core provides students with knowledge and skills foundational to advanced educational and professional engagement in public affairs and administration fields. They provide an important underpinning for the MPA certificates and are transferable across a range of public service professions.

School of Public Affairs & Administration Graduate Certificate - 4 Courses (12 credit hours)

The SPAA Graduate Certificates are a way to delve into specialized areas of public administration theory and practice. They are structured to provide a condensed version of the specific skills and knowledge to advance in particular professional fields.

Elective Credits - 4 Courses (12 credit hours)

These Elective Credits allow students to broaden perspective and explore other sectors of public administration. Some options for completing these credits include:

working toward a second SPAA graduate certificate,
a graduate certificate outside the program (pre-vetted certificates are listed in the MPA Graduate Student Handbook),
public administration-adjacent courses in other disciplines, and/or
SPAA electives that strike an interest.

Culminating Reflective Course - 1 Course (1 credit hour)

This course serves as a culminating review and reapplication of the core competencies and learning objectives emphasized throughout the MPA curriculum. Students will be eligible for degree conferral upon completion of this course and the other credit hour requirements toward the MPA degree.