Public Administration (Public Finance), MPA
Analyst, Business, City Planning, Consultant, Economist, Grant, Public Policy, Risk Management, Urban Management, Urban Policy, budget, economics
Prepare yourself as a results-oriented, strategic leader capable of keen decision-making through this prestigious, flexible degree program. This highly ranked program can help you turn your desire for public service into a rewarding career in public finance and budgeting.
ASU ranks No. 16 for best graduate public financing and budgeting program and No. 13 for best graduate public affairs programs by U.S. News & World Report, 2024.
The Master of Public Administration program is a professional degree program designed to prepare students for public service at all levels of government as well as in the nonprofit and private sectors. The MPA program can be completed full time or part time.
The program consists of a core curriculum emphasizing managerial and analytic skills needed in a wide variety of careers that serve the public good. Through a focused set of electives, the concentration in public finance provides knowledge and skills for students to excel in areas in which financial management plays an integral role in governance. The concentration deepens knowledge of urban economics, managing money in the public sector, public budgeting, and capital budgeting and financing.
- College/school:
Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions
- Location: Downtown Phoenix
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. Accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving students who want the opportunity to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree. These programs feature the same high quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
42 credit hours including the required capstone course (PAF 509)
Required Core (27 credit hours) Concentration (9 credit hours) Electives or Research (3 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
PAF 501 Public Service Research I (3)
PAF 502 Public Service Research II (3)
PAF 503 Public Affairs (3)
PAF 504 Microeconomics of Public Policy I (3)
PAF 505 Public Policy Analysis (3)
PAF 506 Public Budgeting and Finance (3)
PAF 507 Public Human Resource Management (3)
PAF 508 Organization Behavior (3)
PAF 574 Diversity, Ethics and Leading Public Change (3)
PAF 521 Managing Public Money (3)
PAF 522 Advanced Governmental Financial Management: Capital Budgeting and Infrastructure Financing (3)
PAF 570 Microeconomics of Public Policy II (3)
PAF 509 Public Affairs Capstone (3)
To meet the Electives or Research requirement, students choose one course from NLM 520, PAF 590 and PAF 584 for three credit hours.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S.
applicants | International
applicants | English
proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution in a related field. Related fields include social science degrees, although the department may accept applicants with degrees from all educational backgrounds provided the minimum requirements for the degree program are met.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- two letters of recommendation
- written statement
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
The letters of recommendation should be from faculty or other academic staff who can evaluate the applicant's academic performance.
The written statement should be one to two pages in length and describe the applicant's educational and career goals. This statement is also used as a sample of the applicant's writing abilities.
Students enrolling in MPA core courses must demonstrate minimum competency in statistics and American government, typically through the completion of an undergraduate social statistics course such as PAF 301 Applied Statistics and undergraduate coursework in American national government such as POS 310 American National Government. Completion of prerequisite courses is not a requirement for admission but must be completed within one semester after starting the program. Students may also satisfy the American national government competency by successfully completing a noncredit online course offered to incoming students by the School of Public Affairs.
Applicants should email spa@asu.edu if they have questions about the application process.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | Rolling |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | Rolling |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | Rolling |
Graduates are prepared to pursue a career in a field related to public administration or public policy. This may include opportunities as a manager or policy analyst in local, state or federal agencies; nonprofit organizations; and private organizations that interface with the public sector.
School of Public Affairs
|
UCENT 400
spa@asu.edu
602-496-0450
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
