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  1. Home
  2. School of Public Affairs
  3. Public Administration (M.P.A.)

Assessment

NASPAA-accredited Public Administration Programming

The MPA program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). NASPAA is the recognized global accreditor of master's degree programs in public policy, affairs, and administration. Their mission is to ensure excellence in education and training for public service and to promote the ideal of public service. 

Number of Students

As of the Fall semester of 2021, there were 166 students enrolled in the MPA program (12 on campus, 154 online). 

Time to Graduation

For the class which began in 2018-2019, 40% of HB students and 47% WC students graduated in two years, 40% of HB students and 77% of WC students graduated in four years.

Completion Rates, Academic Year 2016-2017
Modality Students Initially Enrolled Graduated within 2 years Graduated within 4 years
Residential 5 - students  40% 40%
Online 75 - students 47% 77%

Employment of Graduates

Graduates of our resident MPA program most often find employment within local or regional government, domestic-oriented nonprofits, and the private sector (non-research). Graduates of the online program are most often employed in national and local/regional government, the private sector, and domestic-oriented nonprofits. 

Internships

Students who do not have two years of relevant employment experience must enroll in PADM 595: Internship. This course requires 150 hours of service. Examples of our students' internship placements in the past two years include:

  • City of University Park/Town of Highland Park, Texas
  • Tompkins County Planning Department, New York
  • Georgia Shift, Georgia
  • American Red Cross, Colorado
  • Department of Defense – Defense Logistics Agency, Pennsylvania
  • Tioga County Department of Probation and Parole, Pennsylvania

Public Administration (M.P.A.)

  • Curriculum
  • Courses Overview
  • Program Requirements for Admission
  • Information for Accepted Applicants
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  • Program Contacts and Faculty
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How to Apply

This program is also available via World Campus.

For more information see the World Campus program listing

ACCREDITATION

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Public Administration Programs

Public Administration (M.P.A.)
Public Administration (Ph.D.)
Juris Doctor and Master of Public Administration (J.D./M.P.A.)
Non-Profit Administration (Certificate)
Public Budgeting and Financial Management (Certificate)
Public Sector Human Resource Management (Certificate)
Policy Analysis and Evaluation (Certificate)

See Also

  • Brochure (PDF)
  • MPA Student Club at Penn State Harrisburg
  • Honor Society
  • Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program Guide
Pennsylvania map showing Penn State campuses with Penn State Harrisburg highlighted

Penn State Harrisburg

A comprehensive college in southcentral Pennsylvania offering more than 70 undergraduate and graduate programs.
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