• For additional program information see the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs website

The Master of Public Administration prepares students from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds to excel in careers with a public policy, public management, or nonprofit management orientation. The MPA provides students with an academic credential appropriate for employment in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.

The MPA program has two key objectives. First, through a set of core courses, the program provides a strong foundation of practical and theoretical training for professional work in public service. Second, through free electives or the selection of a concentration, the MPA program offers students the opportunity to fashion a curriculum linked directly to their individual career and academic interests.

The Baruch MPA is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). Baruch's Marxe School of Public and International Affairs is the only nonprivate school of public affairs in New York City.

All students in the MPA program complete seven required courses and are required to earn a minimum grade point average of 3.0. This ensures that all students achieve a basic understanding of fundamental public administration principles and practices together with a foundation in communication skills, economic analysis, and statistical analysis. In addition to the required courses, students complete six elective courses chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. Students without prior professional experience will also complete an internship in a public, nonprofit, or private-sector organization. In their final semester, all students take the Capstone Seminar, which emphasizes the application of students knowledge and skills to specific professional situations.

Full-time and part-time MPA students (but not students in the NUF or Executive MPA programs) may choose to focus 12 of their 18 credits of elective course work in one of the five specializations: urban development and sustainability, nonprofit administration, public management, policy analysis and evaluation, and health care policy. All five specializations participate in the shared MPA core, which does not vary from specialization to specialization. Specializations must be chosen in consultation with a Marxe School of Public and International Affairs advisor.

Selection of a specialization is not required. Students who choose not to take a specialization must structure their 18 elective credits in consultation with an advisor.

Upon graduation, students within the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree programs at Marxe are expected to obtain knowledge and demonstrate skills associated with the following Program Learning Goals approved by the faculty and fall under five Universal Competencies established by NASPAA.

Note: These goals are taught at varied levels within the core courses and will be addressed in further detailed throughout the program.

MPA Degree Competencies & Program Learning Goals

Competency #1: To lead and manage in public governance.

Learning Goal A: Distinguish among, and apply, the concepts of management, leadership and governance in public and nonprofit organizations.

Learning Goal B: Use management and leadership theories to analyze and improve the design and governance of public and nonprofit organizations.

Learning Goal C: Develop recommendations for action by public and nonprofit organizations based on the analysis of their strategic and ethical choices.

Competency #2: To participate in and contribute to the policy process.

Learning Goal A: Distinguish and effectively employ the steps in the policy process: problem/goal identification; stakeholder identification and analysis; financing; approval; implementation and evaluation. 

Learning Goal B: Identify alternative policy options; assess their potential feasibility and effectiveness; describe how the policy options are expected to affect outcomes (mechanisms).

Competency #3: To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions.

Learning Goal A: Analyze, evaluate, and draw valid conclusions from social science research such as policy, applied, or evaluation research.

Learning Goal B: Design social science research such as policy, applied, evaluation, research using qualitative or quantitative methods.

Learning Goal C: Conduct social science research such as policy, applied, or evaluation research.

Learning Goal D: Apply social science or evaluation research findings to public policy questions and decision making situations.

Competency #4: To articulate and apply a public service perspective.

Learning Goal A: Understand how to assess and maximize the values of diversity and inclusiveness; equity; integrity and ethical conduct; compassion/empathy; and effectiveness and efficiency in the formulation of public policy and in management/implementation.

Competency #5: To communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.

Learning Goal A: Prepare clear, concise, well-organized, accurate and persuasive written materials that are tailored to an audience’s level of experience and needs.

Learning Goal B: Prepare clear, concise, well-organized, accurate and persuasive oral presentations that are tailored to an audience’s level of experience and needs.

Learning Goal C: Recognize and value the diversity of organizational structures and cultures, as well as organizational complexity, in order to communicate effectively.