College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences > Academics > School of Public Service > Graduate Programs > Public Administration (MPA) > About the Program

More About the Program

​​​Degree Chair​: Robert Stokes, PhD​

Description:

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program serves students who are interested in pursuing rewarding careers in government. The School of Public Service at DePaul University is one of the largest and most respected programs in Illinois. We offer a cutting-edge curriculum designed to train the next generation of effective public managers. We offer four specialization tracks: emergency management, public management, metropolitan planning and urban affairs and international public management. 

Mission:

The Master in Public Administration (MPA) degree educates ethical leaders to work in local, state, and federal government. Through our cross-sector approach to learning, research, and service we help government leaders to connect domestic and global issues, alleviate poverty, and build responsive government. We promote compassion for marginalized communities and service to all people with accountability, justice, professionalism, sensitivity, and transparency.​

Faculty Committee:

Robert St​okes​
Mar​tin Luby​
Nicholas ​Kachiroubas​
Adrienne Hollo​way​
Joseph ​Schwieterman​​​
Raphael Og​om​
John New​man​
Steven ​Abbey​
Krist​a Johnson​
Ronald Fernan​des​​​​

How long does it typically take to complete the program?

52 credit hours are required to complete the program. The length of time varies according to student need. Some students pursuing the degree full-time (2 courses per quarter) finish in two years. Others take one course a quarter and complete their program requirements in three to four years. Students often switch between full and part time status throughout their academic careers at SPS, dependent on their personal and professional duties.

In 2016, the most recent year in which graduation rates were reported to NASPAA, for the cohort of students that began their MPA degree five years earlier, 35 percent graduated in 2 years, 57 percent graduated in 3 years and 72 percent graduated in 4 years​.​

 

Based on our 2016 MPA alumni survey, here is a list of the sectors and job titles of recent graduates.

Sectors:

  • National or central governm​ent in the United States: 4 (17%)

  • State, provincial, or regional government in the United States: 1 (4%)

  • City, county, or other local government in the United States: 5 (21%)

  • Foreign government (all levels) or international quasi-governmental: 0 (0%)

  • Nonprofit domestic-oriented: 5 (21%)

  • Nonprofit/NGOs internationally-oriented: 0 (0%)

  • Private Sector - Research/Consulting : 1 (4%)

  • Private Sector but not research/consulting: 4 (17%)

  • Obtaining further education: 0 (0%)

  • Military Service: 0 (0%)

  • Unemployed (Not Seeking Employment): 0 (0%)​

  • Unemployed (Seeking Employment) : 4 (17%)

Titles:

  • Public Affairs Specialist, US Small Business Administration

  • Workforce Development Specialist, State of Ohio

  • Project Manager, Management Analysis, Incorporated

  • Division Coordinator, Government Affairs, American Dental Hygienists' Association

  • Contract Specialist, US Environmental Protection Agency

  • Team Leader, Social Security Administration

  • Township Coordinator, Cook County Clerk's Office

  • Billing Specialist, Mobile Doctors

  • Administrative Associate, American Bar Foundation

  • Budget Analyst, Chicago Public Schools

  • Public finance investment banker, Backstrom McCarley Berry & Co. LLC.

  • Promotional Space Analyst Walgreens Co

  • Regional Business and Community Outreach manager The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, 

  • Government defense contracts administrator, Skylla Engineering.

  • Membership Administration Associate, SmithBucklin

  • Account Executive, Resolute Consulting 

  • Associate Classification and Compensation Analyst, City of Chicago - Department of Human Resources

  • Cook County Board of Commissioners staff.

  • Project Analyst Chicago Transit Authority 

  • Account Specialist, AonHewitt

  • Director of Youth Programs and Services Brighton Park neighborhood Council

  • Special agent, Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

  • Product Integrity Specialist, Walgreens 

  • Logistics Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs 

  • Grant writer, Casa Central

  • VA Coordinator, DePaul University

  • Supervisor, NORC at the University of Chicago. 

  • Supervisor-Inside Sales department, Orsini Healthcare

  • Program Associate for Transportation, Northwest Municipal Conference. 

  • Budget and Policy Analyst , State of Wisconsin, Department of Corrections

  • Program Advancement Associate, The American Joint Replacement Registry 

  • Police Officer at City of Berwyn (IL)

  • Police Officer, City of Chicago, 

  • Manager of Data and Research, Chicago Architecture Foundation..

  • Management Analyst, Hanover Township

  • Strategic Planner, Department of Defense-Pentagon

  • File manager, Lane County Developmental Disabilities Department, Eugene, Oregon

  • Chapter Coordinator and Membership Associate, Congress for the New Urbanism and Marketing Coordinator, Spector and Lenz, P.C.

  • Peace Corps volunteer

  • Juvenile Counselor 19th Judicial Circuit of Lake County Vernon Hills, IL

  • Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) in Chicago, Management Analyst effective 09/2015

  • Associate Director, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law

  • Management Intern- City of Highwood IL

  • Fraud Analyst, Accertify Inc.

  • Project Manager, Academic Programs  for City Colleges of Chicago

  • Logistics Systems Specialist (Reservist), Federal Emergency Management Agency

  • Project Coordinator, Asset Management- Chicago Housing Authority

  • Project Coordinator-Planning Chicago Transit Authority

  • Chief of Staff & Clerk of the Board, Huston-Tillotson University

  • Young Families Connect Media Outreach Coordinator NC Healthy Start Foundation

  • Case Manager Coordinator at Aetna Better of Illinois

  • Insurance Specialist, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

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