Catalog Navigator : Program

Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)

The master of public administration (M.P.A.) degree prepares graduates for the highest levels of leadership and management in government and nonprofit organizations. In the Rutgers University-Camden M.P.A. program students learn to think critically, serve and lead with empathy and understanding, and promote a democratic way of life through civic engagement.

As a critical component of a public research university, the Camden campus of Rutgers University provides working professionals and pre-service students with applied learning opportunities and extramural experiences relevant to an array of real-world governance challenges facing Camden, the South Jersey/Greater Philadelphia region, and the world. In addition to rigorous coursework, the curriculum supports participation in community outreach and research opportunities provided by the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs, the Community Leadership Center, and the Center for Urban Research and Education.

The 42-credit (14-course) curriculum provides students with a firm foundation in both public administration and public policy, and reflects the department's values of justice, equality, diversity, equity and transparency. All students complete a seven-course core curriculum that emphasizes managerial professionalism, leadership, decision-making, analytic skills, substantive knowledge, and ethics, as well as competencies in such areas as public finance and policy analysis.

In addition, all students must select one of two three-course specializations in either public and nonprofit management, or community development. Specializations introduce students to theoretical and applied issues concerning aspects of power, policy, advocacy, and resource allocation relevant to the challenges facing nonprofit and governmental administrators today. Students who are admitted without three years of relevant full-time employment must complete a one-semester internship course.

The Rutgers-Camden M.P.A. program is one of the few M.P.A. programs in New Jersey that meets the requirements for accreditation set by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration or NASPAA, the global gold-standard in public affairs and public administration education. NASPAA accreditation is a trustworthy indicator of value for students. It signals that a program meets a field-wide standard of quality, that it is engaged in a process of continuous improvement keeping the curriculum relevant and current, and that the program is practicing 'truth in advertising.' Students can be reasonably assured that at a NASPAA-accredited program, they will be receive the resources they need to complete their degrees, achieve established learning objectives, and obtain public service or nonprofit employment.

For prospective employers who want to hire employees with the skills associated with an M.P.A. degree, or for those who simply seek to partner with academic institutions as capstone clients or for internship placements, NASPAA accreditation is a reliable indicator of excellence in education and appropriate preparation for today's dynamic work settings.

Executive Master in Public Administration

The executive master in public administration program (in South Jersey) is offered in collaboration with Rutgers Center for Executive Leadership in Government. This selective, 42-credit program targets mid- to upper-level managers with at least five years of administrative and/or managerial experience working in public agencies or nonprofit organizations.

Students are admitted as a cohort each fall. Classes are held on Saturday mornings in West Windsor, New Jersey, with a curriculum that is taught in the hybrid format. The program is designed to develop and enhance the adult working professionals' leadership, organizational, policy, and public management skills. Degree requirements can be completed in 24 months, including two one-week summer residencies held over two different summer sessions. Up to 12 credits may be awarded for professional experience, or may be transferred from other relevant graduate coursework if that work was completed in the previous three years - or some combination, thereof.