Public Administration, MPA (Arlington)

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CSSH Graduate Programs General Regulations

The Master of Public Administration is the management and leadership degree for those seeking to serve the public good. The program seeks to equip its students with skills in policy analysis, program evaluation, research methods, and written and verbal communications.

Students have an opportunity to develop competencies in budgeting and human resources, organizational management and leadership, and the interplay between ethics and accountability in a diverse society.

Throughout the degree program, students gain career-oriented experience through internships, small group projects, and other interactions with professionals in the field. These experiences are designed to enable the Northeastern University MPA graduate to move into a wide array of public and nonprofit sector positions at the local, state, national, and international levels. The Northeastern MPA program is nationally accredited by NASPAA.

Mission Statement

The Master of Public Administration program at Northeastern University aspires to provide a platform where students, faculty, and community partners address contemporary challenges in public administration and governance. Recognizing the complexities of the fast-changing civic environment in the 21st century, we design adaptable academic and professional pathways.

Our pragmatic approach fosters an environment that invites participation from a diverse range of actors including scholars, nonprofit leaders, and policymakers. We emphasize experiential learning, inviting students to engage with real-world issues and collaboratively devise feasible solutions. We often view challenges through an urban-centered lens, and we embrace a global to local perspective.

Accountability and inclusivity lie at the heart of our program. We are committed to ethical governance and strive to create a space that values social equity and inclusion. We aim to develop innovators equipped with the skills and awareness to bring about transformative solutions that extend beyond geographic and disciplinary boundaries. By setting measurable objectives, we uphold these standards and continually assess and improve the impact of our initiatives.

Please review the tuition and fees page as credit costs differ depending on the college that offers the course.

Academic Standing/Progress 

Students in the program are monitored for academic progress. Those students whose cumulative grade-point average falls below 3.000 are notified by and meet with the director of academic programs. They are counseled that if their GPA does not rise to 3.000 or higher, they run the risk of not graduating and are advised on strategies for improvement. 

Beginning with students admitted in the fall of 2026, all students pursuing on-ground master's degree programs must complete a university-level experiential learning requirement. This requirement may be fulfilled through the curriculum, co-op, or other work- or industry-integrated learning experiences.

Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Core Requirements

A cumulative 3.000 grade-point average is required for the following:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Quantitative Techniques
INSH 6500	Statistical Analysis	4
Analysis
PPUA 6502	Economic Analysis for Policy and Planning	4
PPUA 6506	Techniques of Policy Analysis	4
Administration and Management
PPUA 6500	Principles of Public Administration	4
PPUA 6505	Public Budgeting and Financial Management	4
PPUA 6507	Institutional Leadership and the Public Manager	4
Capstone
PPUA 7673	Capstone in Public Policy and Urban Affairs	4

Internship Requirement

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
All MPA students are required to complete an internship. At least one year of relevant, full-time work experience in a public, nonprofit, or related field may be used to fulfill the course requirements of PPUA 6861, using the college's Credit for Prior Learning assessment process.
PPUA 6861	Internship	0
or PPUA 6954	Co-op Work Experience - Half-Time
or PPUA 6955	Co-op Work Experience Abroad - Half-Time
or PPUA 6964	Co-op Work Experience
or PPUA 6965	Co-op Work Experience Abroad

Optional Co-op Experience

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
INSH 6964 and EESH 6000	Co-op Work Experience and Professional Development for Co-op	0

Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete 12 semester hours from the following:		12
CRIM 5000 to CRIM 7999 (by advisement only)
ECON 5000 to ECON 7999 (by advisement only)
ENGL 5000 to ENGL 7999 (by advisement only)
HIST 5000 to HIST 7999 (by advisement only)
INSH 5000 to INSH 7999
LPSC 5000 to LPSC 7999
POLS 5000 to POLS 7999 (by advisement only)
PPUA 5000 to PPUA 7999
SOCL 5000 to SOCL 7999 (by advisement only)

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

40 total semester hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA