Public Administration, MPA

Return to: Graduate School of Public and International Affairs

Public administration is a field practiced at the intersection of the government, nonprofit, and private sectors. GSPIA’s MPA program trains managers to balance the needs of each community with its resources, promoting neighborhood development, effective local government, ethical leadership, and responsible business practices. Students acquire an incredibly diverse and flexible set of professional skills appropriate for careers in nonprofit agencies, government offices, and private businesses worldwide.

The 48-credit MPA degree is designed to advance the core value of social equity fundamental to today’s public management. GSPIA’s programs in urban affairs and nonprofit management are consistently ranked among the very best in the country. Additionally, GSPIA’s Center for Metropolitan Studies and the Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership bridge the gap between theory and practice, allowing students to work directly with local government and nonprofit leaders. In 2012 US News ranked GSPIA #19 among all MPA programs for “City Management and Urban Policy.” A major reason for this strength is GSPIA’s relationship with Pitt’s University Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR), where students and faculty engage in scholarly analysis of urban and regional issues. UCSUR promotes a multidisciplinary research agenda centered on economic, demographic, and social change in cities and regions.