Public Administration (MPA)
Lead public service
This 36-credit MPA offers full-time, part-time, hybrid and online options. Students gain expertise in public management, budgeting, leadership and policy, choosing concentrations in Urban Governance, Nonprofit Management or Diversity Leadership. Dual degree options, including MPA/JD, accelerate career growth and provide hands-on, real-world experience for future change-makers.
Course Catalog
Expand your expertise through dual degree options with Urban Planning, Art (Creative), Art History (Critical and Curatorial Studies) or Law (MPA/JD). Full program details and requirements are in the course catalog below.
Master of Public Administration
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (GA)
Department: Urban and Public Affairs
Program Website
Academic Plan Code(s): PADMMPA, PADMMPADML, PADMMPANPM, PADMMPAURG
Program Information
General Information
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program at the University of Louisville is central to the University's urban/metropolitan mission. The academic curriculum provides students with a solid foundation in public and nonprofit administration and prepares graduates for placement and advancement in public, private and nonprofit sector careers. The MPA faculty also advances knowledge in the field of public administration through their theoretical and applied research. The MPA is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration.
The MPA requires 36 credit hours for completion. A student can enroll on either a part-time or full-time basis. Classes are offered in formats and at times that accommodate students who work full time. Traditional classes are offered Monday through Thursday, one evening a week, from 5:30 until 8:15 PM. Hybrid-distance courses have fewer classroom meetings. Some courses are offered entirely online.
The program includes faculty from various disciplines and is aimed at providing recent college graduates, public sector practitioners, and persons in related fields with a mix of theoretical knowledge and applied skills. The degree program is available to qualified individuals holding a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. No specific undergraduate major is required.
Dual Degree Programs
The Master in Public Administration Program offers dual degree programs with the Master in Urban Planning, as well as the Master of Arts in Art (Creative) and Art History (Concentration in Critical and Curatorial Studies). In addition, the Master of Public Administration coordinates with the Brandeis School of Law to offer a joint MPA/JD. For more information about the dual programs please go to the program webpage.
Admission Requirements
The procedures for admission to the MPA program are as follows:
- Submit a completed online graduate application to the University of Louisville, Graduate School. Program candidates may be admitted for fall, spring or summer semesters.
- Official transcripts verifying the receipt of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution must be submitted to the Graduate School.
- A written personal statement is required. The statement should indicate why the applicant wishes to pursue the MPA degree.
- Two letters of recommendation are required. Normally, at least one letter should be from someone who can comment on the applicant's academic performance.
- All applicants for whom English is a second language must also submit official TOEFL scores of 79 or higher on the internet-based test, 213 or higher on the computer-based test. English proficiency can also be met by submitting official IELTS scores of at least 6.5 overall band score from the academic module exam or official Duolingo overall score of 105. Students holding a bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the United States may be exempt from this requirement.
Program Requirements
The MPA requires 36 credit hours for completion: a core curriculum of 21 credit hours, three (3) credit hours of practicum internship or thesis, and twelve (12) credit hours from one of the three areas of concentration.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| URBS 651 | Foundations of Public Administration | 3 |
| URBS 603 | Applied Research Methods | 3 |
| URBS 652 | Program Evaluation | 3 |
| URBS 653 | Urban Policy Analysis | 3 |
| URBS 654 | Ethics in Public Administration | 3 |
| URBS 655 | Human Resources Management | 3 |
| URBS 656 | Cultural Competency and Action | 3 |
| URBS 660 | Culminating MPA Experience | 3 |
| Area of Concentration (see below) | 12 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 36 | |
MPA Areas of Concentration
MPA Students complete twelve (12) credit hours from one of the three areas see Concentration Requirements.
Dual MPA/MA in Art (Creative) and Art History (Concentration in Critical and Curatorial Studies
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| URBS 651 | Foundations of Public Administration | 3 |
| URBS 652 | Program Evaluation | 3 |
| URBS 654 | Ethics in Public Administration | 3 |
| URBS 655 | Human Resources Management | 3 |
| URBS 672 | Mediation and Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| URBS 656 | Cultural Competency and Action | 3 |
| CCS 600 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| Electives | ||
| 500- or 600-level Art History (ARTH) elective | 3 | |
| 500- or 600-level ARTH elective outside Fine Arts | 3 | |
| 500- or 600-level ARTH elective outside CCS concentration | 3 | |
| Nonprofit Administration | ||
| URBS 666 | Nonprofit Management | 3 |
| URBS 667 | Budgeting and Finance | 3 |
| URBS 668 | Grantsmanship and Fundraising | 3 |
| Critical and Curatorial Studies | ||
| ARTH 642 | Theories & Methods in the Visual Arts | 3 |
| CCS 647 | Introduction to Critical and Curatorial Studies I | 3 |
| CCS 648 | Critical and Curatorial Studies II | 3 |
| Internship/Practicum/Thesis | ||
| CCS 649 | Curatorial Internship | 3 |
| CCS 645 | Thesis Guidance 1 | 6 |
| URBS 660 | Culminating MPA Experience | 3 |
| Minimum Total Hours | 58 | |
- 1
CCS 645 may be repeated twice for a total of 6 credit hours.
MPA Areas of Concentration
MPA Students complete twelve (12) credit hours from one of the three areas of emphasis below:
Urban Governance (PADMMPAURG)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| URBS 661 | Public Management | 3 |
| URBS 663 | Economic Development | 3 |
| URBS 664 | Social Equity and the Public Sector | 3 |
| URBS 667 | Budgeting and Finance | 3 |
Nonprofit Management (PADMMPANPM)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| URBS 666 | Nonprofit Management | 3 |
| URBS 667 | Budgeting and Finance | 3 |
| URBS 668 | Grantsmanship and Fundraising | 3 |
| URBS 669 | Leadership and Community Engagement | 3 |
| or URBS 672 | Mediation and Dispute Resolution | |
Diversity Management and Leadership (PADMMPADML)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| URBS 661 | Public Management | 3 |
| or URBS 666 | Nonprofit Management | |
| URBS 664 | Social Equity and the Public Sector | 3 |
| URBS 667 | Budgeting and Finance | 3 |
| URBS 669 | Leadership and Community Engagement | 3 |
MPA Program Outcomes
| 2024-2025 Tuition and Fees | |
|---|---|
| Kentucky Resident, Full Time, Academic Year | $17,142.50 |
| Kentucky Non-Resident, Full Time, Academic Year | $32,560.50 |
| Student Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Percentage of students who began studies in Fall 2023 and continued into Fall 2024 | 83% |
| Student Graduation Rate | |
|---|---|
| Percentage of students graduating within 4 years, entering class of Fall 2021 | 40% |
| Percentage of students graduating within 3 years, entering class of Fall 2022 | 50% |
| Percentage of students graduating within 2 years, entering class of Fall 2023 | 100% |
| Number of Degrees Awarded | |
|---|---|
| Number of degrees awarded for the 2023-2024 academic year | 5 |
| Recent MPA Placements | |
|---|---|
| Nonprofit sector | 55% |
| Federal, state, or local government | 40% |
| Other (continuing education, military service, private sector) | 5% |
About 80% of MPA students work, either full time or part time, during their degree program. Some graduates remained in their current position while others changed employers after they received their MPA. Because the program primarily serves the region, most of the recent graduate placements were in the public or nonprofit sectors around Louisville. For example:
| Habitat for Humanity |
| Louisville Metro Government (3) |
| City of Shelbyville |
| Community Foundation of Louisville |
| Seven Counties Mental Health Center |
| Muhammad Ali Center |
MPA graduates are also employed by the federal government (i.e., Housing and Urban Development, Department of Defense) and Kentucky state government (Legislative Research Council, Jefferson Community and Technical College).
| Current Internship Locations |
|---|
| Shelby County Industrial Foundation |
| University of Louisville Corporate and Foundation Relations |
| Louisville Classical Academy |
| Community Foundation of Louisville |
| Speed Art Museum |
| Shawnee Neighborhood Association |
| Coalition for the Homeless |
| St. Gabriel Church |
| Project Warm |
| Republican Party Kentucky |
| Metro Technology Services |
| Student Origin | |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | 88% |
| Other State | 12% |
| Other Country | 0% |
| Student Demographics | |
|---|---|
| Female Enrollment | 68% |
| African American Enrollment | 44% |
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