The MPA and MPP Degrees

Professional Public Service

Distinguished MPA/MPP Alumni

Andrew Natsios

US Special Envoy for Darfur

Ban Ki-moon

UN Secretary General

Ellen Sirleaf

President Liberia

Dr. Cheryl Dorsey

Social entrepreneur

Admiral Thad Allen

U.S. Coast Guard

Kavita Ramdas

CEO Global fund for Women

Distinguished MPA/MPP Alumni

Kathleen Sebelius

Governor of Kansas

Marie Johns

Former CEO Verizon

Bill O’Reilly

Talk show host

Donald Tsang

Chief Executive Hong Kong

“The future is not fixed, it’s fluid…it’s waiting for you to hammer it into shape. That’s what this degree of yours is, a blunt instrument. So go forth and build something with it. You are the generation.” --Bono

U-Penn Commencement Speech 2006

The Importance of a Graduate Degree

• “A graduate degree is quickly becoming the entry-level degree in a number of fields.”

• “Graduate education is a key component in creating the highly-skilled workforce necessary to remain competitive in the knowledge-based global economy.”--Council of Graduate Schools

What is an MPA Degree?• The Master of Public Administration (MPA)

degree is the professional degree for people who want a public service career in management.

• This degree helps to develop the skills and techniques used by leaders and managers to:

– Implement policies, projects, and programs– Resolve important societal problems– Solve myriad public sector challenges

What is an MPP Degree?• The Master of Public Policy (MPP)

degree emphasizes analyzing and evaluating information to solve policy problems.

• MPP graduates work with quantitative and qualitative information and data to develop, assess, and evaluate alternative approaches to current and emerging public sector issues.

Related and Specialized Degrees

• International Development• Urban Planning• Public Affairs• MPS- Master of Public Service • MHA- Master of Health Administration • MPM- Master of Public Management • PhD- Doctor of Philosophy

Concentrations/Specializations• Environment• Budgeting/Finance• Nonprofit Management/

City Management• International Affairs

• National Security• Health

Administration/Policy• Education• Economic Development

What Will I Study? What Will I Learn?• Management• Budget Analysis • Communication • Policy Analysis • Ethics• Analytical Skills• Economics • Leadership

Student ProfilesFull Time vs. Part Time

59%

41%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Full time student Part time student

Series1

Work Experience Number of Years

19%

27%

23%

10%

21%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Just out ofcollege, etc.

1-2 Years 3-5 Years 6-8 Years 9+ Years

Series1

What Types of Jobs do MPA and MPP Graduates Have?

• Public Sector– Government (Federal, State, Local)

• Nonprofits – Executive Director, Senior Staff

• Academia– Professor, Researcher

• International– NGO, UN, EU

• Education and Health– Administrator, Emergency Manager

Salary Levels for Graduates with a Master’s Degree

Mean Earnings

5674

0

6830

2

01000020000300004000050000600007000080000

Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree

College Bachleor's DegreeSource: U.S. Census Bureau August 29, 2006

Dolla

rs $

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Case Study: Average salaries for MPA’s who graduated from Baruch

College (2003)

As the two pie charts show, MPA graduates earn higher salaries—over half earn $50,000 or more—as opposed to non-MPA’s, less than a

fourth of whom earn the same amount. 

MPA/MPP Schools in the USA

Accreditation NASPAA

accreditation is a voluntary and rigorous peer review process that connects the public service profession to quality standards in graduate public service degrees.

Recent Alumni• Ulivi Ismayil MPP

– Working in the International Sector as a Project Management Specialist

– University of Minnesota

• Soo Chun MPP– Working as a manager

for MAXIMUS Consulting

– University of Chicago

Recent Alumni• Steve Grove MPP

– Political News Editor at YouTube

– Harvard University

• Jennet Arcara MPP, MPH– Working in the Nonprofit

Sector with the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative

– Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs

Recent Alumni• Gregory K. Gaines MPP

– Working as a Budget Policy Analyst for Arlington Public Schools

– George Washington University

• Mary Sassi MPA– Executive Director of

Strategic Operations, Sarasota County Government, Florida

– Arizona State University

Recent Alumni• June Hues MPA

– Budget and Program Analyst, Department of the Interior

– Boise State University

• Crispin Delgado MPP– Management Analyst

for San Mateo County Health Department

– UC Berkeley

Helpful Websites• Finding your Graduate School

– www.naspaa.org

• International Students– www.globalmpa.net

• Public Service Jobs & Internships– www.publicservicecareers.org

• Facebook Group for MPA/MPP Students– www.facebook.com

(Search keyword: MPA/MPP)

Run it. Think it. Change it.