Empowering Future Public Service Leaders at GGU
Dr. Willie Britt, Associate Director of the MPA program, shares his insights about the degree and how GGU is helping to shape the next generation of public service leaders.
Public
Administration, MPA
Info Session: MPA Program
October 14, 2025 | 12:30pm PT
Join us for a 30-minute virtual info session on Golden Gate University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program.
Learn how GGU’s MPA program delivers hands-on solutions to today’s public sector challenges and prepares you to advance with confidence in your career.
During this session, you’ll hear from program leadership, get details on admissions, tuition, and deadlines, and have a chance to ask questions. Register today!
Program at a Glance
SCHOOL
Ageno School of Business
PROGRAM
Public Administration, MPA
TOTAL UNITS
27
FORMAT
Online, Hybrid
SCHOOL
Ageno School of Business
REQUIREMENTS
No GMAT or GRE Required
SPRING ’26 EARLY APPLICATION DEADLINE
November 8, 2026
Program Overview
Offered by the oldest public administration department in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Master of Public Administration (MPA) is for working students interested in a thorough understanding of the processes, issues, policies, and practices associated with the management of inclusive, diverse, and equitable public service and nonprofit organizations at the city, county, state, federal and international levels of governance. The MPA will introduce students to real-world, real-time knowledge and skills required to function effectively in a managerial or executive role within such organizational settings. The program will expose students to best practices in resilient leadership, succession planning, benchmarking, intergovernmental relations, results-based budgeting, anti-corruption and ethics, privacy and cybersecurity, as well as business and community engagement.
The MPA program is accelerated, rigorous, and taught by professors who all have extensive public service experiences. These seasoned professor-practitioners provide in-depth, real-time exposure to executive and supervisory skills and knowledge common to middle and upper-level management in all public and nonprofit organizations. This includes city and urban planning; financial management; human resources and labor relations; organizational development and adaptive leadership; law and social justice; policy formulation, and implementation; accountability and ethics.
The goal of the MPA program is to provide students with the leadership, organizational, analytical and communication skills, problem-solving techniques and subject-based knowledge required to manage effectively complex organizations. In addition, the program provides a critical understanding of the cross-cutting political, social, economic and environmental problems confronted by communities and citizens particularly the poor, at-risk, minorities, and marginalized. A strong sense of professional commitment to the highest standards of ethical behavior, respect for others, and the core values upon which the profession of public administration is founded on are important goals of GGU’s MPA program. For the opportunity to socialize and network within their fields, students are encouraged to join the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). GGU also has a chapter of the national public administration honor society, Pi Alpha Alpha and ICMA and has been an institutional member of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) since 1973.
Important Notice for Oregon Residents: Due to state regulations, residents of Oregon are not permitted to enroll in online master’s degree programs offered by out-of-state universities if the program is fewer than 30 units. As a result, Oregon residents are not eligible to enroll in this program.
Message from the Program Director
Golden Gate University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is one of the oldest and most prestigious public administration programs in the Unites States, yet it is modern relative to intergenerational, domestic, and international learning adaptations.
The GGU MPA program provides high-quality content and instruction at an affordable cost. Our entry criteria are stringent; however, this ensures students have access in a learning environment that includes those with years of training, experience, and education. Our professors are practice-driven, hands-on faculty who are currently or previously engaged in various facets of daily public administration activities. The teaching objectives and learning outcomes are solutions-oriented. What is learned can be immediately applied to both daily professional and personal challenges.
Our graduates are prepared to have successful careers not only in the public sector local, state, regional, and federal governments, but also the private and nonprofit sectors. The GGU MPA Program is housed in the Ageno School of Business. Our course content is cutting edge. Being housed in the Ageno School of Business allows many students to take courses normally reserved for the MBA Program, Psychology, Accounting, Tax, Finance, and others. This further allows students to consider a holistic educational approach that involves critical thinking.
We invite you to take the first step by filling out an information request today. If you have questions or concerns about the program, let’s discuss them together.
— Willie L. Britt, DPA | Associate Director
Degree Highlights
Online or Hybrid Courses
27 Credits
STEM Designated Degree
Taught by Industry Leaders
2 Concentrations Available
No GRE/GMAT Required
Attending Golden Gate University was one of the most fulfilling decisions I’ve made for my personal and professional development. As someone working full-time in local government, I needed a program that offered flexibility without compromising quality—and GGU delivered exactly that. What truly stood out was how relevant the coursework was to my day-to-day responsibilities in public service. I was able to immediately apply what I learned in class to real-world challenges, which not only deepened my understanding but also enhanced my performance on the job. The professors were exceptional—deeply knowledgeable, approachable, and genuinely invested in my success. GGU provided me with a practical, enriching education that continues to influence my work and growth.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the theory and practice of:
- Ethics and accountability;
- Policymaking and intergovernmental relations;
- Leadership and organizational resilience;
- Business and community engagement;
- Public finance and budgeting;
- Law and social justice;
- Urban planning and innovations;
- Law enforcement and security;
- Digital technology and security;
- Human resource management and labor relations; and
- Policy research, analytics, and communications.
Explore Public Administration Career Paths
MPA graduates are prepared for a variety of career opportunities in government, nonprofit organizations, or the private sector. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for public administration professionals is expected to grow 9% over the decade, much faster than average.
Master of Public Administration graduates have gone to work in a wide range of roles, including:
- Public Affairs Manager
- Senior Communications Specialist
- Head of Public Policy and Government Relations
- Senior Public Relations Manager
- Director, Public Affairs & Policy Communications
- Senior Corporate Public Relations Manager
- Director of Government Affairs
Curriculum
The Master of Public Administration requires completion of nine three-semester-hour courses for a total of 27 units, with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 or better in courses taken at Golden Gate University that are applicable to the program’s requirements.
For further information regarding graduation requirements, see Academic Requirements for Graduate Programs.
Proficiency Requirements
Students are expected to possess proficiency in writing to ensure they can be successful in their course of study. Students may meet this requirement by satisfying one of the screening criteria listed under the Graduate Writing Proficiency Requirement.
Directed Electives – 21 Units
Elective Courses – 6 Units
Take any two PAD 300-level courses including PAD 397A Internship Public Service.
Declaring Program Concentrations
Students’ diplomas will list the concentrations that they had successfully completed at the time their degrees were conferred. Students may not declare additional concentrations after their degrees have been conferred.
Students may choose a general track and/or the Law Enforcement & Security Concentration.
Law Enforcement and Security Concentration (MPA-LES) – 6 units
Designed for law enforcement, public safety and private security professionals, probation and correctional officers, military police and first responders and front liners who seek to gain advanced knowledge, critical thinking, as well as operational and managerial skills leading and serving diverse, inclusive, equitable, and resilient communities. Practitioners will benefit from the core MPA courses in leadership, organizational development, law budgeting, and research. The specialization courses in law enforcement, public safety, emergencies and pandemics, use of force, race and justice, community engagement, and security address issues and cases facing federal, state, municipal, nonprofit, and private agencies.
Select two of the following courses:
Featured Faculty
Dr. Joaquin “Jay” Gonzalez
Vice Provost for Global Education
Founding Dean of GGU Worldwide
A GGU faculty member since 2000, Jay Gonzalez is Vice Provost for Global Education and Dean of GGU Worldwide. Prof Jay, as he is fondly referred to by students globally, is also Mayor George Christopher Professor of Public Administration and Chair of GGU’s Department of Public Administration—the oldest Public Administration program in Northern California.
Willie L. Britt, DPA
Associate Director, Master of Public Administration
Business Manager, Makati Chiropractic Center
Willie L. Britt is the Associate Director of the Master of Public Administration Program. Dr. Willie L. Britt earned his Doctorate of Public Administration degree from Golden Gate University in 2006. He was recognized in 2007 with the Outstanding Graduate Student Award Doctor of Public Administration in 2007. He joined GGU’s Public Administration Department as an Adjunct Professor in 2007 and then Senior Adjunct Professor in 2012.
Mickey P. McGee, DPA
Associate Dean, GGU Worldwide
Director, GGU Worldwide DBA Program
Dr. Mickey McGee brings extensive experience as an academic leader and organizational development expert, specializing in public administration, strategic management, and leadership development. Currently, he serves as the Associate Dean and Program Director for the DBA program at Golden Gate University, where he combines academic rigor with practical expertise from the fields of military leadership and executive consulting.
Dr. Alan R. Roper
Distinguished Adjunct Professor
Academic Technology Manager, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Alan R. Roper is a Distinguished Adjunct Faculty member at Golden Gate University. During his 24 years teaching Research Methods and Doctoral Research and Writing, Dr. Roper has been recognized with the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty of the Year Award in 2019, Distinguished Adjunct Professor award 2021, and Ted Mitchell Distinguished Adjunct Professor award for 2023.
Dr. Aihua Yang Zelinsky
Faculty Director, GGU Beacon Program
Aihua Zelinsky is the Faculty Director in charge of the GGU Beacon Program for GGU Worldwide. Dr. Zelinsky joined GGU’s Public Administration Department in 2007. From 2023, she served as the Associate Director of the Executive Master of Public Administration Program at the Edward S. Ageno School of Business.
Dr. Pervaiz Masih
Adjunct Professor
President, Glad International
Dr. Pervaiz Masih is a resident of California and a GGU alum who completed his EMPA in 2015. Currently, he is leading Glad International (a non-profit) as a President and CEO of Leadership Development and Management Consultants (a consulting firm).
MPA Tuition
The tuition for the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at Golden Gate University is $1,090 per unit, covering the cost of high-quality, career-focused education led by experienced faculty. This investment supports essential resources, including personalized academic advising, state-of-the-art technology, and student services designed to help adult learners succeed.
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About the Ageno School of Business
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