Public
Administration, MPA
Program at a Glance
Program
Public Administration, MPA
Format
Online, Hybrid
Total Units
36
Requirements
No GMAT or
GRE Required
Spring ’25 Final Application Deadline
December 15
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.
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the theory and practice of:
- Ethics, 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;
- Human resource management and labor relations; and
- Policy research, analytics, and communications.
Undergraduate Public Administration Pathway Program
Students who elect to pursue the Public Administration Minor have the option of taking graduate-level courses from the Public Administration, General Concentration, MPA program and applying them to both the minor requirements and the MPA program requirements. The Public Administration Minor provides a solid foundation in essential management concepts, techniques, communication, and organizational behavior, while the Master of Public Administration (MPA) provides a thorough understanding of the advanced processes, polices, and practices associated with the management of inclusive and diverse public service and nonprofit organizations at the municipal, regional, state, federal and international levels of governance. The MPA will introduce students to advanced real-world knowledge and skills required to function effectively in a managerial or executive role within such organizational settings. Students will learn to engage, motivate, and lead individuals in diverse and inclusive public and private business enterprises. Those who complete both the minor and the MPA program will be in a unique position to understand and navigate the complex interactions between the public and private sectors, including policymaking, ethics, and the increasing privatization of the public sector.
Requirements for the Master of Public Administration
The MPA requires completion of nine four-semester-hour courses for a total of 36 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.
Graduate Writing Proficiency Requirement
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.
Curriculum
The Master of Public Administration requires completion of nine four-semester-hour courses for a total of 36 units, including 24 units of required courses and 12 units of concentration courses.
(Courses below represent the General Concentration)
Declaring Program Concentrations
Students may declare up to two concentrations in a given degree program. Students seeking to declare more than two concentrations will be required to appeal to the dean for approval. 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 select from the following concentrations:
- General
- Law Enforcement and Security
- Urban Innovations
- Digital Technology and Security
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 three of the following courses:Designed for city, town, county, regional, and urban managers, planners, analysts, and consultants who seek to gain advanced knowledge, critical thinking, as well as operational and managerial skills in this rapidly evolving and dynamic field. Practitioners will benefit from the core MPA courses in leadership, organizational development, law, budgeting, data analytics, and policy research. The specialization courses on urban growth, technology, and competitiveness, inclusiveness, diversity, equity, and resilience address economic, social, climate change, and environmental issues and cases facing citizens and communities, and their business, government, and nonprofit agencies.
Select three of the following courses:Designed for public service professionals who seek to gain advanced knowledge, critical thinking, advisory, as well as operational and managerial skills leading and serving digital technology and security departments and teams in the public and nonprofit sectors. Practitioners will benefit from the core MPA courses in leadership, organizational development, law, budgeting, public-private partnership, and policy research. The specialization courses in IT management, data structures and networks, software engineering leadership, and infrastructure security address evolving real-time issues and cases facing federal, state, municipal agencies as well as nonprofit and private organizations.
Complete the following:MPA Tuition
The tuition for the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at Golden Gate University is $825 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.
Public Administration Frequently Asked Questions
At GGU, we have always understood and met the unique educational needs of working adult students. We focus on providing our students with real-world knowledge, emphasizing practical and skills-based education from instructors who are practicing professionals in some of the Bay Area’s most successful organizations.
- Graduate Program: Admission to Golden Gate University’s MPA Program is based on the assessment of applicants’ educational and professional credentials, and a determination of the ability to benefit from the MPA Program.
- Undergraduate Pathway Program: Students who elect to pursue the Public Administration Minor have the option of taking graduate-level courses from the Public Administration, General Concentration, MPA program and applying them to both the minor requirements and the MPA program requirements.
- The MPA Program Director will assess the qualifications of applicants as deemed necessary and appropriate. Otherwise, please contact the Advising team at uac@ggu.edu.
- The MPA program requires a total of 36 units for graduation.
- 24 required course units and 12 elective units.
- Students should speak with an Enrollment Advisor for help with planning by filling out the request information form. An Enrollment Advisor will be happy to talk with you and share all of your options.
The MPA program is delivered in an Online and Hybrid format.
- Hybrid1 (In-Person/Online) (Section Code: HSF): Instruction includes a combination of in-person and online (synchronous or asynchronous) coursework. At least 20% of the instruction time must include in-person class meetings. In-person class meetings cannot be attended remotely. In-person and synchronous online class meeting dates and times are listed on the schedule and course syllabus. Satisfies “in residence” requirements for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits and residency requirements for international students (F-1 Visa holders).
- In-Person1 (Section Codes: SF, SE): Instruction is delivered through in-person class meetings. Satisfies “in residence” requirements for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits and residency requirements for international students (F-1 Visa holders).
- Online-Asynchronous2 (Section Code: C): Instruction is delivered primarily through asynchronous coursework but may include optional synchronous online class meetings. Does not satisfy “in residence” requirements for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits. Does not satisfy residency requirements for international students (F-1 Visa holders).
- Online-Synchronous2 (Section Code: WC): Instruction is delivered primarily through live online class meetings but may include asynchronous coursework. Does not satisfy “in residence” units for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits. Does not satisfy residency requirements for international students (F-1 Visa holders).
1Satisfies the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs definition of a “hybrid” class for BAH benefits, so long as recipients attend the in-person class meeting(s).
2International students (F-1 Visa holders) may count a maximum of 1 course (or 3 units) of these instruction modes toward their “full course of study.”
Yes, the professors have extensive knowledge and experience in the areas that they teach. MPA Program professors pride themselves on having worked in or are currently working in the field of instruction. They offer “hands on” real world solutions to existing and emerging problems, thereby seeking opportunities for accomplishments.
- The MPA program is $825 per unit.
- 36 units required, it is an estimated $29,700 to complete the program.
- For more details on Tuition please visit https://ggu.edu/cost-of-attendance/
- Students should discuss with the Financial Aid office at 415-442-7270 or finaid@ggu.edu
- For more details on Financial Aid visit https://ggu.edu/admissions/tuition-and-financial-aid/
- 6 years or at PAD Director’s discretion
- See the GGU catalog for more information on completion time.
- The estimated completion time is 18 months for a part-time student.
- For students dealing with a “hardship” or other “unforeseen circumstances,” may be granted a “Stop Out” to complete the MPA Program. This is at the discretion of the MPA Director.
- International students should contact info@ggu.edu or 415-442-7800
- Additional details for international students can be found at https://ggu.edu/admissions/international-students/
- Veterans of U.S. Military Service should contact dillercenter@ggu.edu or 415-369-5204
- Additional details for active military or veterans: https://ggu.edu/student-services/veteran-services/
