Public Administration

The Masters of Public Administration program seeks to provide the highest quality graduate education for current and prospective officials in all three arenas of public service: government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private vendors.  The program strives to achieve local, state and national prominence through a contemporary curriculum, innovative instruction, scholarly and applied research, and service to key stakeholders.   Program activities are designed to develop and enhance technical, ethical and leadership competencies.

Our program consists of five core faculty members and more than a dozen other regular, adjunct or part-time faculty in the Political Science Department.  We offer both the Masters of Public Administration (MPA) degree and a joint program with the Masters of Public Health (MPA/MPH) in the Miller School of Medicine.

The University of Miami, situated in one of the most cosmopolitan parts of the country, offers a unique opportunity for the study of public administration.  UM is advantageously located in Miami Dade County, the first in the U.S. to adopt two-tier metropolitan government, providing an ideal urban laboratory for the study of government organization and consolidation.  As the “Gateway to Latin America,” Miami also exposes students to a dynamic international environment.  It has a rich multi-cultural heritage and a diverse business, trade and financial community.  This international metropolitan area is a growing sunbelt state continues to offer opportunities for public service employment and career advancement.

The MPA degree provides career opportunities in local, state and federal government as well as the nonprofit and private sectors.  For several decades the POL department has supplied South Florida with leaders through the vehicle of the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.  Much of this experience now serves the MPA program in the form of internships and enhanced employment opportunities.  There is a growing demand in South Florida and elsewhere for skill developed in the MPA program such as: budgeting, manpower management, program planning, health care, and even international management.  Graduates of the POL department and MPA program at UM now occupy numerous leadership positions in the local, state, and national government and other sectors.

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from a college or university of recognized standing
• Have demonstrated through their undergraduate record and other qualifications their academic competence to complete a rigorous graduate program
• Have achieved minimum combined scores (verbal and quantitative) from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) of 297 *
• Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0.  In order to limit class size for maximum teacher-student exchange, the M.P.A. program prefers student with above average GRE scores, excellent letters of recommendation, and superior writing skills. 
• Submit two (LOR) Letters of Recommendation (LOR Form).
• In addition, international students must achieve a passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or successfully complete the Intensive English Program of the University prior to starting the M.P.A.

Want to improve your English level for admission?
Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• Flexible study schedule
• Experienced teachers
• Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Scholarships

• UM Fellowships
• GAFAC Funding