Public Administration (M.P.A.)
Managers in high performing organizations today need to be able to analyze and interpret data and then use those insights as they implement policies and programs.
Combining academic rigor with a practical orientation toward management and policy analysis, the Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) program is designed to develop the knowledge and skills students need to become effective public and nonprofit managers, leaders, and entrepreneurs.
You will learn from faculty who hold excellent academic credentials and are practitioners, bringing a wealth of real-world, professional insights into the classroom. The program’s applied approach and unique position in a business school focuses on cultivating mastery of policy evaluation, analytics, and administrative best practices to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public and nonprofit organizations in a wide range of fields.
Through Illinois Tech’s one-of-a-kind Elevate program, you are guaranteed hands-on experiences throughout your graduate education, such as virtual and in-person internships, and personalized guidance from a career adviser, academic mentor, and alumni coach.
Students learn and network with classmates who are professionals from a broad range of backgrounds, positions, and organizations, and have local and global experience.
By choosing one of the program’s specializations, students can prepare to step into key roles in economic development, social entrepreneurship, public safety and emergency preparedness, and nonprofit and mission-driven enterprises.
Your Choice—In Person or Online
With our program’s hybrid courses, you can choose to attend your class sessions in person at Illinois Tech’s downtown Chicago campus or go online to attend virtually.
Program Overview
Combining academic rigor with an applied approach, the Master of Public Administration program is designed to develop the managerial knowledge and analytical skills you need to become an effective public or nonprofit manager and leader.
Career Opportunities
Organizations, government agencies, and companies that have hired Master of Public Administration graduates include:
- Accenture
- American Cancer Society
- City of Chicago
- Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department
- Chinese American Service League
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
- Lincoln Park Zoo
- Chicago Transit Authority and Metra
- State of Illinois
- Lyons Township
The Master of Public Administration curriculum provides a mix of analytical and management focused courses to develop students’ skills in rigorous data and policy analysis, as well as the managerial knowledge needed to effectively implement programs and policies.
Students may select elective courses in public policy and administration or other fields such as architecture, business, city and regional planning, civil engineering, computer science, design, environmental engineering, humanities, psychology, social sciences, or law.
- Completed Online Application
- Official transcript submission with a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- No GMAT or GRE scores required
- A one-page statement of purpose, with goals and objectives
- English proficiency exam, if required
Learn More about M.P.A.: Ask a Professor
Virtual info sessions on Thursdays at 8–8:30 a.m. CT
Discover how Stuart’s M.P.A. degree can open doors for you to a meaningful career in the public or nonprofit sectors by talking with Program Director Roland Calia.
Graduate Credit for Your Work Experience
Students in Stuart School of Business graduate programs who have sufficient work experience may obtain credit by proficiency for courses (up to nine credit hours total) through satisfactory performance on Stuart credit by proficiency examinations. Learn more.
Scholarships
Applicants to the Master of Public Administration program (except Chicago Police and Fire Department applicants, as noted below) are eligible for the Stuart M.P.A. Scholarship, a 35 percent scholarship ($5,393 per semester for nine credit hours).
Chicago Police and Fire Department applicants: Contact Stuart School of Business for information regarding scholarships and tuition deferment.
Veteran applicants: Illinois Institute of Technology proudly processes Department of Veterans Affairs benefits for admitted veteran students. Click here for more information.
Read more about Stuart scholarship opportunities and tuition and fees:
Stuart Scholarships Tuition and Fees
Program Specializations
- Nonprofit and Mission-Driven Management
- Security, Safety, and Risk Management
- Economic Development and Social Entrepreneurship
One-Year Accelerated M.P.A. Program
The Stuart Master of Public Administration program offers a one-year, three-semester program option for international students. Students can choose among five concentrations to develop knowledge and skills in a specialized area. Classes are held in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. For more information, contact M.P.A. Program Director Roland Calia.
More M.P.A. Options
M.P.A. with Emergency Planning Focus
Develop your managerial and leadership skills to implement effective emergency planning and preparedness programs.
Dual-Degree Programs
Prepare for leadership positions by combining the M.P.A. with another graduate degree in business (M.B.A.), design (M.Des.), or law (J.D.).
Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP)
Current Illinois Tech undergraduates can earn both a bachelor’s degree and an M.P.A. in as few as five years through the AMP co-terminal option.
Move Your Career Forward
“I think Stuart’s strengths lie in the experience of its professors. The faculty in the M.P.A. program not only understand academics, but their courses are approached from a practical, real-world standpoint.”
“The courses broadened my vision of public administration. I expanded my understanding of research methodology, grasped analytic skills such as problem logic models and strategic planning, and learned how to evaluate the performance of policies with statistical analyses.”
M.P.A. Certificate Programs
Enhance your expertise with the latest industry-relevant ideas, skills, and tools. Choose among the following Master of Public Administration certificates (four courses each). You can apply all approved certificate coursework toward the M.P.A. degree.
Seeking a new career path, Scott Greene combined his interest in government with a Stuart M.P.A. degree to land a position as a city budget analyst in Chicago.
Scott Greene (M.P.A. ’16)
Ambika Sahay Verma chose a Stuart dual-degree program to gain the right combination of skills and hands-on experiences to launch her on a career path into tech company management.
Ambika Sahay Verma (M.B.A./M.P.A. ’22)
As a graduate student at Illinois Tech and then as a policy researcher at a think tank, Yinman Zhong’s vision of policymaking has expanded, and so have her career goals.
Yinman Zhong (M.P.A. ’16)
Mental health treatment goes up, emergency calls go down. Stuart alumna Catherine Sanchez is leading the way to a win-win solution for Chicago police and the community.
Catherine Sanchez (M.P.A. ’17)
M.P.A. courses in policy analysis and quantitative research methods inspired Xi Chen to pursue a doctorate on the way to a potential academic career.
Xi Chen (M.P.A. ’17)
Responding to Pandemic Challenges
How can government, health care, education, and community organizations and their leaders most effectively meet the continuing economic and social challenges and threats arising from the global COVID-19 pandemic? Industry Associate Professor of Public Administration Joanne E. Howard is editor of a book addressing this timely question.
Read More
Passion, Passed Down
M.P.A. alumna Myetie Hamilton didn’t have to look far for inspiration as a child growing up: her grandfather, and his actions, instilled in her a passion to advocate for and help others succeed.
Read MoreFeatured Faculty
Roland Calia
Joanne E. Howard
Weslynne Ashton
Alan Secor
Michael Fagel
Smriti Anand
Xiaoyun “Aarn” Cao
Arthur A. Malinowski Jr.
Master of Engineering in Public Works
The Stuart M.P.A. program collaborates with Illinois Tech’s Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering for the Master of Engineering in Public Works (Infrastructure Engineering and Management) program.
Stuart Stands Out
Only Business School in a Tech-Focused University in Chicago
Internship and Career Guidance
Stuart’s Career Management Center offers personalized resources exclusively for business students.