Public Administration, MPA

Gain a comprehensive understanding of how leadership, management, policy, and politics intersect with a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree.

Sound leadership and management are vital to organizational and governmental effectiveness. The MPA at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government puts you on a path toward senior-level positions in organizations that implement and manage public policies. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of how leadership, management, policy, and politics intersect, along with the tools to enhance your communication, budgeting, and analytic skills.

As a graduate of one of the largest MPA programs in the country, you will join thousands of Schar School alumni working in various roles in local, state, and national government, nonprofit management, and many other careers.

Email us: schar@gmu.edu

Call: 703-993-8099

• Different leadership techniques
• Effective project management
• Fundamentals of budgeting
• How to critically analyze policies and projects

Master's or certificate students who reside in Washington, D.C., and Maryland can qualify for a tuition rate is equivalent to the in-state rate! This new policy applies to Schar School students who begin their degree in fall 2023 or later. 

Academia: 6%
Federal Government: 24%
Local Government: 19%
Multilateral / International: 11%
NGO / Non-profit: 17%
Private Sector - Consulting: 10%
Private Sector - General: 11%
State Government: 2%

Data gathered from recent graduates from from 2022-23

Students can tailor their studies to align with their interests by pursuing one of the following optional program concentrations.

• Administration of Justice
• Emergency Management and Homeland Security
• Environmental Science and Public Policy
• Human Resource Management
• International Management
• Nonprofit Management
• Public Management
• Public and Nonprofit Finance
• Policy Studies
• State and Local Government
• Managing Across Sectors

At the Schar School, we develop a career success plan for students from the moment they step foot on campus until graduation and continue to provide coaching and career services to students as alumni. In addition to university-wide resources, Schar School's career advisors will help you explore career and internship opportunities, define your goals, and develop the skills needed for a successful job search, including crafting a resume and cover letter that stand out.

Our graduates continue to have access to these services after they graduate —whenever they need them. 

With George Mason University's prime location in the Washington, D.C. area, Schar School students gain access to leading scholars and practitioners closely connected to the epicenter of policymaking and public service, and the hub of the nonprofit sector.

The MPA program faculty includes renowned scholars and practitioners who focus their teaching and research on a diverse range of public administration topics in both domestic and international contexts. Public administration courses address key issues in administrative law, organization theory, emergency management, homeland security, global civic society, privacy policy, public policy, program evaluation, urban politics, race and gender politics, Virginia politics and government, technology leadership, and more. The Schar School as a whole has 90+ faculty members, as well as hundreds of adjunct faculty, allowing students to gain access to a variety of perspectives and subjects through elective courses.