program comparison

Master of Public Administration and Master of Public Policy
at The University of Utah

Program Comparison

The Center for Public Policy & Administration at The University of Utah administers both a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree. Often times, we are asked about the differences between these two degrees. The programs have similar goals, but they differ in focus, curriculum and requirements. However, there is overlap, and the two programs work closely together to assist students in making their decision about which degree program to pursue.

To start, we recommend asking yourself three important questions:

  • What are my career goals?
  • What is the core set of professional skills I want to develop?
  • What aspect of professional public service do I want to specialize in?

 

MPA

MPP

Purpose

Prepares graduates for public service careers in government, nonprofit and private sectors.

Prepares graduates for public service careers in government, nonprofit and private sectors.

Focus

Administration and management.

Policy, planning, and research.

Prerequisites

U.S. National Government (co-requisite)

U.S. National Government
Microeconomics
Introductory Statistics

Required Core Courses
  • Administrative Theory
  • Research Design
  • Public Human Resources Management
  • Governance & the Economy
  • Public Administration & Law
  • Nonprofit & Non-governmental Organizations
  • Public Budgeting and Finance
  • Ethics
  • Capstone
  • Public Policy Theory and Application
  • Quantitative Methods for Public Policy
  • Policy Analysis
  • Public Policy Research
  • Public Finance: Taxation and Expenditures
  • Law and Economics
  • Policy and Program Evaluation
  • Survey Research Methods
  • Applied Policy Project

Elective Courses

Five (minimum of 15 semester hours), four can be taken in outside departments

Four (minimum of 12 semester hours)

Total Semester Hours Needed for Degree

42

40

Internship

Students without at least one year of experience must complete a paid internship

Not required

Concentrations or Emphasis
  • Criminal Justice
  • Education (K-12 & Higher Ed)
  • Health Administration
  • Local Government Administration
  • Natural Resource Administration
  • Nonprofit Organizations
  • Policy Analysis
  • Human Resources Management
  • Family & Social Welfare Policy
  • Health Policy
  • Community Policy
  • Environmental Policy
  • International Context of Policy
  • Education Policy
  • Economic Policy
  • Urban Affairs Policy

Joint Degree Programs
  • Juris Doctor/MPA
  • MPA/Master of Health Administration
  • MPA/Master of Social Work
  • MPA/Master of Public Health
  • Ph.D. in Social Work/MPA
  • Ph.D. Educational Leadership & Policy/MPA
  • Juris Doctor/MPP
  • MPP/Master of Public Health
  • Bachelors of Arts or Science in Political Science or Economics/MPP

Program Formats

Evening – designed for the working adult, evening classes
Executive- designed for students with at least five years of administrative experience in public or nonprofit organizations, weekend classes

Evening – core courses are offered in the evening. Designed for the working adult.

Writing Requirement

Major Research Paper

Applied Policy Project

Time Required

Two years of full time study, up to four years of part time study

Two years of full time study, up to four years of part time study

Tuition

Evening program follows U of U graduate tuition rate, plus additional $240/class.
Executive program varies, but is around $25,000 inclusive

Follows the U of U graduate tuition rate

Student Association

MPPASA – Master of Public Policy and Administration Student Association

MPPASA – Master of Public Policy and Administration Student Association

Honor Society

Pi Alpha Alpha

Pi Alpha Alpha

Application Deadline

February 15 for the Evening Program
April 1 until filled for the Executive Program

March 1

Undergraduate Grade Point Average Required

3.2

3.0

What are the Types of Jobs Graduates Have?

Nonprofit director, city manager, state and county department or division director, HR manager, public safety (e.g., police, fire, paramedic), government relations/communications specialist, armed forces administrators-foreign and domestic settings.

Policy analyst, data analyst, policy consultant, government relations officer, research associate, economic development manager, investigator/auditor, fiscal analyst, budget analyst, planner, foreign service officer.