Public servants perform meaningful work and have the chance to operate on the cutting edge of trends that are reshaping the public sector. According to a 2024 report by consulting firm Deloitte, public sector employees are actively working to do things such as:
Completing a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program can significantly enhance an individual’s public administration expertise and prepare them for a rewarding career in public administration leadership. Earning an MPA can lead to any of a number of fulfilling careers in the public or nonprofit sector that enable professionals to make a lasting difference in the world.
Defining the MPA degree starts with defining public administration itself. In its broadest sense, public administration involves overseeing and managing the resources — funding, personnel and information — necessary to develop and implement the programs and services that government entities and charitable organizations provide. Those programs and services are initiated through policies, and evaluating the effectiveness of those policies is an important aspect of public administration.
MPA programs are centered on critical public administration values such as:
The Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration, an accreditation organization for public administration educational programs, establishes standards for what students should learn in public administration programs. Specifically, these programs strive to prepare students to:
Coursework in an MPA curriculum is designed to help students hone certain key skills that they can apply to any of a range of public administration careers. MPA programs typically require students to complete 36 credit hours that include required courses and electives, both of which are outlined below.
The courses that MPA programs require students to take establish a solid foundation for working in public service. Examples of the topics that required courses cover include:
The elective courses in MPA programs offer students the opportunity to develop expertise in areas of interest for specific types of MPA careers. Elective courses cover topics such as:
Completing an MPA program helps equip students with a wide range of knowledge and skills that can help them to:
Individuals have many different career opportunities with an MPA, and developing certain public administration skills can help them succeed in any career devoted to public service.
The skills outlined below, which students strengthen by completing an MPA program, help individuals make the most of their public administration careers.
Serving the public effectively depends on strong communication, so people who work in public administration benefit from developing their ability to communicate, both orally and in writing. For example, people in public administration careers often need to make presentations or write reports that make points clearly and enable their audience to understand critical information.
Being able to collaborate with other stakeholders, for example, with individuals in other agencies or community groups, helps public service administrators achieve many goals. By collaborating with diverse groups, administrators also are more likely to consider varying points of view in setting public policies.
Public service issues can be complex, and people who fill positions in public administration need to be able to develop solutions to difficult issues. This can also extend to finding ways to resolve internal conflicts within a public service organization or external conflicts with outside parties.
Public administrators can be called upon to handle a variety of responsibilities, so they benefit from developing good organizational skills. From running meetings to conducting research to staying on top of the current operations of public service programs, the duties of individuals working in public service can vary greatly. They need to take an organized approach to carrying out all of their immediate and long-term responsibilities.
Working in a leadership role in public administration entails delegating important duties to program staff. Being able to effectively delegate is a skill, and good public administrators know how to assign tasks in a manner that aligns with individuals’ abilities and expertise. Strong public administrators know when to give staff autonomy in completing their assigned tasks and exercising their own judgment.
Whether they are working for a nonprofit organization or a government agency, public service professionals need to have good budgeting skills. Being able to monitor a budget, link funding with specific initiatives and seek new sources of funds can be invaluable to an individual who works in public service.
Strategic planning is critical to achieving a public service organization’s mission. Public service administrators need to know how to craft a plan that can lead to the accomplishment of objectives that support the overall mission. They also need to be able to establish timelines for completing objectives and monitor whether their organization operates within those timelines.
Completing an MPA degree program can prepare individuals to pursue any of an extensive variety of public administration careers. Some specific examples of what you can do with an MPA are detailed below.
Compliance officers concentrate on ensuring that an organization follows all applicable laws and regulations. They play an important role in educating organization employees on legal and regulatory requirements. A compliance officer’s responsibilities can extend to ensuring that an organization establishes and follows internal controls to help achieve compliance with all requirements.
Though it is not required, compliance officers can demonstrate their expertise by earning a certification such as the International Association of Risk and Compliance Professionals’ certified risk and compliance management professional (CRCMP) certification.
The median annual salary of compliance officers was $75,670 as of May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS projects 5 percent growth in compliance officer positions from 2022 to 2032. That growth rate exceeds the BLS’s forecast of 3 percent growth across all occupations during the same time period.
Social and community service managers oversee programs that support and strengthen the well-being of people in their community For example, they can manage programs that support particular groups of people such as older people, unhoused individuals, people with mental health challenges or those with substance abuse disorders.
Social and community service managers identify the specific needs of a community, administer programs that seek to address those needs and then evaluate the effectiveness of the programs.
According to the BLS, social and community service managers had a median annual salary of $77,030 as of May 2023. The BLS projects a robust 9 percent job growth rate for social and community service managers from 2022 to 2032.
MPA careers also include those in urban and regional planning. In this field, individuals develop strategies for how a community will use its land and infrastructure. Urban and regional planners analyze a community’s needs, then research and plan how to use land and infrastructure to meet those needs. In conducting their work, urban and regional planners communicate with stakeholders, examine the feasibility of potential uses of land and infrastructure, and consider the social and environmental issues that can affect the plans for a community.
While certification is not a requirement to work in urban and regional planning, the American Planning Association’s American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) offers certification for urban planners who wish to demonstrate their credentials in the field.
According to the BLS, urban and regional planners had a median annual salary of $81,800 as of May 2023, and the profession is expected to see 4 percent job growth between 2022 and 2032.
Emergency management directors develop and help carry out the plans and processes to be used to respond to emergencies and natural disasters. They identify and assess risks and hazards that could occur, offer training in emergency response and assess the damage after an emergency or natural disaster has occurred. Emergency management directors can also apply for federal disaster aid and coordinate with other organizations to share resources in the event of a disaster.
Some employers require individuals to demonstrate their emergency management credentials by earning a certification such as the International Association of Emergency Managers’ certified emergency manager (CEM) credential.
The BLS reports that, as of May 2023, emergency management directors had a median annual salary of $83,960, and employment in the field is expected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032.
Working as a budget analyst is another popular MPA career choice. Budget analysts focus on planning and monitoring an organization’s finances. Budget analysts are responsible for preparing regular budget status reports, examining budget requests from various departments and overseeing the organization’s expenditures. Budget analysts also prepare the organization’s overall budget, keep managers apprised of funding availability and advise leadership on financial matters.
While certification is not always a requirement to work as a budget analyst, people who work in the field can enhance their credentials by earning a certification such as the AGA’s (formerly the Association of Government Accountants) certified government financial manager (CGFM) credential.
According to the BLS, budget analysts had a median annual salary of $84,940 as of May 2023. The BLS forecasts 3 percent growth in budget analyst positions from 2022 to 2032.
As their job title implies, fundraising managers focus on bringing in funds such as donations and grants for an organization. This responsibility includes duties such as crafting and implementing fundraising strategies, planning and holding fundraisers, completing and submitting grant applications, and monitoring the achievement of fundraising goals. Working as a fundraising manager can also require identifying and meeting with potential donors.
Certified Fund Raising Executive International offers the certified fundraising executive (CFRE) certification to fundraising professionals who want to enhance their credentials in the field. However, certification is not generally required to work in the profession.
The BLS reports that fundraising managers had a median annual salary of $119,200 as of May 2023, and the number of jobs in the field is expected to grow 5 percent between 2022 and 2032.
Policy analysts research proposed and existing policies and identify the possible effects and ramifications of those policies on the community. Policy analysts also develop and advise others about new policy proposals. Analyzing data is a large component of a policy analyst’s responsibilities, as is presenting the results of that analysis both orally and in writing.
The BLS groups policy analysts within the category of political scientists, who had a median annual salary of $132,350 as of May 2023. The BLS projects strong job growth for political scientists, with 7 percent growth expected from 2022 to 2032.
After gaining experience in positions of increasing responsibility, individuals with an MPA can work as a city manager. The primary role of a city manager is to oversee all the functions of a city’s government, including areas such as human resources, finance and budgeting. A city manager is responsible for carrying out the decisions that the city council members make, ensuring that the city’s functions comply with all requirements and addressing citizens’ concerns.
Although certification is not required for the role, earning a designation such as the National Certified Public Manager Consortium’s certified public manager (CPM) credential can help aspiring city managers demonstrate their expertise.
The BLS includes city managers within the category of top executives, whose median annual salary was $103,840 as of May 2023. It also projects 3 percent job growth for top executives through 2032.
Earning an MPA is a great way to launch a fulfilling career. The many positions available to MPA program graduates enable people to apply their public administration expertise to strengthening our society and improving the lives of others.
Individuals who have an interest in pursuing graduate education in public administration can explore Augusta University Online’s Master of Public Administration degree program to learn how it can help them achieve their career goals. Preparing public administrators to strengthen their communities, the program provides students with relevant knowledge and skills that they can put to use in a rewarding public administration career.
Start progressing along the public administration career path today.
Recommended Readings
Augusta University Online Adds MPA, MAISS Beginning Fall 2024
Remote Learning Resources for Students and Teachers
Why Is an MPA Degree Important, and What Are the Benefits?
Sources:
AGA, CGFM Certification
American Planning Association, AICP
Certified Fund Raising Executive International, Certification
Deloitte, “Government Trends 2024”
Indeed, “The Benefits of Earning a Public Administration Degree”
Indeed, “City Manager Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications”
Indeed, “How to Become Policy Analyst in 5 Steps (Plus Job Duties)”
Indeed, “How to Become a Public Administrator (With Skills)”
Indeed, “What Does an Urban Planner Do? Duties, Skills and Career Steps”
Indeed, “What Is Public Administration? (With 12 Career Options)”
International Association of Emergency Managers, Certification Intro
International Association of Risk and Compliance Professionals, Get Certified
National Certified Public Manager Consortium, What Is a Certified Public Manager
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration, NASPAA Standards
Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, “9 Essential Nonprofit Management Skills and Development Tips”
PA Times, “The Purpose and Scope of Public Administration for Democracies”
Partnership for Public Service, Working in Our Federal Government
Robert Walters, “The Role of a Compliance Officer”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Budget Analysts
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Emergency Management Directors
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, 13-1041 Compliance Officers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Political Scientists
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Social and Community Service Managers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Top Executives
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Urban and Regional Planners
