UAlbany Professor Jianjun Hong standing in front of the Rockefeller College sign.

Master of Public Administration in
Public Administration and Policy
Online or On Campus

Become a Public Service Leader and Policy Expert

Ranked among the top 30 public affairs programs in the nation, the Rockefeller College Master of Public Administration program prepares you to excel as a government administrator, policy analyst, information technology manager, or strategic and financial leader of public and nonprofit institutions.

As you move through the MPA curriculum and complete your professional internship, you learn how to successfully oversee projects, support and motivate teams, improve organizational performance, and monitor policy impact to help solve complex socioeconomic problems.

Additional Program Information

Graduate Bulletin  |  Department Contact: Jaclyn Napoleon

Program of Study

programofstudy
Core Courses
 
  • Introduction to Foundations of Public Administration
  • Public and Nonprofit Financial Management
  • Valuing People in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
  • Principles of Public Economics
  • Data, Models, and Decisions
  • Statistics for Public Managers and Policy Analysts
  • Foundations of Public Management
  • Integrative Capstone

Concentration Courses
 

Choose at least three courses in one concentration and an additional elective from an area of interest. See below for details.

 

Elective Courses

You can take elective courses in the following areas:

  • Crime and Justice Policy
  • Education Policy
  • Environmental Policy & Politics
  • Global Affairs
  • Healthcare Management
  • Health Policy
  • History and Policy
  • Homeland Security
  • Human Resources Management
  • Information Policy
  • Diversity Management
  • Contracting Management
  • Organizational Behavior and Theory
  • Policy Analysis
  • Social Welfare Policy
  • Urban Planning and Policy
  • Women and Policy
Career Experience/Professional Internship
 

Gain valuable real-world experience through internships in both the public and private sector, locally, nationally and abroad. Internships can be full time or part time and are almost always paid opportunities. 

Because Rockefeller College is located in the heart of the New York State capital, you can choose from a wide variety of career-aligned internship opportunities available in the state legislature, federal agencies, public service departments, political organizations, nonprofit groups, and policy research firms.

Sample internship placements: New York State Senate Finance Committee; New York State Office of Counter Terrorism; Social Security Administration, American Red Cross; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

If you have two years of relevant full-time employment experience or are concurrently working full-time in the Public Affairs, Administration, International Affairs or non-profit sectors, you may be eligible to waive the MPA internship requirement.


Certificate Options
 

To further support your career goals, you can earn a concurrent certificate in public management, nonprofit management, or women and public policy that counts toward your MPA requirements.

Areas of Concentration
Non-Profit Management and Leadership

Choose this concentration if you want to pursue a management career, leadership on boards of directors, and advocacy in the diverse world of nonprofit organizations. Rockefeller’s Nonprofit Management concentration has been designed by university faculty in consultation with the nonprofit community to provide you with the foundation to become an effective leader of nonprofit and voluntary organizations.

Learn about a range of third sector entities, including those in human services, arts, social change, environmental advocacy and protection, and international development through course readings, case studies, guest lectures, and service learning opportunities.

See the MPA Manual for details

Public Policy

The concentration in public policy is suitable if you want to work as a policy analyst, or in the political/legislative sphere, or in agencies/organizations focused on specific policy areas.

Learn about methods for analyzing the impacts of policy, the policy process in political institutions, and the specific challenges of policy areas including education, environment and health.

See MPA Manual for details

Information Technology Management

This concentration prepares you for decision making roles related to the creation, management and use of information and information technologies as essential tools for problem solving and public management within single organizations and across multiple organizations, sectors, and levels of government. 

Drawing from public administration and other fields, you will learn how policies, organizational factors, information content, and information and communication technologies influence decisions and performance. 

To develop specialized skills, you can earn sub-concentrations by taking multiple courses in one or two sub-fields: Information Strategy and Management, Data Analytics and Modeling, Information Policy, or Cybersecurity.

See the MPA Manual for details

Public Economics and Finance

Manage the complex finances of public, nonprofit or healthcare organizations or become a policy or financial analyst in a policy research settings inside and outside government. Many top public and nonprofit managers began their careers in budgeting or finance. Training in finance and public economics can provide you with the skills you need for a successful career as a financial analyst, manager, or policy analyst.

Rockefeller’s Public Economics and Financial Management concentration will increase your understanding of:

  • Government policy through the lens of economic efficiency and equity
  • Analysis and design of public policy and how it relates to economics and finance
  • The processes and analytical techniques involved in developing and managing public budgets
  • Major government programs and examination from a theoretical and empirical viewpoint


See the MPA Manual for details

Public Management

Develop a theoretical and practical understanding of the knowledge and skills you need to be an effective manager. The public management concentration provides you with a comprehensive approach to management for both current and future managers in public and nonprofit organizations as well as local, state, and federal government.

See MPA Manual for sub-concentration course requirements

Homeland Security

Increase your understanding of the origin, nature, and impact of terrorism; intelligence analysis and information sharing; the role of intelligence, homeland security, and criminal justice agencies; and analytic, methodological, and technical skills used to analyze security and intelligence issues.

See the MPA Manual for details

Joint MPA / JD Program

Secure your MPA while attaining your law degree. You can earn your Master of Public Administration and Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) in only four years, rather than the usual five, through a joint program between UAlbany’s Rockefeller College and Albany Law School.

With a program focused on coursework and research, you will gain a solid theoretical framework in areas including public management, policy analysis, public finance and human resources management, as well as contracts, constitutional law, criminal law, property, and civil procedure. You will graduate with the skills to solve some of society’s most pressing socioeconomic concerns. 

This dual-degree option prepares you to be a leader in a broad range of careers in government, consulting, teaching, research and law. 

The joint MPA/JD program is designed so that a maximum of six courses may be applicable to both degrees. You will spend your first year of study exclusively at Albany Law School. Program advisors will help you develop a plan of study to complete all requirements in the remaining three years at both schools. 

You must apply to and be accepted by both programs. Visit the Albany Law School Juris Doctor Program for more information and admissions requirements.

See the Graduate Bulletin for details.

For more information, contact Jaclyn Napoleon at [email protected] or 518-442-5247, or [email protected].

International Dual Degree Program
Bocconi University
Milan, Italy

Through its MPA program, Rockefeller College partners with Bocconi University to offer a dual degree program. The first year is completed in Albany and the second year is completed in Milan (UAlbany tuition and fees). Degrees will be awarded from both programs:  Masters in Public Administration from the University at Albany, and Laurea Specialistica in Economia e Management delle Amministrazioni Pubbliche e delle Istituzioni Internazionali (CLAPI-LS). Coursework is taught in English.

Note: In addition to existing study abroad opportunities and dual-degree programs within Rockefeller College, the University’s Center for International Education and Global Strategy’s Education Abroad can connect you with many established programs abroad. Several faculty members also lead students on short-term trips abroad. To learn more, visit UAlbany’s Education Abroad website.

 

Bocconi University Milan, Italy

Career Paths in Public Administration

mpa-careers

98% of Rockefeller MPA graduates are employed within one year of graduation. 

Alumni job titles include: policy director, program analyst, finance manager, grant writer, health program coordinator, budget examiner, lobbying associate.

Recent graduates have held internships or found full-time jobs in the following organizations:

Homeland Security Jobs: New York State Office of Counter Terrorism; NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services; Central Intelligence Agency, New York State Intelligence Center, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Intelligence and Policy), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Drug Enforcement Administration, Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, U.S. military intelligence.

Local Government Jobs: City of Springfield, Massachusetts, Downtown Albany Business Improvement District; Schenectady County Government.

State Government Jobs: New York State Assembly Ways and Means Committee; New York State Department of Civil Service; New York State Senate Finance Committee.

Federal Government Jobs: Government Accountability Office; Social Security Administration; U.S. Housing and Urban Development.

Public Finance Jobs: Moody’s; New York State Division of the Budget; Public Financial Management Group, NYS Assembly Ways and Means Committee, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, U.S. Agency for International Development.

Health Care Policy Jobs: New York State Association of Health Care Providers; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Nonprofit Management Jobs: American Red Cross; Community Builders; Hope International, Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless, Adirondack Council, Habitat for Humanity, Neighborhood Preservation Coalition, Family Planning Advocates of New York State.

Policy Analysis Jobs: Business Council of New York State, United University Professions - Legislation and Research Department, Rockefeller Institute of Government, Booz Allen Hamilton, Congressional Research Service.

Information Management Jobs: U.S. Department of State, U.S. Government Accountability Office, U.S. Veterans Administration, NYS Governor's Office of Employee Relations, NYS Comptroller, NYS Office of the Attorney General, NYS Education Department, NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Center for Technology in Government, National Center for Security & Preparedness, SUNY Research Foundation.

 

Program Rankings
U.S. News and World Report


#28 in Best Public Affairs Programs (tie)


U.S. News and World Report: Specialty Rankings


#5 in Information and Technology Management

#7 in Homeland Security and Emergency Management

#17 in Nonprofit Management

#17 in Public Management and Leadership

#22 in Public Finance and Budgeting

#18 in Local Government Management

Dean Rethemeyer speaking with two students outside on the UAlbany Downtown Campus

“Rockefeller College provided me with both the practical skills and knowledge to become a successful public servant. The MPA program’s focus on developing qualitative and quantitative competencies, and on working in teams will be invaluable to me as I begin my fellowship with the New York State government. I'm confident that I can apply my expertise in public financial management to make a positive impact.”

- Emily Hetzel, MPA, '18

Office of Career Development

The Office of Career Development offers comprehensive career counseling services, including helping students and alumni identify rewarding public affairs careers. We provide résumé writing and job search advice from the initial search through acceptance of a position. Within six months of receiving their degrees nearly all of our graduates are working in a position in their chose field. In addition, many of our students are accepted into prestigious postgraduate fellowship programs such as the New York State Excelsior Service Fellowship; many of these opportunities lead to permanent employment.

Contact

The Office of Career Development

[email protected]

Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Option

If you’re a current UAlbany undergraduate student with at least a 3.2 GPA, you can save time and money by beginning your graduate degree coursework as early as your junior year. Up to 12 academic credits, billed at the undergraduate rate, will count towards both degrees – so you can complete your combined program in only 5 years and spend less than you would if you completed each program separately.

Contact your undergraduate advisor to see if you’re eligible and learn about your combined graduate program options.

UAlbany graduate with confetti at Commencement.

Admissions Requirements

admissions
Deadlines

Fall (Priority for Funding Consideration): February 1
Fall (Regular Admission): July 15
Spring: December 1
Summer: Not Available
 

Required Application Materials
  • Transcripts from all schools attended
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Resume
  • Statement of goals
    The statement is generally one to two pages discussing what you have to offer the program and what you wish to get out of the program.  It should include a brief description of the applicant's field of interest, related background, desired area of study and research emphasis or career goals. 
Special Notes

This program requires an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience requirement. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions.  If applicants have concerns about this matter please contact the Dean’s Office of the intended academic program.

Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Master of Public Administration

Rockefeller College MPA graduates should demonstrate their ability to:

  • Lead and manage in the public interest
  • Participate in and contribute to the policy process
  • Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment
  • Articulate, apply and advance a public service perspective
  • Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large

 

The Rockefeller College MPA program develops leaders, managers and advanced analysts who excel in public service within government and across sectors. We provide pre-service and mid-career students with a comprehensive core curriculum in public affairs and a diverse selection of electives to further tailor their training and prepare them to solve difficult administrative and policy problems in local, state, national and global communities. Our curriculum emphasizes the development of technical and managerial skills toward the responsible and ethical uses of discretion in the pursuit of exemplary personal and organizational performance. Our academic and professional faculty are accomplished researchers and practitioners, draw on many years of experience, produce high quality academic and professional research, and address significant issues in public management and policy.

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