Public Administration (MPA): Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

Fuel Your Passion for Public Service

Join NKU MPA students, alumni, and faculty in serving others, strengthening communities, and leading government and nonprofit organizations! We are the only MPA program in the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati region accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), which is the quality benchmark for graduate programs around the world. Also, we are ranked #3 for Best Public Affairs Graduate Programs in the state of Kentucky by U.S. News and World Report.

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PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

CURRENT STUDENTS

Most NKU MPA students complete the 36 credit-hour degree in two years while
working full time.

Our MPA degree now has a fully online option in addition to the more traditional
in-person/hybrid format.

NKU MPA students can readily earn a graduate certificate (Nonprofit Management
or Emergency Management) and a variety of micro-credentials. More info here.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

As an MPA student, you will actively engage in academic work through service learning and capstone projects that have direct impacts, such as developing emergency management plans for city governments and writing grant applications that result in funding for nonprofit organizations.

Our alumni go on to have successful and fulfilling careers that focus on serving people and improving communities in Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati and beyond.

Program Contact Information

Missy Gish
MPA Coordinator

859-572-5326
mpa@nku.edu or gishm@nku.edu

MEET OUR STUDENTS AND ALUMNI

Cincinnati Cultural Heritage Project

As MPA students, Rosie Polter and Joe Ewald developed and implemented a very creative project – the Cincinnati Cultural Heritage Project – in their Capstone class.

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Cultural heritage is an expression of how people live and what they value, and it is developed and maintained through objects, beliefs, traditions, practices, artistic expressions and significant places.

Rosie and Joe focused on three Cincinnati neighborhoods: Walnut Hills, Price Hill, and Camp Washington. They collected data around cultural heritage by engaging residents in pop-up exhibits and storytelling nights at establishments in these neighborhoods. They recorded this information using an inventory form developed for the Cincinnati Heritage Project (CHP). Altogether, they completed 15 of these inventories. Examples of cultural heritage artifacts are the Walnut Hills Street Food Festival, the Palm Room in Walnut Hills, Union Baptist Cemetery in Price Hill, Sebastian’s Greek Restaurant in Price Hill, and Camp Washington Chili.

Please consider liking the CHP's Facebook page and following its progress.

Also, the CHP was selected for Artists Lead!, which was developed by ArtPlaceAmerica to support "creative people with great ideas for collaborative solutions to community needs." Artists Lead! enables crowdfunding of creative placemaking projects, and it matches donations dollar-for-dollar up to $15,000. Check out the CHP's page.

Program Features

work life balance

The MPA program is built for mature, career-oriented people. We offer small classes delivered both in-person and online on week nights and Saturdays.

network

We offer strong connections to government and nonprofit leaders as part-time faculty, guest speakers and advisory board members.

GRE Waiver

Students with an undergraduate GPA 3.0 or higher and in-career students with 5+ years in the public or related sector are not required to take the GRE for admission into the program.

scholarship

Our Diversity Scholarship is targeted at prospective students with a demonstrated commitment to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of diverse populations.

hands on opportunities

Service learning, student philanthropy and study abroad opportunities enhance your academic experience and your résumé.

program length

This 36-credit hour program will prepare students to manage and lead in government agencies, hospitals, universities and other nonprofit organizations; May be completed in 30 with credit for prior coursework.

FUEL YOUR FUTURE ... START HERE.

Video Transcript

[MUSIC]

It’s a Master's in Public Administration, and basically it focuses on managing and leading government and nonprofit organizations, or any organizations that fall in the broad umbrella of public administration.

I decided to get an MPA because I was working in the public sector for a while and I was working for a state agency, and at the agency everyone had the same expertise as I did but I noticed that there was a lack of leadership skills. So, I wanted to pursue the MPA to gain better leadership skills and kind of have the perfect blend of expertise and be able to manage in the public sector. I specifically chose NKU’s MPA program because I am local to Cincinnati and I wanted to be at a local university and it was also extremely accommodating to working a full time schedule.

NKU’s MPA program is very unique in the fact that we have small class sizes that offer opportunities to connect in close relationship with your professors and your classmates. Part of that has been very beneficial to students because students are able to work together in projects, give honest feedback throughout presentations, and provide a platform to further relationships with professors outside of the classroom.

Not only would an incoming student have the opportunity to learn and grow, but the MPA program has an awesome alumni association that’s connected, and so there are support systems that are in place to not only help you through the program but, once you finish and you’re out in your career, your chosen career, there’s opportunity to stay connected.

So, I do participate in the NKU MPA mentorship program. My mentee and I met as she was getting ready to graduate. So as she was working on her resume, starting to look for jobs, we were able to collaborate on that, share ideas, help her get a little bit more connected with some of the organizations and people that she was thinking about wanting to either volunteer or work with. We’ve just formed a great relationship that I think will continue on through both of our careers.

So, my advice for a new MPA student is that you can do this. This program is extremely accommodating to someone who works full time, it’s very flexible with both in person and online classes, so don’t be afraid to do this. You know getting your masters is a big deal but, through the MPA program, its accommodating enough that anyone can do it.

[MUSIC]

MPA group photo at the 30th anniversary reception

College of Arts and Sciences

MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION