Program Overview
The program offers a full-time track for completion in one year or a part-time track in two years. Students benefit from a cohort model, real-time studies, and access to the Center for Nonprofit Organizations. Graduates are equipped for careers in government, social services, nonprofits, and emergency management.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a professional graduate degree that prepares individuals for leadership roles in local, state, and federal government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and nonprofit organizations. It is considered the equivalent of an MBA for individuals in the public sector. The fully-online MPA program at Sacred Heart University (SHU) is designed for students seeking public sector career placement or advancement. It offers two completion tracks: a full-time option that allows students to earn their MPA in one year and a part-time track that allows students to complete their degree in as little as two years. The program's cohort model provides students with the opportunity to collaborate closely with peers and mentors for a personalized and highly supportive graduate experience. Through SHU's partnership with the Institute for Sustainability & Social Justice, students participate in real-time studies, equipping them with hands-on skills for their careers. In partnership with SHU's Jack Welch College of Business & Technology, students have access to the Center for Nonprofit Organizations.
Careers:
With an MPA degree, graduates are prepared for careers in the following fields:
- Federal, state, and local government
- Social and community services
- Private industry
- Public safety
- Nonprofits The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a projected demand for both non-profit management and emergency management personnel in the years to come:
- The non-profit sector is the third largest industry in the U.S., consisting of 1.5 million organizations; in Connecticut alone, there are nearly 30,000 non-profits.
- Employment of emergency management directors is projected to grow 6 percent by 2024, with a median annual wage of $70,500.
Other:
- Sacred Heart University offers a 50% tuition discount for first responders throughout the tri-state area who enroll in the program.
- Students can apply to the Bachelor's-Master of Public Administration (MPA) 4+1 Dual Degree Program as an incoming freshman and be admitted directly into the graduate program at the same time as their admission as an undergraduate student.
