Why pursue an MPA degree?

  • The CMU MPA program develops knowledge and skills that are essential for the management of organizations.
  • Graduates of MPA programs engage in public sector services that are essential to the functioning of society.
  • There will be more job opportunities in the public sector than the private sector.
  • Opportunities for promotion will be greater in the future than has been the case in the past.
  • The MPA is the credential for obtaining promotions.
  • CMU's MPA program emphasizes constraints and opportunities generated by political, cultural, historical, and economic environments.
  • The public, nonprofit, and health care sectors provide unparalleled opportunities for new ideas and innovation.
  • The MPA program facilitates a deeper understanding of policy and administrative processes.

Rick Caceres-Rodriguez
Ph.D. Student
Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy
State University of New York, Albany

"The MPA degree at Central Michigan not only prepared me to professionally pursue a career in public service, but it gave me the tools to think about government in new ways, through different lenses. As a result, I quickly realized that I wanted to embrace public administration as a field of inquiry as opposed to practice; that I would contribute through research and analysis of public affairs. I believe Central Michigan University in general and the MPA program in particular, set the foundations for an extraordinary, interesting, and challenging academic career in Public Administration."

Avent, Shirley T.

"As a Public Administrator for the Virginia Department of Corrections, the CMU Masters of Public Administration Program provided me with additional tools, tactics and strategies for enhancing my overall effectiveness as a leader."

Barbara Harding, RN, MPA, CCM, PAHM
Nurse Manager, Pediatric Ambulatory Care & Interim Nurse Manager, Adult Medicine Specialties
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System

"Seeking a Master’s degree has always been a personal goal. With the passing of each year, obtaining the degree seemed to become an insurmountable goal until I explored the options that Central Michigan University (CMU) offered. Attending weekend classes was a perfect option for me to continue to work full-time while going to school full-time. The two year flew by fast!"

"I have found that a Master’s degree in Public Administration combined with my healthcare experience has enabled me to pursue opportunities that have not been available to me before. It is my hope to continue to working in health care systems where I make an impact on population health leading to an improved quality of life. A focus on public administration has assisted me in developing my skills to strengthen my capacity to achieve these challenges."