Master of Public Administration
Achieve your public service career goals
Northern Arizona University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program combines rigorous courses and hands-on learning experiences to prepare you for leadership or management positions in the public and not-for-profit job sectors.
Our mission
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) at Northern Arizona University prepares pre-service and mid-career professionals for leadership and management roles in public and not-for-profit sectors. As the preeminent public MPA program in Northern Arizona, we play a unique role in serving the people and public institutions of this region at the county, municipal, state, tribal and federal levels. In addition to this regional focus, the program serves students from throughout the state, the nation and even internationally. The curriculum of the NAU Master of Public Administration builds a strong foundation in the theoretical and practical dimensions of public management and educates students within a program of study that facilitates intellectual development, promotes scholarship, and integrates the theory and practice of public administration with the promotion of public service values.
To learn more about how to get started, please join us at one of our Information Sessions.
Applied Indigenous Studies partnership
If you are interested in tribal government and administration, our geographical proximity to a number of indigenous nations provides access to educational resources and opportunities that are not available at most other institutions.
Also, we have a unique and innovative partnership with the Department of Applied Indigenous Studies that allows you to concurrently complete a certificate program in Indigenous and Tribal Nation-Building, Leadership, Management, and Administration.
NAU’s MPA program is a NASPAA member institution.
The MPA program is accredited by Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NAASPA), which is the global standard in public service education. It is the membership and accreditation organization of graduate education programs in public policy, public affairs, public administration, and public and nonprofit management. Its nearly 300 members — located across the U.S. and in 14 countries around the globe — award MPA, MPP, MPAff and similar degrees
Learn more about our Master of Public Administration degree.
Program Structure
The MPA Program at Northern Arizona University is housed within the Department of Politics and International Affairs in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.