Skip to Content
Arts and Sciences
Group of students talking with a professor.
Graduate
Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)

Public Administration

The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree serves students interested in careers in the public and nonprofit sectors. Ranked as a Best Program for nonprofit management by U.S. News & World Report, the program is accredited by NASPAA. As part of that process, our New Jersey based department goes through a rigorous self-study process where every aspect of the program is critically examined. View the self study report »

Seton Hall University's Master of Public Administration program, ranked 21st in the nation, offers a versatile degree with a social justice component, focusing on developing managerial and analytical skills alongside ethical and professional values. The program is designed for those seeking a public administration career, providing flexibility with part-time options and incorporating a capstone internship to enhance practical experience. The program offers dual degree options and caters to public administration program students by providing career opportunities in diverse public service roles. This public administration degree uniquely prepares graduates to lead effectively in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Why get an MPA degree?

Our M.P.A. prepares students for leadership roles in a variety of public service settings – from executive director of a homeless shelter, to program director for an NGO fighting AIDS in Africa, to business manager of a local municipality, to chief of staff for a U.S. Senator. We are dedicated to helping each student find the career that fits him or her best and we pride ourselves on bringing academic theory into practice. Course schedules are convenient for working students, and the program is offered year-round on campus, including summers and weekends. Our South Orange, NJ campus is located only 14-miles from Manhattan and New York City. Scholarship opportunities specifically for M.P.A. students are available.

NASPAA accredited
US News and World Report badge for the Best Grad Schools- Public Affairs for 2023-2024Badge for US News and World Report- Best Online Programs- Grad Education and Non-Profit Management

Want to Learn More?

Attend a virtual information session and receive an overview of the program, meet our faculty and ask questions. Plus, attendees receive an application fee waiver just for attending!

Upcoming Sessions

  • Monday, November 18, 2024 at 7 p.m.

Register Now

By the Numbers

  • 4 Degree Concentration Options
  • 24 National Ranking among Nonprofit Mgmt Programs
  • 55 Average Number of Students Enrolled in Program
  • 9 Average Class Size
ArtSci By the Numbers

Master of Public Administration

Ranked as a Best Program for Nonprofit Management by U.S. News & World Report, this program prepares students for leadership success in a variety of public service settings.

Joseph Riccardelli, MPA

"With a bachelor's degree in political science, I learned how to fix problems in the world and come up with solutions, with no knowledge of how to implement them. Seton Hall's M.P.A. program has been the perfect bridge to connect theory with the pragmatic implementation I needed. It's the M.P.A. for those who want to change the world."

Joseph Riccardelli, M.P.A. Student

What Great Minds Can Do
Rose Daphine Nakiberu

Daphine Nakiberu with diploma

What Great Minds Can Do
Rose Daphine Nakiberu

 

"While I was in Uganda, I looked at several universities. The American Embassy has a department called Education USA, and I spent two months looking for the right university. The Education advisor USA recommended Seton Hall, and immediately I went to Youtube and looked up videos about it. Those videos spoke to me. I started emailing and people were very responsive."

Read More

Curriculum

This 39-credit degree includes courses in public service management, research and statistical analysis, financial management and managerial decision-making. Students also select a concentration:

Health Policy and Management;
Nonprofit Organization Management;
Public Service: Leadership, Governance and Policy; or
Data Visualization and Analytics

Classes emphasize managerial and analytical skills, along with ethical and professional values. In each course, you’ll find small class sizes and a close-knit graduate student community.

Our faculty are leaders who practice what they teach, including the current and previous presidents of the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC) and the former president of ARNOVA, a leading national authority on nonprofit management education research. They offer internationally recognized research and teaching programs and bring their diverse skills and experiences to every classroom.

Faculty Listing

Our faculty are experts in the fields of politics and nonprofit organizations and have conducted voluminous research on various topics in the field, including, among many others, Church-State relations, nonprofit organization management, and maternal and child health. Our professors – published authors and sought-after presenters at national conferencesare – also among the foremost sources for political analysis in the tri-state area and recently have made more than 100 media appearances to discuss various political issues.

La'Tesha Sampson, Ph.D posing
La'Tesha Sampson
Director, Master in Public Administration (M.P.A.) Program and Director, MSW Practicum Education Program
View Profile
Matthew Hale posing
Matthew Hale
Associate Professor
View Profile
Terence Teo posing
Terence Teo
Associate Professor
View Profile

Our Graduate Programs

The College of Arts and Sciences is dedicated to providing graduate programs to educate the professionals, scientists, educators and leaders of the future. Our goal is to impart the skills and knowledge that graduate students need to develop and follow successful career paths and to prepare them to contribute meaningfully to society through service and/or the advancement of knowledge. We believe that an education grounded in the principles of liberal arts and dedicated to societal advancement through research and interdisciplinary studies is the best instrument for producing well-rounded citizens with intentions that are both personally fulfilling and noble.

Contact Us

  • Michael Dooney, Ph.D.
  • Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs
  • (973) 275-2155
  • [email protected]

Loading Master of Public Administration...