The master of public administration is designed to prepare college graduates for professional careers in government and nonprofit agencies and to enhance the professional competence of mid-career public administrators. Class size is typically less than 15 students, allowing for a high degree of interaction between faculty and students.
Emphasis is placed on developing management generalists rather than technical or policy specialists.
The integration of theory and practice is also achieved through an applied research project and an optional internship. The joint program in law and public administration is designed for law students preparing for careers in government service requiring specialized legal knowledge. The heart of the program is a reciprocity agreement between UM's School of Law and the Graduate School, which allows the M.P.A. and J.D. degrees to be completed in a shorter period of time than if they were taken consecutively. Students interested in this program must apply to the School of Law and Graduate School separately. The thesis option prepares students for careers in teaching and research and for further study.