Finance classes examine how to raise and spend scarce resources through effective and equitable approaches. The objectives of an MPA program are to provide fundamental understanding of the context and dynamics of the public sector, to develop generic managerial and analytic skills necessary for effective professional performance, and to offer opportunities for specialized study in a number of fields. The future leaders of public organizations need the ability to merge contemporary research and practices in management, policy, and finance with the skills and techniques necessary to implement these ideas in the real world. As in an MBA program, students may be able to concentrate in a particular functional area, such as finance or human resources management. Or they can focus their coursework on a particular policy area, such as health and human services or energy and the environment.
Many factors affect the admission decision.
The most important is the undergraduate academic record. The GRE is the next most important. Students who have been successful in the MPA program generally have scores of 500 for the verbal and 500 for the quantitative parts. Strong letters of recommendation are also important. Financing Some MPA programs offer paid internships at local government agencies.