Students receive education through both lecture and workshop courses.
Knowledge of statistics and computer applications is considered crucial. The M.P.A. degree is a 42-hour, interdisciplinary program that includes 18 hours of core courses and 21 hours of directed electives as well as an internship or workshop. It explores the interrelationship between economic, political, and social institutions. Students may emphasize course work in management, policy analysis, and applied technology. The curriculum places strong emphasis upon the development of computer and statistical skills that are necessary for successful performance in both the public and private sectors in the twenty-first century.