UMass Boston

Statement of Purpose
Write a 300 word essay on your reasons for considering this UMass Boston MPA program in relation to your academic background, professional work experience, and career goals and a 1,200 word essay describing your personal qualities and development and how they have influenced your career choice.

Official Transcripts
Submit official copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all colleges attended.

GRE Scores
(Optional). Send your official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. Previous scores less than five years old will be accepted.

*If you would like to waive the GRE exam, click on 'I am not taking any standardized tests' within the examination section of the application portal.

• Register for the GRE
• Institutional code: 3924

Letters of Recommendation
Please include three letters of recommendation. We prefer that one letter be from a former professor or individual who can address your intellectual aptitude for graduate study; others can be from a supervisor or other professional reference.

Résumé or CV
Add a current résumé or CV noting your previous educational (a bachelor's degree is required) and working experience.

Deadlines: April 1 (priority) and June 15 (final) for fall

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Estimate Your Program Cost: Get a feel for your expected program costs using the Graduate Program Cost Calculator.

Program Cost Information: For more detailed information on costs, please visit the Bursar's website or send an email to Bursar@umb.edu. Please refer to Graduate Student Financial Aid for more information on financial aid.

Fall I

• PUBADM 602 New England Economic Environment
• PUBADM 610 Public Management
• PUBADM 65X Policy Workshop (weekend seminar, 1 credit, topics rotate)
• PUBADM 65X Policy Workshop (weekend seminar, 1 credit, topics rotate)

Spring I

• PUBADM 601 New England Political Environment
• PUBADM 620 Analytical Skills I
• PUBADM 65X Policy Workshop (weekend seminar, 1 credit, topics rotate)
• PUBADM 65X Policy Workshop (weekend seminar, 1 credit, topics rotate)

Summer I

• PUBADM 625 Public Budgeting & Financial Management

Fall II

• Elective Public Administration electives are offered on a rotating basis.
• PUBADM 621 Analytical Skills II
• PUBADM 65X Policy Workshop (weekend seminar, 1 credit, topics rotate)
• PUBADM 65X Policy Workshop (weekend seminar, 1 credit, topics rotate)

Spring II

• PUBADM 614 Human Resources Management
• PUBADM 691 Capstone: Case Study Seminar (6 credits)

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

Year 1 - Gender, Leadership and Public Policy Courses (15 Credits or 18 Credits)*

• PUBADM 619 WPPP: Contemporary American Public Policy Issues 3 Credit(s)
• PUBADM 622 WPPP: Fall Internship 3 Credit(s)
• PUBADM 623 WPPP: Women in American Politics and Policy Making 3 Credit(s)
• PUBADM 624 WPPP: Spring Internship 3 Credit(s)
• PUBADM 628 Research Methods for Policy Analysis 3 Credit(s)
• PUBADM 629 Leadership and Organizations: Gender, Power and Authority 3 Credit(s)

*Students who take 15 credits in year one must substitute a program-approved elective for PUBADM 622 and 624. They will receive an MPA at the end of their course of study. Students who take 18 credits in year one will receive the Gender, Leadership and Public Policy graduate certificate at the end of year one, and an MPA at the end of year two.

Year 2 - Public Administration Courses (21 Credits)

• PUBADM 610 Public Management: Theories and Principles  3 Credit(s)
• PUBADM 614 Human Resources Management 3 Credit(s)
• PUBADM 620 Analytic Skills I: Skills for Policy Analysis 3 Credit(s)
• PUBADM 621 Analytic Skills II: Research Methods 3 Credit(s)
• PUBADM 625 Public Budgeting and Financial Management 3 Credit(s)
• PUBADM 691 Capstone / Case Study Seminar 6 Credit(s)

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

An accelerated MPA-GLPP curriculum is available for graduates of the GLPP certificate program. It consists of all courses listed above for Year 2 of the MPA-GLPP curriculum. Please contact the MPA program (public.affairs@umb.edu) for details.

• Learn career-enhancing public management skills in:
• Budgeting and finance.
• Economic and political processes.
• Ethics.
• Organizational behavior and management.
• Performance management.
• Policy analysis.
• Program evaluation.
• Research methods and design.

Program Requirements: General Track

Complete 36 credits from 15 courses including seven required courses, one elective, six policy workshops, and one case study capstone.

Capstone: Completion of a written paper and oral presentation.

Statute of limitations: Four years.

Program Requirements:  Gender, Leadership, & Public Policy Track

Complete 36 credits from eleven courses including five gender, leadership, and public policy courses; five public administration courses, and one case study capstone course.

Capstone: Completion of a written paper and oral presentation.

Statute of limitations: Four years.

The mission of the Master of Public Administration program at the University of Massachusetts Boston is to foster highly-competent, active, and ethical public administrators with:

• a holistic understanding of the political, social, technological, and economic factors that influence the development and implementation of public policies;
• firm knowledge of the range of methodologies appropriate to policy analysis and program evaluation;
• a solid grounding in the skills required for planning, implementing, and monitoring public sector programs; and
• the ability to prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and antiracism in all aspects of public service.

Graduates will:

• contribute to society as leaders, public administrators, policy analysts, and program evaluators, in the governmental and nonprofit sectors to advance an efficient and effective public sector; and
• serve the public good and promote the public value, social justice, and equity in the Greater Boston area, Massachusetts, the United States, and in the global community.

MPA Nucleus Faculty

• Michael Ahn
• Peter Federman
• Michael Johnson
• Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson
• Amy Smith
• Christian Weller

MPA-GLPP track Core Faculty

• Yvonne Anthony
• Emily Hardt
• Yvonne Spicer
• Tracy Wallach

MPA Instructors or Affiliated Faculty

• Heather MacIndoe
• Trevor Memmott
• Sean Michael Mossey
• Madhawa Palihapitiya
• Sanford Pooler
• Daniel Santos

Graduate Program Director Michael Johnson
Graduate Program Administrator, Outreach and Recruitment Jack Li
public.affairs@umb.edu
(617) 287-6905