Three schools currently offer an online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program in Alabama: Columbia Southern University, Jacksonville State University, and Troy University. Through the programs offered at these institutions, students can earn a graduate degree in public administration focusing on areas including Criminal Justice Administration, Emergency Management, Political Science, and Public Health Administration. All the programs included here are conducted fully online with no on-campus requirements.
Columbia Southern University, Jacksonville State University, and Troy University are all regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Learn more about their online MPA programs below.
Schools in Alabama with Online MPA Programs
Columbia Southern University (CSU) offers an online MPA program through its College of Business. The two-year program utilizes a writing-intensive approach to focus on advancing the knowledge and skills needed to design, implement, and manage programs and policies that address societal issues. MPA students can follow a General Public Administration degree path or elect to specialize in Criminal Justice Administration or Emergency Services Management. Regardless of the chosen specialization, the curriculum is comprised of 36 graduate credit hours, including 24 core credits and 12 concentration/elective credits. A typical course is three credit hours, and full-time students can enroll in a maximum of 6 credit hours – or two classes –per nine-week semester. Core coursework emphasizes topics including ethics, research methods, public policy, public finance and budgeting, strategic planning, and organizational theory. Note
CSU utilizes the Blackboard Learning Management System to deliver its online curriculum, and classes are attended asynchronously, allowing students to access lectures on their own schedule. Students also use the myCSU Student Portal to view grades, enroll in classes, and access their student account.
Jacksonville State University‘s (JSU) online MPA program, which has attained additional programmatic accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), combines practical and theoretical approaches to the study of public administration, with a focus on the intersection of the public and private sectors. Coursework will vary by concentration, and students in the program can choose from four distinct areas of specialization: Administrative Management, Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, and Political Science. The MPA curriculum consists of 39 graduate credit hours distributed into core courses and electives. The nine core courses cover subject areas including public policy, leadership and ethics, budgeting and finance, public organizational theory, and research methods. In addition to coursework, students are required to pass a comprehensive exam during their final semester of study that showcases the skills and knowledge they acquired throughout the degree program. Students enrolled full-time can expect to graduate within 18 to 24 months.
JSU’s online MPA program is offered fully online and classes are conducted asynchronously, meaning lectures are prerecorded for students to view on their own schedule. As part of the core curriculum, students without a minimum of one year of full-time or two years of part-time professional experience in a federal, state, or local government agency or nonprofit organization are required to complete a three-credit internship during their final semester of study. Those who meet the professional criteria are typically able to waive this requirement.
Troy University offers an online MPA program with the option of earning an additional Certificate in Public Health Administration. The program is comprised of 36 graduate credit hours and consists of seven core courses, three (or four) elective courses, an internship, and a capstone course designed to be completed during a student’s final semester. While Troy does not offer specific areas of concentration within its MPA program, students can build a personalized specialization by choosing electives with a common focus, such as International Relations, Public Policy, and Non-Profit Management. For students who elect to pursue an additional certificate in Public Health Administration, five of the Public Health Administration certificate courses (four electives and one core course) can be applied toward a student’s MPA degree. The online MPA program can be completed in as few as 15 months for students who enroll full-time.
Troy University requires all students with less than one year of relevant professional experience to complete a three-credit internship, and internship placements must receive advanced approval. Students with significant professional experience may submit a waiver for the internship requirement, and if approved, complete a fourth elective course in lieu of an internship.