There are two schools in Arkansas that currently offer an online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. Through the programs offered at Arkansas State University and Southern Arkansas University, students can earn a graduate MPA degree specializing in areas including Public Management, Non-Profit Management, and Social Entrepreneurship. Both MPA programs can be completed entirely online with no on-campus requirements.
Arkansas State University and Southern Arkansas University are both regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Learn more about each of their online MPA programs in the section below.
Schools in Arkansas with Online MPA Programs
Arkansas State University’s (A-State) online MPA program, which has attained additional programmatic accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), strives to enhance managerial and leadership skills as they pertain to public institutions and nonprofit organizations through an experiential and philosophical approach to learning. The curriculum encompasses 36 graduate credit hours, including 21 hours of core courses, nine hours of elective coursework, an internship or course in Strategic Planning, and a capstone course. Each class is seven weeks long, and those enrolled full-time can complete the program within 18 months.
Online MPA students can elect to follow an academic track focusing on either Public Management or Non-Profit Management. Students who did not complete undergraduate courses in U.S. Government and Political Analysis and/or Research Methodology will be required to complete additional co-requisite courses. In addition, while a professional internship in the field of public administration is optional, it is highly encouraged for pre-service students without relevant professional experience. Classes are conducted using asynchronous instruction, allowing students to access lectures and course materials at times that coordinate with existing professional and personal obligations.
Southern Arkansas University’s (SAU) online MPA program offers an optional emphasis in Social Entrepreneurship, focusing on leadership in public service organizations and the methods in which public administration professionals address societal issues. Conducted through SAU’s Department of History, Political Science, and Geography, the MPA curriculum consists of 36 graduate credit hours that can be completed in two years by enrolling in two classes each fall, spring, and summer semester. All students are required to complete a written Professional Project that involves working with a specific organization or agency to address a problem they are facing. Students must incorporate the skills they have learned throughout the MPA program as they work on their professional project.
SAU uses the Blackboard learning management system to deliver its online degree programs. Classes utilize asynchronous instruction, which allows students to access lectures and course materials on their own schedule. Students are required to complete an online orientation in Blackboard prior to accessing their online courses. Online students also have access to campus resources including the Magale Library, Student Support Services, Academic Advisors, and the Employment Resource Center.