There are currently 12 universities in California that offer a Master of Public Administration (MPA) program exclusively online or primarily online with minimal campus residency requirements. Through the programs offered by these schools, students earning a master’s degree in public administration can choose to concentrate their studies in one of several specializations, including Leadership, Public Policy, Criminal Justice Administration, Health Care Policy and Administration, Nonprofit Management, Public Management, Public Financial Management, Human Resource Management, and more.
Prospective students interested in pursuing an online MPA degree from a college in California should explore the following schools:
- California Baptist University
- California State University, Dominguez Hills
- California State University, Long Beach
- California State University, Northridge
- California State University, San Bernardino
- Claremont Lincoln University
- Golden Gate University
- National University
- San Diego State University
- Touro University Worldwide
- University of Massachusetts Global
- University of Southern California
Each of the public and private universities listed above is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). See the section below to learn more about each of their program offerings.
Note: Academic institutions in California may not be permitted to admit online students from every state due to state authorization restrictions. Prospective out-of-state students interested in attending an online MPA program offered by a college or university in California should confirm with an admissions advisor that the school accepts students from their state of residence before applying.
Schools in California with Online MPA Programs
California Baptist University (CBU) offers an online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree through its Department of History and Government. The program is comprised of 36 graduate credits consisting of ten core courses, a Professional Presentation, and a Comprehensive Examination Seminar that is completed during the final semester of study. Integrating the university’s faith-based education philosophy, coursework emphasizes professional ethics and leadership, focusing on historical context and theory as well as practical application. A student enrolled full-time can expect to graduate in 16 months.
Students utilize the Blackboard learning management system to check grades, submit assignments, collaborate with peers, and access student resources. While courses primarily use asynchronous instruction, with students accessing lectures and assignments on their own schedule, faculty may schedule synchronous office hours to allow students to ask questions and receive feedback in real-time. Personal enrollment counselors are available to assist with degree planning and course enrollment, and online students have access to the university’s career services and academic support centers. While the program has no on-campus residency requirement, CBU is currently able to field out-of-state applicants from 37 states.
California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) offers an online MPA program through the College of Business Administration and Public Policy’s School of Public Service and Justice, and has attained additional programmatic accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). The curriculum consists of 42 course credits, including 30 core course credits, nine approved elective course credits, and a three-credit capstone course completed during a student’s final semester. Full-time graduate students enrolling in a maximum of nine credit hours each semester can complete the program in 24 to 30 months.
Online courses are offered in two formats, both of which feature asynchronous instruction where students watch lectures and review course materials on their own schedule. The “Online Accelerated” program features a fixed cohort and predetermined class schedule. Conducted year round, each semester includes two, eight-week terms and students are expected to enroll in one class each term. Students following the accelerated track can elect to specialize in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration, Health Care Policy and Administration, or Nonprofit Management. The “Online Flexible” program is self-paced, allowing students the flexibility to design their own course schedule. Classes are offered in four, 12-week sessions per year and students are expected to enroll in one to three courses per session. This track offers a concentration in Public Management.
CSUDH uses Blackboard to conduct courses for both the “Accelerated Online” and “Flexible Online” curriculum. Students are expected to communicate with peers and faculty several times a week, watching video presentations and lectures, conducting case study analyses, completing projects and other online activities, and engaging on discussion boards and in group work.
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) offers an online MPA degree through the Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration in partnership with the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) and has attained programmatic accredited through NASPAA. Focused on enhancing leadership and management expertise, the program requires the completion of 39 graduate units of coursework (13 total courses), including 24 units of core coursework and 15 units of elective coursework. This includes six required lecture courses; two directed research, independent study courses; the completion of five case studies; and a Student Learning Portfolio. Electives are pre-determined by MPA faculty and are subject to change. A cohort-based program, students begin their studies in February, taking one class each session with the same peer group. Conducted in an accelerated format, courses are six-weeks in length with a one- to two-week break between courses. Students enrolled continuously can earn their degree in two years.
CSULB uses the learning management system Canvas for its online MPA program. Classes are held weekly in real-time (synchronous instruction) via Zoom, and scheduled from 6-9pm on Mondays or Wednesdays, depending on the cohort, as well as the first and last Saturday of each session from 9am until noon. Online students and alumni gain access to virtual career resources including job search strategy sessions, resume critiques, LinkedIn and cover letter review services, salary negotiation guidance, and more.
California State University, Northridge’s (CSUN) online MPA program is offered through Tseng College. The program requires the completion of 36 graduate credit hours, consisting of 12, three-credit courses. Specific course requirements will depend on whether a student elects to specialize in Public Sector Management and Leadership or Nonprofit Sector Management. Students specializing in Public Sector Management and Leadership are required to complete six core courses and five elective courses, while the curriculum for students specializing Nonprofit Sector Management consists of seven core courses and four elective courses. Students enroll in one class every 6 weeks, and all online MPA students are expected to complete the Graduate Project course (three credits) during their final semester of study to demonstrate mastery of their chosen specialization. Full-time students can expect to graduate within two years.
CSUN uses Canvas to facilitate its online MPA program. Following a cohort learning format, students will progress through the program with a familiar group of peers. Classes utilize asynchronous instruction, with students accessing lectures and class assignments on their own schedule. Upon enrollment, every MPA student is assigned a dedicated program manager and faculty member to offer support throughout the program.
California State University, San Bernardino’s (CSUSB) online MPA program, which has attained additional programmatic accreditation from the NASPAA, is offered through the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration. The curriculum consists of 36 graduate credit hours, including seven core courses, three concentration courses, two elective courses, as well as a capstone course and comprehensive exam that are completed during the final semester of enrollment. Online MPA students can elect to specialization in one of three concentrations: Leadership, Public Financial Management, or Nonprofit Management. Students are also required to take two semesters of a Professional Development Seminar focusing on career development, advising, and networking, and students without prior professional experience within the public sector or a nonprofit organization are required to complete an additional internship.
Online classes are conducted through Canvas, and students are expected to engage within the platform three to four times per week by posting, reading and responding to peer posts, or completing other online activities. While most classes are conducted using asynchronous instruction, with students completing assignments and watching lectures in their own time, some may incorporate synchronous elements where students are required to log on at a certain time. Core classes are offered online every other semester, so online students must plan carefully to remain on track. There are no on-campus residency requirements for this program.
Claremont Lincoln University‘s (CLU) online MPA program combines a practical and theoretical educational approach to the study of public administration, focusing on socially conscious leadership, the innerworkings of democracy at the community level, and how those initiatives can be scaled to have an impact globally. The curriculum includes 36 graduate credit hours that can be completed in 13 months by students enrolled full-time. Those enrolled part-time can expect to graduate within 26 months. Students are required to complete nine core courses and two additional electives concentrating in one of four areas: Sustainable Communities through Public Service, Strategic Innovation for Collective Impact, Advanced Management and Leadership in Complex Systems, and Advanced Practices in Public Finance. A Capstone course completed during a student’s final semester is intended to test the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the MPA program.
All of CLU’s online MPA courses are conducted using asynchronous instruction through Canvas, and students can watch lectures and review other course materials on their own schedule.
Golden Gate University’s (GGU) online Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) has attained programmatic accreditation from NASPAA. The 18-month online program consists of 36 graduate credit hours, including 24 core course credits and 12 concentration course credits. Students can focus their elective studies in two of four areas of concentration: General Public Administration, Law Enforcement and Security, Urban Innovations, and Digital Technology & Security. The program concludes with a final capstone project, in which students are expected to utilize the knowledge and skills attained throughout the program to examine a real-world issue and then develop and defend a public policy paper that offers a solution to the problem.
The GGU EMPA is designed to be completed entirely online, with no on-campus residency requirements, by professionals with five or more years of relevant experience. Classes are offered utilizing both synchronous instruction (live via Zoom) and asynchronous instruction, with students responsible for accessing course materials on their own schedule. Students are also expected to engage in discussions with peers and faculty via GGU’s eLearning platform. The EMPA program offered by GGU does not currently accept students from all 50 states; therefore, potential out-of-state applicants should confirm with the school before applying.
National University offers an online MPA program with the option of specializing in Human Resource Management or Organizational Leadership through its College of Professional Studies. The curriculum consists of 54 units of graduate work, including eight core courses and four elective courses. Each course takes place over four weeks. The program concludes with an MPA project course, where students work individually or in small teams over a two-month period under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Students are expected to collectively gather data and present their research in both written and oral form. A student enrolled full-time can complete their degree in one year.
The National University MPA program is offered fully online. Classes use synchronous instruction and meet one to two times per week. During live sessions, instructors explain key concepts, illustrate problem-solving techniques, and respond to questions. Each session is recorded so that students who cannot attend can still access the lectures and discussion sessions.
San Diego State University’s (SDSU) online MPA program, offered by SDSU’s School of Public Affairs, has attained programmatic accreditation from the NASPAA. The intensive 16-month program requires the completion of 36 graduate credit hours. The curriculum includes 27 units of core coursework and nine units of elective coursework broken out into six, eight-week modules. Students follow a cohort learning model, enrolling in two classes per module with the same group of peers. Under the advisement of a program coordinator, students can customize their elective courses to create their own area of specialized study. The final module consists of a capstone research course where students engage in an applied research project, developing a solution to an existing problem at their current place of employment. The module concludes with an on-campus weekend intensive where students are expected to present their work to a panel of professional practitioners and faculty.
Classes use asynchronous instruction and students access pre-recorded lectures and course materials, submit assignments, view grades, and engage in discussions with faculty and peers through the Canvas learning management system and Canvas mobile app. Applicants should note that an internship may be required for those without professional experience. SDSU does not currently accept out-of-state applicants from all 50 states, so prospective students should check with the program to be ensure they are eligible for admission before applying.
Touro University Worldwide’s (TUW) online MPA degree offers students a general public administration curriculum focusing on organizational management in the public and nonprofit sector. The program consists of 36 graduate credit hours, including 11 core courses and concluding with a capstone course during the final term of study. Courses are divided into six, eight-week sessions throughout the year. Students who enroll full-time, taking two courses per term for six consecutive terms, can graduate in one year.
TUW conducts its online classes using asynchronous instruction through the Canvas Learning Management System to allow students to access course content on their own schedule. This program is conducted 100% online with no residency requirements.
The University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global), which was formerly Brandman University and whose administration operates out of Irvine, California, offers their MPA program 100% online through the School of Business and Professional Studies. The curriculum consists of 36 graduate credit hours divided into 24 core credit requirements and 12 elective credits. MPA students can choose to focus their elective coursework in one of three areas of study: Organizational Leadership, Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, or Healthcare Administration. The final core requirement is a Public Administration Professional Practice course in which students are required to address community-related and public sector leadership issues by utilizing knowledge gained throughout the program. Full-time students enrolled in two courses per eight-week session can graduate within 16 months.
UMass Global offers online MPA students academic support from enrollment coaches, advisors, and tutors. Students access lectures and coursework and engage with peers and faculty through the eLearning platform Blackboard.
The University of Southern California’s (USC) Sol Price School of Public Policy offers an online MPA program with a curriculum focused on managerial competency within institutions and organizations as well as analytics. USC’s online MPA program has received programmatic accreditation from NASPAA. The two-year program consists of 40 credits of graduate coursework, including 24 core course credits and 16 elective credits. In lieu of a specified concentration, USC allows students to earn an additional Certificate in Public Policy or City and County Management in conjunction with their MPA degree. The program concludes with a capstone in public administration course, where students work in small teams to complete a research-based consulting project with a real-world client.
Most classes utilize synchronous instruction, with students logging on to the Blackboard learning management system for live classes in the evening. In addition to online classes, students are required to participate in two on-campus residencies at the USC campus in Los Angeles, CA. Taking place over a long weekend, the first residency is a “Professional Residency” that includes a program orientation at the beginning of the program. The final residency takes place the week prior to graduation. Referred to as the “Capstone Residency,” students are expected to share their capstone projects with peers and judges. USC matches each graduate student with a Cohort Coach and an alumnus who serves as a guide and mentor throughout the program. Finally, pre-service students – those with less than two years of professional experience – are required to complete an additional one-credit internship seminar.