Eight universities in the state of Florida currently offer an online Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) program. Through these programs, graduate students can pursue their MPA degree fully online or with limited on-campus residency requirements. In addition to a general public administration curriculum, students can elect to pursue a concentration or earn additional certificates in one of the following areas of study: Public Leadership and Management, Community Resilience, Comparative and International Public Administration, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Human Resources Management, Nonprofit Administration and Management, Urban Policy Innovations, Financial Management, Florida City and County Management, Civic Leadership, U.S. Intelligence Studies, Fundraising, and Research Administration.
Prospective students exploring online MPA programs in Florida should research the following universities:
- Barry University
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Florida International University
- Florida State University
- Lynn University
- Nova Southeastern University
- University of Central Florida
- University of Miami
Each of the public and private universities included above is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSOC). Read below to learn more about their individual program offerings.
Schools in Florida with Online MPA Programs
Barry University’s online MPA program, which is offered by the D. Inez Andreas School of Business and Public Administration, emphasizes ethical practices in public service and performance management. The program has attained additional programmatic accreditation from NASPAA. Online graduate students can choose to pursue a general public administration curriculum or specialize in Nonprofit Administration. The General Public Administration curriculum requires the completion of 36 credit hours, including 10 core courses and two elective courses. Students specializing in Nonprofit Management are expected to complete 42 credit hours, including 10 core courses and four specialization courses. Both programs conclude with a capstone project facilitated by a graduate faculty mentor. While there are no foundational requirements for enrollment, pre-service students may be required to complete an additional self-paced online workshop prior to beginning their course of study. This fully online program requires no on-campus residencies, and can be completed in 14 months by students who enroll full-time, however, the majority of students graduate in two to four years.
Barry University utilizes the online learning management system Canvas to conduct its online programs. All classes feature synchronous instruction using a web-based meeting platform, allowing students to log in to class at a designated time from the location of their choosing.
Florida Gulf Coast University’s (FGCU) online MPA, conducted through the school’s Department of Political Science and Public Affairs, has attained additional programmatic accreditation through NASPAA. Focusing on state and local governance, the program offers a concentration in either Public Leadership and Management or Community Resilience. The curriculum consists of 36 graduate credit hours, including 24 core course credits and 12 concentration credits. Pre-service students, those with less than one year of relevant professional experience, are required to complete an additional three-credit internship. Regardless of a students’ selected concentration, all online MPA degree candidates are required to complete a final capstone project. Full-time students enrolled in a mix of two to three core and elective courses each semester can expect to fulfill graduation requirements within two years.
FGCU utilizes asynchronous instruction to conduct its online MPA degree program, with students accessing lectures and course materials through the learning management system Canvas on their own schedule. While coursework can be completed fully online, students with less than one year of relevant full-time professional experience are required to attend two on-campus networking workshops during the course of their study.
Note: For FGCU’s online MPA program, core courses are not offered during the summer term, and certain electives may only be offered on a rotating basis once every two years. Therefore, upon admission to the program, students are assigned a designated faculty advisor to assist them with degree planning and course scheduling.
Florida International University (FIU) offers a fully online MPA program through the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs, Department of Public Policy and Administration. The 42-credit curriculum focuses on enhancing managerial and analytical skills through a combination of technical and generalist instruction. Online students can elect to specialize in one of the following areas: Homeland Security and Emergency Management; Human Resources Policy and Management; Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Leadership (IDEAL); Nonprofit and Community Development; Public Finance, Procurement, and Contract Management; Public Management & Civic Leadership; and Urban Policy Innovations. Regardless of a student’s chosen specialization, all MPA students are required to complete the core course Political, Social & Economic Context of Public Administration during their first semester of study. Following this prerequisite, students are expected to complete seven additional core courses and five elective courses. Online students with less than three years of professional experience are required to complete a public service internship as one of their elective courses. The program concludes with a capstone course, where students are tasked with demonstrating the skills acquired and refined throughout the program.
Utilizing the learning management system Canvas, all online courses are offered on an annual rotation. Classes are conducted using asynchronous instruction, with students accessing course materials and lectures at a time convenient to their schedule. Prior to registering each semester, students are required to meet with an academic advisor to determine class selection and sequencing.
For professionals with five or more years of relevant experience, FIU offers an Executive MPA program (EMPA) that admits a new cohort of students every summer. The 36-credit curriculum is designed to be completed in one year. While coursework and assignments are completed 100% online, FIU’s EMPA program includes three mandatory academic residencies. These experiential learning sessions are conducted over two to four days once per semester in various cities. Both the MPA and EMPA program at FIU have attained programmatic accreditation through NASPAA.
Florida State University (FSU) offers an NASPAA accredited online MPA program through the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, which is housed in FSU’s College of Social Sciences & Public Policy. Through FSU’s online MPA program, students can elect to pursue an additional graduate certificate in one of the following specialization areas: General Public Administration, Financial Management, Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Florida City and County Management, Civic and Nonprofit Leadership, and U.S. Intelligence Studies. Integrating theory and practice with creative problem solving, the 42-credit curriculum includes five core courses, two methodology courses, six elective courses, and a final capstone project course. Students are required to complete an additional capstone preparation course prior to beginning the capstone project. While FSU allows students up to seven years to fulfill degree requirements, a full-time student can expect to earn their degree in two years.
FSU’s online classes are conducted through the learning management system Canvas, which supports both synchronous and asynchronous instruction. Certain courses may utilize both formats, allowing students to access some course elements live and other materials on their own schedule. Online students have access to the same resources as campus-based students, including academic and career advising, tutoring, library services, mentoring, and technical support.
Lynn University’s College of Arts and Sciences offers a fully online MPA degree program. The 37-credit general public administration curriculum focuses on topics including budget and finance, human resource management, economic development, and regulatory policy. Online students are expected to complete an initial Graduate Orientation Seminar followed by nine foundational courses, two elective courses, and a Graduate Project completed during the final semester of study. Full-time students can expect to earn their degree in one year.
Lynn University utilizes an iPad-based learning platform to conduct its online programs. Courses are conducted using a mix of synchronous and asynchronous instruction, and depending on the class, students may be expected to attend lectures or engage in discussions in real-time. The online MPA degree can be completed fully online, with no residency requirements.
Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship offers an online MPA program and has attained programmatic accreditation through NASPAA. The program focuses on local governance and nonprofit management, with a curriculum that emphasizes advanced public administration skills such as analytical decision-making, communication, ethical leadership, critical thinking, and public sector knowledge. Coursework approaches the study of public administration through a social, economic, and political context. Students are required to complete 36 graduate credit hours of study, consisting of 33 core course credits and a final MPA Integrative Seminar or internship. The program can be completed in 12 months with full-time enrollment or 24 months for students who wish to enroll part-time.
NSU conducts its online MPA program using the learning management system Canvas. The program follows a lock-step executive format, with weekly class meetings scheduled online on Saturdays from 8:00am-12:00pm and 12:30pm-4:30pm (synchronous instruction). Select online courses may allow students to access course materials and assignments independently (asynchronous instruction), so students should confirm the course format prior to registering.
The University of Central Florida offers an online MPA program through its School of Public Administration, which is housed in UCF’s College of Community Innovation and Education. UCF’s MPA program has attained programmatic accreditation through NASPAA. Focusing on ethical practices and enhancing leadership and managerial skills through service learning and community-based experience, the program consists of 42 graduate credit hours, including nine core courses, four advanced curriculum courses, and a final capstone project. Pre-service students are encouraged to complete an internship as one of their advanced curriculum courses, and an experiential learning coordinator is available to assist students with internship placements. While the program can be completed fully online, with no residential requirements, select courses may not be offered in an online format. Students enrolled full-time can expect to graduate in two years.
Online students are expected to access coursework and materials, and engage in discussion with peers and faculty through the Canvas learning management system. Success coaches available through the UCF Online Connect Center team offer nonacademic support from admission through graduation. Online students also have access to campus resources including the University Writing Center (UWC), tutoring, and the UCF library.
The University of Miami’s College of Arts & Sciences, in conjunction with the University of Miam’s UOnline, offers an online MPA with no on-campus or residency requirements. The practice-based curriculum focuses on enhancing analytical thinking, decision-making, and managerial and leadership skills with an emphasis on contemporary issues impacting the field of public administration. Requiring the completion of 36 graduate credit hours, students complete a set curriculum that consists of 12 courses covering topics such as political ethics, public policy, political analysis, digital governance, and global governance. UOnline uses a modified academic calendar in which students enroll in one course every seven weeks and students who enroll full-time can earn their degree in two years.
The University of Miami conducts its web-based programs through the learning management system Blackboard, and classes are taught using asynchronous instruction. Course materials and lectures can be accessed at any time, but students are expected to adhere to specific deadlines. Faculty typically hold live office hours to answer questions related to readings and assignments. Online students have access to a dedicated academic advisor, and the UOnline student support team is available 24/7 to assist with technical issues.