Five schools in the state of Kentucky presently offer online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree programs, including Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, the University of Kentucky, and Western Kentucky University. Through the programs offered by these institutions students can elect to follow a general public administration curriculum or specialize in one of the following areas of study: Applied Policy, Education Policy, Gerontology, Community Development, Emergency Management and Disaster Resilience, Nonprofit Management, Economic Development, Healthcare Administration, Public and Community Health, Public Management, Environmental Management, International Public Policy, Policy Analysis, Public Financial Management, or Transportation Systems Management.
All of the programs listed on this page are regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). To learn more about their program offerings continue reading below.
Schools in Kentucky with Online MPA Programs
Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) Department of Government offers an online MPA program and has attained programmatic accreditation through the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). The practitioner-focused curriculum emphasizes regional and local government, and requires the completion of 36 graduate credit hours, including 21 core credit hours, 12 elective credit hours, and a final three-credit internship, thesis, or applied capstone project in public administration. Students may elect to follow a general public administration track or specialize in one of the following areas of study: Applied Policy, Community Development, Emergency Management and Disaster Resilience, and Nonprofit Management. Courses are conducted using accelerated eight-week terms.
EKU uses the learning management system Blackboard to conduct its online degree programs. Classes are conducted using asynchronous instruction, where students may access course materials and lectures on their own schedule. Online students have access to tutoring and career services as well as free textbooks through EKUBookSmart.
Murray State University (MSU) offers an online MPA degree program through its College of Humanities and Fine Arts, Department of Political Science and Sociology. Online students can concentrate their studies in Nonprofit Leadership, Economic Development, Public and Community Health, Healthcare Administration, Public Management, or General Public Administration. The program requires the completion of 36 graduate credit hours, including 18 core credit hours, 15 specialization credit hours, and a final three-credit capstone course. The leadership-focused curriculum focuses on current issues within the field and emphasizes social scientific inquiry, the examination of legal and ethical practices, and the importance of public trust. Students who enroll on the accelerated track are expected to complete two courses per eight-week term in the fall and spring and three courses during the summer term. Those enrolled part-time typically complete one course during each half-semester term. Depending on enrollment status, online students can earn their degree in 12 to 24 months.
Online classes at MSU are conducted using asynchronous instruction, allowing students to access lectures, assignments, and reading materials at times that align with their personal schedule. MPA students also obtain access to university-based resources, including library services, and technological support.
Northern Kentucky University (NKU) offers an online MPA program through its Department of Political Science, Criminal Justice & Organizational Leadership and has attained programmatic accreditation through NASPAA. The program emphasizes experiential learning opportunities to enhance leadership skills and public service values. Requiring the completion of 36 graduate credit hours of study, the curriculum includes 24 core course credits, nine elective credits, and a three-credit capstone course. Students who completed the core courses Foundations of Public Service, Human Resource Management, and Budgeting Techniques and Applications during their undergraduate studies may have these course requirements waived.
Students may choose to dedicate their elective coursework to the pursuit of an additional graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership or Emergency Management and Leadership. Earning a certificate in conjunction with the MPA degree requires an additional elective course. Students may also arrange their elective coursework to earn graduate micro-credentials in Leadership in the Public Sector, Community and Economic Development, GIS and Mapping, Arts Administration, or Serving Veterans and Families. Full-time students enrolled in two classes per semester may fulfill degree requirements in two years. An accelerated option is available to students who prefer to enroll in three to four courses per semester.
NKU’s online courses are taught primarily via synchronous instruction with students attending lectures in real-time on weekday evenings. Certain courses may use asynchronous instruction, so students should confirm the course format prior to the beginning of each semester. Classes include a mix of seminars, group discussions, lectures, service learning, and computer-based assignments.
The University of Kentucky (UK) offers an online MPA program through the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration and has attained programmatic accreditation through NASPAA. Focusing on the enhancement of analytical, communication, and organizational skills, the curriculum consists of 40 graduate credit hours, including 27 core course credit hours, nine elective credit hours, and a final three-credit capstone course. Preservice students are required to complete an additional single-credit internship. Online students can tailor their elective coursework to align with their professional interests and goals, such as Education, Environmental Management, Policy Analysis, Local Economic Development, Environmental Management, Education Policy, Health Policy, Gerontology, International Public Policy, or Transportation Systems Management. Students may also choose to pursue an additional graduate certificate in Public Financial Management or Non-Profit Management. Full-time students can fulfill degree requirements in four semesters, or two years of study.
UK uses the learning management system Canvas to conduct its online degree programs. Classes are conducted using both synchronous and asynchronous instruction. While most courses offer asynchronous instruction, allowing students to access course materials, assignments, and lectures at a time that aligns with their schedule, select classes require the attendance of live evening sessions using video conferencing software. Online students also gain access to campus-based resources including success coaching, tutoring, and the university writing center.
Western Kentucky University (WKU) offers an online MPA degree and has attained programmatic accreditation through NASPAA. Housed within the university’s Department of Political Science and Potter College of Arts & Letters (PCAL), the interdisciplinary program takes a generalist approach to the study of public administration, blending theoretical instruction with practical application. Coursework examines the industry from a legal, ethical, and political perspective, emphasizing management techniques and public policy analysis. The program requires the completion of 36 graduate credit hours of study, including 18 credit hours of core coursework, 15 hours of elective coursework, and a capstone course. Part of the capstone experience is an internship within an approved public service organization. In-service students with relevant work experience may complete a field-based research project in lieu of the internship requirement.
Students also have the option to pursue a graduate certificate in one of the following focus areas: Local Government Administration, Communicating in Organizations, Emergency Management Disaster Science, Nonprofit Administration, and Organizational Leadership. Students enrolled full-time taking three courses per semester for consecutive terms can earn their degree in 21 months. Part-time students taking two courses per semester for consecutive terms (includes Winter and/or Summer terms) can complete the program in two years.
WKU operates its online MPA program using the learning management system Blackboard. Core courses and most electives are scheduled in the evenings Monday through Thursday in conjunction with on-campus sessions. Online students connect simultaneously to campus-based meetings via interactive Zoom sessions (synchronous instruction). Certain elective courses may utilize asynchronous instruction, with students independently accessing coursework. Virtual access to several campus-based resources is also available to online students including career services, online tutoring, the online writing lab, and Student Success Coaches who can provide academic support throughout the program.