Five schools in North Carolina currently offer online Master of Public Administration (MPA) and/or Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) degree programs, including East Carolina University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, The University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Wake Forest University. Through the programs offered by these academic institutions, online students can concentrate their MPA degree in one of the following areas of study: Criminal Justice, Development and Environmental Planning, Economic Development, Geographic Information Science and Technology, Health Care Administration, Security Studies, International Affairs, Local Government, Nonprofit Management, Public Management, Public Health, or Emergency Management. Each of these programs can be completed fully online, with limited or no residential requirements.
All of the online MPA programs conducted in the state of North Carolina are regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Read below to learn about each of their online MPA offerings.
Schools in North Carolina with Online MPA Programs
East Carolina University’s (ECU) Department of Political Science offers an online Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) degree, and has attained programmatic accreditation through the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). The program is designed for students with a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience, including three years or more in mid-to-upper-level managerial positions. The curriculum consists of 36 graduate credit hours of study, including 21 core credit hours, 12 elective credit hours, and a final paper and presentation. The capstone project requires students to develop a resolution strategy addressing a modern issue facing professionals in the field. Certain core courses are not offered during each term, and must be taken in sequence. Students may complete an additional graduate certificate through the selection of tailored elective courses. Some areas of potential study include: Criminal Justice Education, Development and Environmental Planning, Economic Development, Geographic Information Science and Technology, Health Care Administration, and Security Studies. Interested students should note that certain certificates require the completion of one or two additional elective courses or prerequisite courses.
The ECU EMPA follows a cohort model of learning, with students taking six credit hours during the fall and spring semesters and three credit hours during the summer term with a consistent group of peers. Core classes are typically taught live online in the evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 pm (ET) (synchronous instruction), while coursework and weekly assignments can be accessed at a time that aligns with a student’s personal schedule. Certain elective classes may also be taught via asynchronous instruction (pre-recorded). Students use the learning management system Canvas to interact with peers, as well as access coursework and university resources. ECU’s International City/County Management Association student chapter offers access to various speaker from within the field of public administration.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill) offers an online MPA program through its School of Government, and has attained programmatic accreditation through NASPAA. The curriculum integrates theory with practice, with a focus on enhancing key competencies as they relate to local- and state-level public service. Utilizing a cohort model of learning, students follow a sequence of study with a fixed group of peers. The required 45 graduate credit hours of study consists of 27 core course credits, 15 elective course credits, a Professional Work Experience (PWE) practicum, and three-credits of an Applied Research Problem practicum. Inservice students with more than five years of public service professional experience may be eligible to waive the PWE requirement. Electives may be tailored to a student’s personal or professional areas of interest or concentrated in one of the following areas of study: International Relations, Local Government, Nonprofit Management, Public Management, or Public Health. In addition to the general curriculum, students without prior foundational coursework in American Government are required to take UNC’s complimentary Introduction to American Government course during their first term of study.
UNC Chapel Hill uses the learning management system Canvas for its online MPA program. Classes are taught using synchronous instruction, featuring 90-minute live evening sessions one night each week. Online students typically enroll in two classes per semester, and those enrolled full-time can earn their degree in as few as 18 months. While the program can be completed fully online, online students are encouraged to participate in campus life. Many MPA events are live streamed, and online students are invited to join any event in person. Online students also have the option of attending an in-person immersion experience on the UNC Chapel Hill campus. This three-day event provides online students the opportunity to participate in live classes and workshops as well as network with peers and faculty. Online students also have the option of completing up to nine graduate credit hours on campus.
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s (UNC Pembroke) Department of Political Science and Public Administration offers an online MPA program with concentrations in General Public Management, Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, and Health Administration. The program focuses on career development and enhancing leadership and managerial skills. The curriculum requires the completion of 39 graduate credit hours of study, including 21 core credit hours, 12 concentration credit hours, and six elective credit hours. Concentrations are declared prior to beginning the program or during a student’s first semester, and have varied academic requirements. Electives are selected following consultation with an academic advisor and concentration coordinator as electives may be utilized to fulfill specific concentration course prerequisites.
UNC Pembroke uses the learning management system Canvas to conduct its online MPA program. A collaborative learning experience supported by research, courses are taught via synchronous instruction (live) with independent readings and assignments following a preset syllabus. The Online Student Success Hub within the Office of Online Learning (OOL) serves as general support for online students, ensuring they are connected to key resources, services, and professional development opportunities.
University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNC Wilmington) offers an online Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) program through its Department of Public and International Affairs, and has attained programmatic accreditation through NASPAA. Designed for students with five or more years of relevant professional experience, the interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizes enhancing managerial, analytical, and leadership capabilities as they relate to public and nonprofit governance. The program requires the completion of 36 graduate credit hours of study, including five core courses, six elective courses, and a final Capstone Project in Public Administration. The core curriculum focuses on the key competencies required by NASPAA, while elective courses may be selected to align with a student’s personal or professional interests. Students continuously enrolled in two classes per semester can expect to earn their degree in two years.
UNC Wilmington uses the learning management system Canvas to conduct its online MPA degree program. Courses mainly use asynchronous instruction, with students accessing lectures and assigned materials on their own time by set due dates. The program can be completed fully online, without residential or on-campus requirements, and additional professional development and networking opportunities exist for online students.
Wake Forest University’s (WFU) School of Professional Studies offers an MPA that can be completed fully online. The program requires the completion of 30 graduate credit hours, including eight core cores, one elective course, and a capstone course. The curriculum focuses on digital transformation, environmental sustainability and social responsibility, ethical leadership, and equitable policy implementation. Coursework is designed to enhance analytical, decision-making, and leadership capabilities. Courses are offered in 7.5-week mini sessions (terms), with each semester consisting of two terms, and there is no preset course sequence. Students enrolled in one course per term can earn their degree in two years.
WFU uses the learning management system Canvas to conduct its online MPA program. Classes primarily utilize asynchronous instruction in which students access course content on their own schedule while adhering to preset assignment due dates. However, there are live interactive sessions offered weekly to enable online students to engage with faculty and their peers (synchronous instruction). Student Success Managers are available throughout the program to assist with planning course schedules, and online students are given virtual opportunities to meet with the program’s Academic Director and their classmates prior to the beginning of classes. Online students and WFU alumni are also eligible to participate in Wake360, an annual in-person experiential learning and networking experience held in Charlotte, NC.