Five schools in Pennsylvania presently offer an online Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) degree program. The programs offered by Marywood University, Penn State Harrisburg (Penn State World Campus), University of Pittsburgh, Villanova University, and West Chester University can all be completed fully online without travel or in-person requirements. Through these schools, online MPA students may further specialize their degree in one of the following areas of study: Nonprofit Management and Leadership, Homeland Security, Disaster Management, City Management, or Public Management.
Each of the public and private universities included below are regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Continue reading to learn more about each of their program offerings.
Schools in Pennsylvania with Online MPA Programs
Marywood University offers a Master of Public Administration (MPA) program that can be completed entirely online through the Reap College of Professional Studies. Focusing on civic engagement and public responsibility on a local, national, and international level, Marywood’s MPA program takes a practical approach to the study of public administration. The program provides a theoretical framework along with evidence-based research, applied theoretical instruction, as well as practical skill enhancement. While not formally accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the program adheres to the guidelines set forth by NASPAA. The curriculum is comprised of 30 graduate credit hours, including 15 core credit hours, 12 elective credit hours, and a final three-credit capstone course. Elective courses may be concentrated in the areas of Nonprofit Leadership, Homeland Security and Disaster Management, or General Public Administration.
Students in Marywood’s MPA program may also enroll in electives offered by other departments within the university that align with their personal area of interest with approval from the Program Director. Preservice and career-shifting students must also fulfill a three-credit-hour internship requirement. All Marywood online MPA courses are offered through the learning management system Moodle, and courses are offered sequentially based on a master schedule.
Inservice professionals with five or more years of relevant post-bachelor’s experience may enroll in Marywood’s online Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) program. The 18-credit-hour EMPA curriculum integrates practical skills and theoretical application, providing intensive interdisciplinary training in administration science and management. Topics covered include the general principles of public administration, as well as public policy analysis, human resource management, research methods, and budgeting and finance. EMPA students must also complete a final capstone project. Classes are taught utilizing asynchronous instruction, with students accessing course materials and assignments on their own schedule. Students enrolled full-time, taking three courses during each of the Fall and Spring semesters, can fulfill degree requirements in one year.
Penn State Harrisburg offers its Master of Public Administration (MPA) program via Penn State World Campus and has attained programmatic accreditation through NASPAA. Blending theoretical and applied concepts, the MPA curriculum focuses on real-world application as well as professional development. Coursework strives to enhance students’ foundational knowledge in public management, policy analysis and evaluation, covering topics such as organizational governance, public finance management and budgeting, nonprofit management, state and local government administration, as well as homeland security. The program requires the completion of 39 graduate credit hours of study, including 21 core course credits, 12 elective course credits, a three-credit capstone course, and a 150-hour internship. Inservice students with relevant professional experience may apply for an internship waiver. Elective coursework may align with optional graduate certificate programs in Homeland Security, Public Budgeting and Financial Management, and Public Sector Human Resources Management. Students enrolled full-time may fulfill degree requirements in 18 to 24 months, while part-time students typical take between three to five years to earn their degree. Penn State requires all coursework be completed within five years of enrollment.
Penn State World Campus utilizes the learning management system Canvas to conduct its online MPA program. Classes are taught using asynchronous instruction, with students viewing course materials and completing assignments independently while following a pre-set syllabus. Students are advised to begin their course of study with three specific foundational courses and then consult with an advisor to select electives. Online students gain access to numerous resources offered by the Career Services Office, including networking opportunities, resume workshops with alumni, and virtual career coaches.
University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) offers an online Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM) degree through its Graduate School of Public & International Affairs and has attained programmatic accreditation through NASPAA. Designed for public service professionals with at least five years of managerial experience, the program requires the completion of 30 graduate credit hours. The curriculum includes four core courses focusing on strategic management, public affairs administration, public program evaluation, and public policy. Students must also complete six additional courses that may be selected to align with their personal area of interest and career goals. These courses may cover topics including leadership, grant writing, fundraising, quantitative methods, economics, financial management, law, and more. Students enrolled in consecutive semesters taking two courses per term can earn their degree in 20 months.
Pitt utilizes the learning management system Canvas to conduct its online MPPM program. Courses are taught using primarily asynchronous instruction, with students accessing coursework and contributing to faculty-led discussions on their own schedule. However, some courses may contain synchronous elements where students are expected to log on at pre-specified times. Online students gain access to numerous campus-based resources including a digital university library system and virtual tutoring through the university writing center.
Villanova University offers a NASPAA-accredited online MPA program through its Department of Public Administration. The curriculum reflects current trends in the field of public service and administration, focusing on enhancing ethical leadership and management skills across multiple sectors. Requiring the completion of 39 graduate credit hours of study, the program includes 18 core course credits, 18 elective course credits, and a three-credit internship. Inservice students with more than three years of relevant professional experience may apply for an internship waiver. Online students have the option of utilizing their elective coursework to pursue an additional graduate certificate in City Management or Nonprofit Management. Online students hoping to further tailor their degree may apply to take up to two elective courses through other graduate program departments. The program concludes with a comprehensive final exam. Full-time students can complete degree requirements in two academic years, while part-time students typically take between three and four years to earn their degree.
Villanova conducts its online MPA program using the learning management system Blackboard. The program is designed to be highly collaborative and utilizes synchronous instruction with live online classes each week. Throughout the year, the Department of Public Administration hosts speakers series, networking opportunities, webinars, and social events to the encourage the engagement of students, faculty, and alumni. While the MPA can be completed entirely online, Villanova offers online students the option of enrolling in on-campus classes at any point throughout the program.
West Chester University’s (WCU) Department of Public Policy and Administration offers an online MPA program and has attained programmatic accreditation through NASPAA. Designed to enhance leadership, managerial, and analytical skills, the program focuses on the public service values critical to operations within the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The 39 graduate credit hour curriculum requires the completion of 21 core credit hours, 12 elective credit hours, a three-credit capstone course, and a three-credit internship. Internship waivers may be granted to those with more than one year of management experience within a public or non-profit organization. Online students may concentrate their elective coursework in General Public Administration, Nonprofit Administration, or Public Management, and have the option of earning a concurrent graduate certificate in these areas. Students enrolled in two courses during each of the Fall and Spring semesters can fulfill degree requirements in three years. Students who also enroll during the summer terms may complete their degree in two years.
WCU operates its online degree programs via the learning management system Brightspace by D2L. Certain courses are taught using asynchronous instruction with students accessing lectures and course materials on their own schedule, while others require live online attendance (synchronous instruction). Online students also gain access to resources including the Career Development Center, which offers job boards and fairs as well as resume review.