Prepare for successful careers in the public and not-for-profit sectors through the development of managerial, communication and analytical skills with UMass Lowell's MPA.

MPA Overview

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at UMass Lowell is designed to equip you with essential leadership and management skills to solve complex challenges in the public sector. This flexible program is designed for both aspiring professionals and current public servants seeking advancement. 

Our MPA offers an interdisciplinary approach, encompassing key areas such as public policy, organizational behavior and financial management. You'll conclude your studies with a capstone experience at a public or nonprofit agency, where you can apply newly acquired skills and knowledge while expanding your professional network. 

The program is available entirely online, and students may attend full- or part-time. 

Public Administration Curriculum

The M.A. in Public Administration is a 36-credit master's degree.

For a complete list of courses and academic requirements, please visit the Academic Catalog.

For Students entering Fall 2024 and beyond.

All programs are 36 credits, consisting of 4 required core courses, 4 courses from the flexible core, and 3 courses from the general elective core, and 1 capstone course.

Required Courses

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
MPAD.5010Foundations for Public Administration3
MPAD.5020Public & Non Profit Budgeting and Financial Management3
MPAD.5030Public & Non Profit Management & Leadership3
MPAD.5040
or
CRIM.5900
Data Analysis
or
Inferential and Descriptive Statistics
3
Total12

Flexible Core

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total12

Managing Resources - Choose 1
MPAD.5400Public Finance3
PUBH.5110Health Care Finance3
Managing People - Choose 1
MPAD.5300Gender and Administration3
CRIM.5200Administration of Justice3
CRIM.5210Managing Justice Organizations3
MPAD.5150Public and Non-Profit Personnel Management3
Managing Communication - Choose 1
MPAD.5120Communication Strategies for Public and Non-Profit Managers3
Managing Information - Choose 1
CRIM.5910Research Design3
CRIM.5920From Data to Practice3

General Electives

Please note these courses are subject to change and all courses may not be offered every semester. A student's selection of electives is based on consultation with their faculty advisors.
Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total9
PUBH.5010Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health3
PUBH.5021Public Health Policy3
PUBH.5070Leadership and Management in Public Health3
ACCT.5010Financial Accounting2
CRIM.6500Violence in America3
PCST.5010Strategies of Conflict Transformation3

Capstone

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total3
MPAD.6010Capstone3

Other electives may be selected with approval of the graduate coordinator.

Total Credits = 36

Total number of courses = 12

Last updated: 4/5/24

Our Graduates Work As

  • City managers
  • Municipal department heads
  • Health and human service workers
  • Music and art educators
  • State government administrators
  • Founders of nonprofit community-based organizations

Hear from Alumni and Students

Jessica Amedee doing hurdles at a track event at UMass Lowell
Jessica Amedee '18, '20
Public Administration

Jessica Amedee interned at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce as the university’s first Civic Action Project fellow. The program for UMass graduate students in public policy and related fields introduced her to a network of inspiring professionals.

I met a number of people I would be able to reach out to. I also met great people from the other UMass campuses.
Read More About Jessica Amedee 
Honors College students Lindsay Blount, Kale Connerty and Erin Monahan work at the Thoreau Institute library with curator Jeffrey S. Cramer.
Erin Monahan '19
Public Administration

Erin Monahan finds value in learning principles applicable to a wide range of arts and humanities-based organizations. She is getting professional experience as an archivist through an internship at the Thoreau Institute at Walden Woods.

The program is helping me synthesize what I’ve learned through my nonacademic and academic experiences.
Read More About Erin Monahan 
Sarah Golding sits in a colorful cafe at a table with her laptop
Sarah Golding '19
Public Administration

Sarah Golding works with young people transitioning to adulthood while coping with mental illness. She says the Master of Public Administration program is giving her the right balance of core administrative skills and deep knowledge to help her advocate for her clients.

There’s so much flexibility and it’s so interdisciplinary that you can take the classes that will best serve your needs.
Read More About Sarah Golding 
Parking & Transportation Manager Karina Cruz talks with a student employee at the Transportation Services Office
Karina Cruz
Public Administration

Karina Cruz appreciates the flexibility, small classes and in-depth administrative skills she’s learning, from how to change public policy to managing a diverse workforce.

It’s as versatile a degree as I need it to be.
Read More About Karina Cruz 
Ron Pannell chats with a woman at the bookstore
Ron Pannell '19
Public Administration

In the Master of Public Administration program, Ron Pannell is learning skills he can apply to his job in the Office of Student Engagement at Middlesex Community College – and later, in a housing agency.

The M.P.A. aligns with what I’ve already done in the field of education and provides flexibility if, later, I want to work in another area.
Read More About Ron Pannell 

Tuition and Admissions

Eligible students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for financial assistance.

Complete the FAFSA

Cost Per Credit: $600
Term Registration Fee: $30

Please see online tuition and fees for more information.

As a graduate student, you may qualify for federal student aid and other need-based scholarships. To be considered for financial assistance, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Learn more at UMass Lowell Graduate Aid.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and certain eligible non-citizens. Please visit Financial Aid if you have questions about your eligibility.

All College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences master’s and doctoral applicants must submit:

  1. An application
  2. An application fee
  3. A statement of purpose
  4. Letters of recommendation
  5. Official transcripts
  6. Official test score report - only required for:
    1. (GRE) Criminology and Criminal Justice, Ph.D.
    2. (GRE) Global Studies, Ph.D.
    3. Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Music Education, Master of Music (M.M.)
  7. Resume - only required for:
    1. Music Education, M.M.
    2. Public Administration, Master of Public Administration (M.P.A)

Note: All required materials must be received before the application package can be evaluated. If you need to introduce new references or add other supporting documents, log on to your application, click on “Program Materials” to update your application. Please note the new documents and references will be considered only if your application has not been reviewed for admission.  

Program Application Deadlines for Fall Admissions:

  • Global Studies Ph.D. - January 15
  • Psychology Ph.D. - January 15
  • Criminology Ph.D. - February 1
  • Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Studies - February 15

International Students: please see the additional application requirements.

Bachelor's to Master's Students: You will need to apply via the application portal. Visit the Bachelor's to Master's page to learn about the process to transition to your desired master's program.

1. Online Application application

Applications are only being accepted using the online process. Instructions are included in the online application link.

Tips for accessing and completing the online application:

  • Capitalize your proper name.
  • Once the form is submitted, changes can only be made by calling the Office of Graduate Admissions at 978-934-2390.

Apply for Spring 2025

Apply for Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026

The Leadership in Schooling Ed.D. is a cohort based program that begins each year in May. Applications are accepted during the preceding year, between April - November 30.

Apply for Trimester (Summer) 2025 Leadership in Schooling

app-fee 2. Application Fee

The application fee is $50 for each application and is non-refundable. Applications will not be processed until this fee is received or application fee waiver has been approved and delivered to the Office of Graduate Admissions.


3. Statement of Purpose statement

In a separate document, submit a brief statement indicating your immediate and long-range goals, relevant work history, academic honors/awards received, any teaching experience and/or research conducted/published that may be pertinent to your graduate program. Two page recommended maximum.

Note: If you are applying to more than one program, you will need to submit a program-specific statement of purpose with each application package.


4. Letters of Recommendation recommendation

Master's applicants need to submit two (2) letters of recommendation. Doctoral applicants will be asked to submit three (3) letters of recommendation. You will be asked to provide (names and email addresses) referees during the application process and then an automated request will be sent out after the completion of your application. Alternatively, you may use the graduate admissions recommendation form (pdf) to request letters of recommendation.

Criminal Justice, M.A.: Letters of recommendation are optional, not required.

Recommendations should be from instructors who have taught you, ideally in the field to which you are applying. Recommendations may also be from employers or supervisors who are in a position to compare your performance to that of your peers. Please use the recommendation form for these.

5. Official Transcripts transcripts

Provide a complete and official transcript from the institution that awarded or will award you a bachelor’s degree. You may also include transcripts from other institutions at which you have taken relevant coursework. Please note that waiting for additional transcripts may delay review of your application.

Transcripts should be sent in sealed and signed envelopes mailed to the Office of Graduate Admissions. If you received your degree from UMass Lowell, it is not necessary for you to request a transcript, we are able to provide one for you.

University of Massachusetts - Lowell
Graduate Admissions
Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) Center
839 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor
Lowell, MA 01854-3941

International transcripts that do not clearly indicate to the Office of Graduate Admissions that you have received a four-year bachelor’s degree, the equivalent of an American bachelor's degree must be demonstrated before an application will be processed. Please note, the Office of Graduate Admissions reserves the right to have any application credential evaluated. Baccalaureate verification may be obtained for a fee at:

Center for Educational Documentation, Inc.
P.O. Box 170116
Boston, MA 02117
Telephone: 617-338-7171
Fax: 617-338-7101
Center for Educational Documentation website
World Education Services website


test-score 6. Official Test Score Report(s)

Submission of the GRE test score report is required for applicants to the following programs:

  • Criminology and Criminal Justice, Ph.D.
  • Global Studies, Ph.D.

Submission of passing MTEL(Massachusetts Teachers Education License) is required for the following programs: 
  • Master of Music in Music Education, MM - Applicants to this program must also submit proof of successfully passing the MTEL test in Music within the last five years. 

Please request that the appropriate agency send an official test score for the GRE/GMAT or MTEL to the Office of Graduate Admissions, UMass Lowell's school code is 3911.

For more information about standardized tests, our Admissions Standards page and Admissions Requirements page provide current information.

7. Resume

The programs listed below require a resume for admissions consideration:

  • Music Education, M.M.
  • Public Administration, M.P.A

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Phone:
800-656-4723 (U.S. Students)
978-934-2390 (International Students)

Email
Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu