Public Administration (MPA)
The Public Administration program at ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ University prepares students for careers in the education, nonprofit, government, for-profit, private and public sector management or consulting, environmental agencies, healthcare, policy analysis, homeland security and more. Uniquely set in the School of Justice Studies, RWU’s MPA program emphasizes accountability, transparency, ethics, privacy and participation -- values that will define your management career in government or nonprofits.
Format
Hybrid (Providence)
Synchronous online
Schedule
Evenings meeting every other week
Credits Required
36
Time Commitment
2 to 4 years
(Part-Time)
Cost
Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026
$780/credit
Fees
Spring 2025
$490/semester (full-time students)
$165/semester (part-time students)
$145/semester (online students)
Ways to Save
15% discount for first responders, active duty military, and veterans
Apply By
Fall: March 1 (Priority), April 1 (Regular), August 15 (Final)
Spring: November 1 (Priority), December 15 (Regular), January 6 (Final)
Summer: March 1 (Priority), April 1 (Regular), April 15 (Final)
Upcoming Events
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration program (MPA) is a 36-credit hour program designed for individuals employed or interested in service in federal, state, local, regional, and international government, non-profits, and non-governmental organizations. Non-profit organizations include museums, membership associations, and other 501 (c) (3) institutions, as well as hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. The curriculum is based on the standards of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). The MPA Program seeks to create competencies for the student in line with those of NASPAA.
Students in the program tackle critical social issues affecting people around the world as well as close to home and work to find solutions. Courses focus on management areas such as financial administration and organizational management as well as larger concepts like ethics and global awareness. Graduates go on to employment in a broad range of organizations from local municipalities and state agencies to working as government policy analysts and fundraisers.
At the completion of the degree students should be competent to:
- manage in public organizations
- participate in and contribute to the policy process
- analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions
- communicate and interact with diverse groups and in diverse settings
The degree program will also emphasis the following public service values:
- Accountability
- Transparency
- Respect for citizen privacy
- Ethical actions and values
- Participatory process
Courses within the curriculum are grouped into four areas: core courses, areas of concentration, research/internship, and capstone experience. The six-course core sequence provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to become effective public managers. Students then pursue a greater depth of study in a four course concentration in either public management or health care administration. Following the core course sequence and the chosen concentration, students complete either an internship (pre-service students) or a research course (in-service students). The 36-credit hour curriculum is completed with a capstone project of the student’s own design guided by faculty advisement. As students’ progress through the Program they are encouraged to draw on the full array of research opportunities available through the MPA and allied resources as they consider their capstone project.
Some Employers of our M.P.A. Graduates ​​​​​
The ALS Association
RI Dept. of Health
American Heart Association
RI Dept. of Human Services
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI
RI Dept. of State
Brown University
RIHousing
Care New England
State of Connecticut
City of Providence
Town of Dennis (MA)
Junior Achievement of Rhode Island
United Healthcare
Lawrence & Memorial Hospital
United Way of Rhode Island
Portsmouth Fire Department
U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Providence Community Health Center
Wrentham (MA) Police
RWU is the home of the Rhode Island Chapter of the .
Application Requirements
To be considered for admission to the Master of Public Administration degree program, applicants must hold an earned Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.
To apply, submit the following:
- Completed application form and $50 application fee. An application fee is not required for RWU students.
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework. The Office of Graduate Admission will obtain transcripts on behalf of RWU students.
- Letter of Intent (no more than two double-spaced pages) describing your interest in Public Administration/Management, career goals, and anticipated contributions to the M.P.A. program at ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ University
- Two (2) letters of recommendation attesting to your potential to succeed in graduate school
- Current Resume
- If your first language is not English, an official report of TOEFL or IELTS results
The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is not required for admission. Applicants with an overall GPA below 3.0 with relevant work experience may be considered. International applicants should also read additional requirements for non-U.S. residents.
Each application will be reviewed using a portfolio approach - all parts of the application will be considered, inclusive of grades and trend of grades, letters of recommendation, the letter of intent, and other information that candidates for admission may wish to submit.
Documents should be submitted via email to gradadmit@rwu.edu. Any official documents that must be mailed (i.e. transcripts) should be sent directly to:
Office of Graduate Admission
1 Old Ferry Rd.
Bristol, RI 02809
Have questions about the application process? Visit the from the Office of Graduate Admission.
Supporting Judicial Diversity
Dorca M. Paulino, RWU Class of 2017Growing up, Dorca M. Paulino never imagined she would one day work for the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Now, she serves as the Diversity Director of our state’s judicial branch of government.
Read full story11th Annual Public Service and Leadership Conference
The 11th Annual Public Service and Leadership Conference was held at the ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ University Bay Point Conference Center on May 4, 2022. The Conference is sponsored by the RWU Master of Public Administration (MPA) and M.S. Leadership programs and the Rhode Island chapter of the American Society for Public Administration.
Tuition Discounts for First Responders, Active Duty Military, and Veterans
If you are a first responder (police/fire/EMS), active duty U.S. service member, or a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, you qualify for a 15 percent tuition discount on graduate programs in the School of Justices Studies.