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Careers in Public Service
Graduate Programs
Degree Programs
General Graduate Degree Programs
MPA (Master of Public Administration)
The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) provides more information on the MPA degree, career advice, links
to scholarships,
and to their member schools, including NASPAA-accredited programs.
The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) lists academic institutions, offering the MPA, by state.
MPP (Master of Public Policy)
For a list of colleges and universities offering the MPP, the career options
available, important issues to consider when applying to graduate schools or advice
on the application process, see:
NOTE: If you are considering the MPP or MPA, keep in mind that the differences
between
the two programs are often small. This is largely because, unlike the specialty
degrees, they are interdisciplinary. They both typically offer courses in politics,
management, economics, and statistics. Also, there is no fixed career path for
either program; for example, it wouldn't be unusual for a person with the MPA
degree to work in policy analysis, just as an MPP person might take an administrative
job.
Specialized Graduate Degree Programs
Sometimes a specialized degree is required. For example, if you are interested
in becoming a social worker, the graduate degree you'll need to earn is a Master
of Social Work (MSW). The same holds true if you wish to become a librarian: The
Master of Library Sciences (MILS) is required in order to practice the profession.
In other instances you may choose from a range of degree programs that will qualify
you for work in a specific field. For example, if you want a museum-related career,
the MA in Museum Studies is a likely option, but the MA in Arts Management with
a Museum concentration also is possible as well as the MA in Museum Education.
The Master of Public Health (MPH), or another advanced health degree such as
an MD, or Master of Nursing, would qualify you for work in public health. The
Master of Health Administration (MHA), or a graduate degree in Management, would
qualify you for administrative work in health and hospital services.
Joint Degrees
Many MPP and MPA institutions offer degrees along with another post-baccalaureate
degree, such as law or business. Usually these programs allow you to earn both
degrees in less time that it would take to earn them sequentially. When looking
at graduate programs, ask if the school offers a joint degree program—even if
it isn’t listed. If interested, select courses that will work for both degrees.
Also factor in how long it will take to finish a dual degree, and how much it
will cost.
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