MPA Overview

The mission of the MPA program is to provide a high quality generalist and practitioner-oriented program that educates and prepares women and men for careers in the public service, meets the needs of a diverse student body, and serves the community and the profession through teaching, research, service and outreach activities. In an effort to meet this broad program goal, the MPA faculty have identified three program objectives which are pursued on a continuous basis and by which we evaluate the effectiveness of our program.

1. To enhance the student's values, knowledge and skills to act ethically and effectively in the management of public service organizations and programs;
2. To provide students with an appreciation of the changing political, legal, economic, and social environment in which public servants work; and
3. To prepare students to find fulfilling jobs in their chosen area and sector.

The admission criteria, program curriculum, learning environment, and faculty activities are all designed to support the program's mission and goals.

The MPA is a two-year professional degree. All MPA students complete a common set of six core courses in public management and policy. A minimum of 42 credit hours, which includes either an internship or thesis, and a final oral examination, are required for the MPA. The program is designed in such a way that full-time students who enter in the fall semester can receive their degree in two years or five semesters.

One indicator of the quality of New Mexico State University 's MPA program is the repeated success of its graduates in obtaining positions through several competitive public management internships, including the prestigious Presidential Management Fellowship Program. Former students are pursuing demanding careers in planning, environmental protection, personnel, finance and budgeting, and general administration at all levels of government. Other program graduates have gone on to seek doctoral degrees at leading universities across the country.

In collaboration with the NMSU Department of Criminal Justice, a joint MPA/MCJ is offered for students interested in pursuing administrative professions within law enforcement and criminal agencies. The joint MPA/MCJ degree program tailors the objectives of the MPA program stated above to focus on preparing students for administrative and analytical positions in government and non-profit agencies responsible for developing, implementing, and/or evaluating law enforcement or criminal justice policies. Interested students are advised to speak directly with the MPA Director / Criminal Justice Department's Graduate Coordinator about this program.

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