In Massachusetts, two schools currently offer online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree programs. The online MPA programs at Anna Maria College and Northeastern University can be completed fully online with no residency requirements. Through the programs at these schools, online students can pursue specializations in numerous areas including: Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Fire and Emergency Services, Homeland Security, Healthcare Management and Policy, Nonprofit Administration, and more.
Both Anna Maria College and Northeastern University are private academic institutions that are regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Learn more about each of their degree offerings below.
Schools in Massachusetts with Online MPA Programs
Anna Maria College offers an online MPA program focused on enhancing leadership and managerial skills with an emphasis on government, nonprofit organizations, and modern public policy issues. The program’s Direct Track requires the completion of 36 credit hours of graduate coursework, including eight core courses, three concentration courses, and a final capstone course. Students with more than four years of professional experience within the field of public administration and/or students who graduated from a qualified police or fire academy may qualify for the Mid-Career Track and waive two core courses. Online students can pursue a general public administration curriculum or elect to specialize in Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Fire and Emergency Services, or Homeland Security. The MPA degree program at Anna Maria College can be completed fully online with no residency requirements in 18 to 24 months for those enrolled full-time.
Online courses at Anna Maria College are conducted via asynchronous instruction, as students are expected to view lectures, complete readings and required classwork on their own schedule. The learning management system Engage allows students to access coursework, upload assignments, and interact with peers and faculty. Online students have access to many of the same resources as their on-campus counterparts, including career services, workshops, resume and cover letter feedback, and job listings.
Northeastern University offers an online MPA degree through its College of Social Sciences and Humanities’ School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, and has attained programmatic accreditation through the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). The practice-oriented, research-based curriculum focuses on enhancing managerial and leadership skills through the integration of case studies, group and applied projects, and the incorporation of real-world scenarios within a classroom structure. Faculty partnerships with The Kitty and Michael Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy, The Social Impact Lab, and the Boston Area Research Initiative allow for students to collaborative on use-inspired research while enrolled. Online students have the option of specializing in Healthcare Management and Policy, or pursuing an additional graduate certificate in one of the following areas of study: Computational Social Science; Information Ethics; Nonprofit Sector, Philanthropy, and Social Change; Public Policy Analysis; Security and Resilience Studies; Sustainability and Climate Change Policy; Urban Analytics; or Urban Studies. Requiring the completion of 40 graduate credit hours, including 28 core credits, 12 elective credits, and a final Capstone in Public Policy and Urban Affairs, students enrolled in one course per semester can earn their degree in 18 to 24 months. Preservice students are expected to fulfill an additional 300-hour internship.
MPA courses at Northeastern are taught utilizing asynchronous instruction. Students can access lectures and course materials, submit assignments, and engage with classmates and faculty on their own time using the learning management system Canvas. Online students have the option of gaining work and research experience by participating in the university’s co-op program. Co-op participants receive full-time placement within a nonprofit or government agency for a period of six months while simultaneously completing the program’s Experiential Integration course.