Careers in Public
Administration

As government policies and regulations evolve, government employees are finding themselves under increased pressure to develop new skills through continued education. MPA@UNC students complete a curriculum that prepares them to succeed in federal, state, or local government agencies influencing policy, overseeing agencies, or analyzing efficiencies. Students develop the organizational skills to lead government initiatives and have the opportunity to connect with a worldwide community of professionals who are driving change at all levels of government.

The UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government is renowned for its focus on local government training. Our faculty members advise public officials at all levels, and the school has been ranked among the best in the nation in 2018 by U.S. News & World Report in a variety of government-focused areas, including Local Government and Management (#3), Environmental Policy and Management (#14), and Public Finance and Budgeting (#20).

UNC School of Government graduates are sought after for both their technical and soft skills. Our multidisciplinary curriculum allows our online MPA graduates to lend their expertise to a variety of fields, including the following:

There are more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the United States currently, and that number is growing at an astounding rate. Increasingly, these organizations are looking to those with a better understanding of budgeting, management, law, and legal processes to take on leadership roles.

Earning an MPA degree from the UNC School of Government can help those in the nonprofit sector become the service-oriented leaders their organizations need. MPA@UNC offers highly specialized training for aspiring nonprofit leaders with a focus area uniquely designed to build real-world nonprofit management skills.

The program offers a focus area specifically created to prepare students for a wide range of careers in the nonprofit sector, including:

While many prospective students associate an MPA degree exclusively with public service and nonprofit careers, the degree can also benefit those looking for career advancement in the private sector. Many MPA@UNC students seek to enhance their expertise in public-private partnerships or pursue private sector careers that directly or indirectly collaborate with government to meet their business goals.

With their heavy focus on leadership and organizational efficiency, the skills students develop through MPA@UNC can be directly applied within a wide range of private sector careers, such as: