University of Georgia

The MPA program at UGA has a great reputation. The faculty and staff are always there to help and answer your questions. The classes are tough, but enjoyable. With such a great network of alumni, there are many opportunities for post-graduate work. The Athens community is also a great place to thrive in the industry with the abundance of NPOs and governmental organizations. Athens is also located within a unified government system, which is interesting and useful to learning about public service... Read More and government. Being a public school, the UGA MPA program is a great value.

This program is great at helping students understand the theories that lay the foundations for the public sector. I believe I am getting the best education in this field along with wonderful internships that I have gotten through the network of my peers. One downside is this program does not always teach technical or practical skills such as quantitative analysis of programs or comprehensive statistic courses, and a student could come through this program and never learn these skills, which I believe... Read More are crucial in public administration. I would definitely do this over again if given the choice.

I believe the faculty and staff contribute significantly to the efficacy of the MPA Program. Not only are they extremely well educated in both general public administration and their respective expertise, but each professor goes above and beyond in an effort to aid in students’ success. I really enjoyed the elective classes I was able to take for my generalist degree including multiple in nonprofit management as well as the opportunity to participate in the SPIA in Seoul program. However, I do think... Read More there is an overwhelming emphasis on policy and finance within the program, particularly in regards to which elective courses are offered. This fact may reflect the interests of the cohorts or MPA faculty expertise; however, diversifying the courses in order to serve a greater range of the specialties the program claims to offer would be advantageous to current and prospective students. For example, the MPA program claims to have a health policy specialization, but very rarely offers a class to satisfy the required electives. While other departments at UGA may offer classes to fulfill the requirement, they may or may not be offered at times convenient to a student working full-time, and as such, MPA students are sometimes forced to take electives that do not contribute to their career goals. There is a fair balance of theoretical background and applied skills within the program, which is ideal for students looking to further their education with a PhD or those looking to enter the workforce.

The Master's of Public Administration Program will offer me an opportunity to have a prosperous career in public service. Although I did not have a background in Public Administration, I was accepted into the program and now have the chance to broaden my career goals. The advisory council is helpful in setting goals and evaluating my specific needs. Also, the Career Services Department does a great job in finding internships and future employment opportunities for the MPA students. The diverse environment... Read More at the University of Georgia has truly enlightened me as an individual. I have gained experience working under great leadership and have been challenged by faculty in one of the best MPA programs in the country.