- Political Science
- Master of Public Administration
- About the MPA Program
Political Science
Varner Hall, Room 418
371 Varner Drive
Rochester,
MI
48309-4485
(location map)
(248) 370-2352

UPCOMING EVENTS
About the MPA Program
MISSION STATEMENT
DIVERSITY PHILOSOPHY
Oakland University’s Master of Public Administration Program is committed to creating a welcoming environment for all students, faculty, and staff. We will work to inculcate an awareness of the value of diversity and to impart the ability to interact respectfully and productively with all stakeholders, regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, class, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, and/or veteran status.
ACCREDITATION
The Oakland University Master of Public Administration
programs are fully accredited by NASPAA:
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration
1029 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005
In addition to the 20 credits in the core curriculum, a student may take all 12 elective credits in one of five concentrations:
- Court Administration
- Criminal Justice leadership
- Healthcare Administration
- Local Government Management
- Nonprofit Organization and Management
Admission to the program is selective. Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited undergraduate institution, and must have a grade record that indicates above-average work (generally, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater).
- Send an official transcript providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing. Email address for official transcripts through National Clearinghouse is: gradinfo@oakland.edu
- Complete the Application for Admission To Graduate Study
- Upload Resume
- Upload MPA essay - instructions below
- Email addresses for two references who will be sent a form to complete that gives OU their opinion of student's ability to succeed as a graduate student. These should be undergraduate professors if possible, or people in supervisory roles.
- Instructions for MPA Essay
Education
The Graduate Certificate program, offered by the Master of Public Administration program, is designed to provide students who have already earned a bachelor's degree with additional education and training in specialized areas of public management and administration.
- Court Administration
- Criminal Justice Leadership
- Healthcare Administration
- Local Government Management
- Nonprofit Organization and Management
Students in the Graduate Certificate program will be required to earn a GPA of 3.0 or above in each course required for the certificate.
How many students are enrolled in the program, and do they have prior experience?
For the 2019-2020 cohort we had 27 admitted and enrolled students. 54% percent of total enrolled students were pre-service and had not worked in public or nonprofit organizations prior to their enrollment in the program. 46% percent were currently working, or had some experience, in public or nonprofit settings beforehand. 25% of the students in this cohort are currently considered full-time and enrolled in at least three classes.
How many enrolled students complete the program?
The program is designed for students to finish in five semesters. Full-time students complete the program in two years with continuous full-time enrollment, while part-time students have up to six years to complete the program. The data below show the completion rate for the cohort of 41 students who entered the program during the 2014-2015 academic year:
2014-2015:
Initially Enrolled: 31 (100%)
Graduated Within 2 Years: 7 (23%)
Graduated Within 3 Years: 22 (71%)
Graduated Within 4 Years: 26 (84%)
Of the 31 students who were newly enrolled in 2014-2015, 27 (87%) graduated within six years of starting the program. Students who did not graduate moved to other programs or had circumstances arise that otherwise prevented completion within the required time frame.
Where are our students after graduation?
Oakland University MPA graduates go on to hold a variety of positions in the public and nonprofit sectors, with a number of graduates also either moving on to utilize their skills in the private sector or opting to further their education. The list below presents job placement statistics for the 21 MPA graduates in the 2017-2018 cohort; employment categories were created by the Network of Schools for Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
- National Government in Same Country as Program: 0 (0%)
- State/Regional Government in Same Country as Program: 0 (0%)
- City/County/Local Government in Same Country as Program: 7 (39%)
- Nonprofit (Domestic-Oriented): 10 (56%)
- Nonprofit (Internationally-Oriented): 0 (0%)
- Private Sector (Research/Consulting): 0 (0%)
- Private Sector (Not Research/Consulting): 0 (0%)
- Unemployed (Seeking Employment): 1 (6%)
Who Employs Oakland University’s MPA Graduates?
Alumni in the 2018-2019 cohort were working in the following jobs six months after graduation: