Planning the Fall: Masters of Public Administration

Owned by
Joshua Kennedy (Deactivated)
Last updated: Jun 20, 2024 by
Makayla Newvine
3 min read

Welcome to the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs!

We are pleased that you chose to join us here at Maxwell as a Master of Public Administration (MPA) student.

You will be joining a class of talented individuals with impressive academic accomplishments and professional experience.

The department faculty and staff look forward to meeting in person with our MPA Colloquium, held starting July 1, 2024.

Curriculum Overview

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) features three primary curricular components.  These are detailed in our graduate student handbook, available at http://su-jsm.atlassian.net, please read the handbook before arriving on campus.

The degree involves 40 credits of graduate coursework.

During your time at Maxwell, you will be expected to:

  • Complete nine core courses that provide general knowledge and skills needed for use in the implementation of public programs; (25 credits)
  • Focus your studies through the selection of five elective courses; (15 credits)
  • Complete a culminating workshop project comprised of a real-world client consulting experience

Planning Your Summer Schedule

We expect that MPA students will begin their studies in the summer semester on July 1.  For the summer, they should plan to register for the following courses.  Please note that the summer courses are in-person, on-campus courses, and online courses are not available to MPA students.

  • PAI 600 – Public Administration Colloquium (1 credit)
  • PAI 734 – Public Budgeting (3 credits)
  • PAI 755 – Public Administration & Democracy (3 credits)

These classes are designed as full-time classes and run from Monday to Friday.  The Public Affairs Colloquium meets from 8:30AM to 5:30PM, and Public Budgeting and Public Administration and Democracy meet from 9:00AM to 1:30PM.

Please enroll in these summer classes prior to June 15, 2024.  You will register for these classes on MySlice.  Instructions for registration are available online at https://su-jsm.atlassian.net/wiki/display/Maxwell/Registering+for+Classes.

Planning Your Fall Schedule

We expect that MPA students will take four courses (12 credits) during the fall semester.  These will likely include

PAI 721 – Introduction to Statistics (3 credits)

PAI 723 – Economics for Public Decisions (3 credits)

Choice of PAI 712 – Public Organizations and Management or PAI 762 – Challenges of International Management (3 credits) or PAI 748: Nonprofit Management (3 credits)

Your fourth class will be an elective, chosen from the variety of other courses offered by the Department of Public Administration and International Affairs. Please note that since PAI 762 is a requirement for the Master of Arts in International Relations, seats may be initially reserved for students in that program.

You should consider whether this class would concentrate your studies in one of the seven MPA areas of study or build out a particular technical or management skill.  These classes can be taken in the Department of Public Administration and International Affairs, across the Maxwell School, and across Syracuse University. 

Please note that MPA students are limited to no more than 6 credits outside of the Department of Public Administration and International Affairs.

Select an Area of Study

MPA students will focus their studies in a specific policy sub-field, such as the seven below:

Data Analytics for Public Policy

Environmental Policy and Administration

Government Financial Analysis and Management

International Development and Administration

National and International Security Policy

Public and Nonprofit Management

Social Inequality and Policy

Prepare for Registration

You will register for class on August 1, 2024, but you can change your schedule through the second week of classes with the final add deadline of September 3, 2024. 

Review the list of classes available to graduate students on MySlice or in the Master of Public Administration Handbook.

Students register via the MySlice system. Please make sure you have:

  • Returned the Intent to Register form to Syracuse University;
  • Activated your NetID;
  • Set your NetID password

Downloadable Program Planning Sheet