Meet the Program Director: How UIC’s Online MPA Is Designed for Working Professionals

Selecting a graduate program often comes down to two priorities: the quality of the education, and whether it can realistically fit alongside professional and personal responsibilities. At the University of Illinois Chicago, the Online Master of Public Administration program is designed to meet both. The program maintains the same academic standards as its on-ground counterpart while offering a flexible format that supports working professionals.

The program is led by Dr. Allyson Holbrook, who has been part of UIC for more than 20 years. With a background in social psychology and research focused on public opinion and its role in policymaking, her work centers on how data and information inform decisions in the public sector. Over time, she has developed her courses to reflect these interests while supporting students who are preparing to take on leadership roles in government and nonprofit organizations. In this spotlight, Dr. Holbrook shares how the Online MPA program is intentionally designed to support working professionals while helping them build skills they can apply in their careers right away.

A Balance of Flexibility and Accountability

The program’s online design is asynchronous, with deadlines, which works well for students with other responsibilities. If it works better to do coursework at 2 a.m., students can do that. There is a mixture of flexibility and accountability. Deadlines provide structure, while flexibility allows students to decide when and how they complete their work.

Students can also view the full course structure at the beginning of each eight-week session. They can view all assignments in advance and plan around their schedules, especially during weeks when work or personal responsibilities are more demanding.

Our faculty are flexible and open to communication. They understand that students have real-life responsibilities outside of school. The program builds on a long history of serving working professionals. The on-ground MPA has been structured for working students since 1975, with evening classes designed to accommodate full-time schedules. That same understanding is built into the Online MPA program.

Building Skills That Translate Directly to the Workplace

A central focus of the Online MPA program is helping students build skills they can apply directly in their current or future roles. These align with the program’s learning objectives and competencies tied to NASPAA accreditation, ensuring students are developing skills relevant to the field of public administration.

One key area is understanding how the public sector differs from the private sector. This includes developing a public service perspective and learning how to apply management and leadership principles within a public context. Another is the ability to work with information. In an increasingly complex environment, professionals are expected to navigate both the political context and the growing volume of available data. Understanding how to process and synthesize that information and to generate clear recommendations and evaluations is an essential skill. Students also develop the ability to work effectively with diverse populations. Public administration careers often involve serving communities with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, making cultural awareness and adaptability essential in practice.

These skills are reinforced throughout the curriculum through applied coursework. In PA 402: Introduction to Data Management and Analysis, the focus is on helping students work with data effectively. This includes building skills in data visualization and learning how to present, describe, and communicate information clearly so it can be used in decision-making. Students also complete PA 422: Project Management, where they apply these skills as they organize and manage a project from start to finish.

Aligning Coursework with Students’ Individual Interests and Goals

An important part of building these skills is allowing students to apply them to real-world public administration challenges.

The program is designed so that students are not just learning concepts, but actively using them in ways that connect to their interests and professional goals.

One of the clearest examples of this is in PA 402: Introduction to Data Management and Analysis. Students are introduced to how data is used in public administration practice, including data visualization, analysis, and interpretation. As part of the course, students complete a final project where they identify a dataset and conduct their own analysis. They are supported in this process through exposure to publicly available data sources and tools, including guidance on accessing and working with different types of data. with different types of data.

This allows students to explore a problem or issue that is meaningful to them. Projects have covered a wide range of topics, including accidents, crime, education, and public finance. In one example, a student analyzed data on plane crashes and accidents to understand better how those incidents could be reduced. The range of available data allows students to approach issues from different angles and apply what they are learning to areas that are directly relevant to their interests or current roles.

Helping Students Define Their Career Path

Students enter the program with a range of goals. Some have a clear direction, while others are still determining their next step. PA 591: Managing Your Career is designed to help students take a more intentional approach to their professional development. The goal is to help students reflect on where they are now, including their skills, experiences, and the broader context of their lives and careers. From there, they are guided to think through their next steps and the skills they need to develop to get where they want to be. skills they need to develop to get where they want to be.

Students also reflect on the types of roles and work that would be meaningful to them. As part of the course, they complete an informational interview and develop an individual development plan. This plan brings together their skills, interests, and goals into a long-term career strategy. This process encourages students to be more intentional about their career path and how they move forward after the program. While many graduates pursue roles in government and nonprofit organizations, the program offers flexibility tailored to individual interests and career goals.

Maintaining the Same Quality as the On-Ground MPA

UIC’s Online MPA program is designed as a parallel to the on-ground program, offering the same degree in a flexible, online format. Processes are in place to ensure that students receive comparable instruction and engage in similar coursework throughout the program.

Students learn from a mix of faculty who are actively engaged in research and instructors who bring real-world professional experience, providing both theoretical knowledge and practical insight.

This commitment to quality is reflected in national recognition. According to U.S. News & World Report, UIC’s public affair programs rank among the top 15% nationwide, reflecting its reputation among peer institutions.

Advice for Succeeding in the Online MPA Program

One of the most important pieces of advice is to take the program seriously. Graduate education requires a significant time commitment and differs from undergraduate study in both expectations and workload. Being intentional about time management is important. This means setting aside dedicated time to focus on coursework and staying consistent throughout the program.

It is equally important to understand your own work habits. For some students, it helps to create a sense of structure by getting ready and going to a different environment, such as walking to a coffee shop to focus on coursework. Knowing your strengths and where you may need more structure can make a meaningful difference, especially in an online format where students are responsible for managing their own time.