Lead in Public Service with an Online MPA from UIC
UIC’s online Master of Public Administration (MPA) prepares students for meaningful careers in government, nonprofit, and public sector organizations. You’ll build foundational skills in leadership, policy analysis, budgeting, and organizational management, as well as specialized expertise through a concentration in either public, nonprofit, or financial management.
All courses are offered in an asynchronous format, making it an ideal program for working professionals.
Online MPA At-A-Glance
Why Choose UIC’s Online Master of Public Administration?
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NASPAA-accredited Our online MPA is accredited by NASPAA, the field standard for academic program review in public affairs.
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Flexible Pacing With convenient, accelerated 8-week terms, you can complete the degree on your schedule.
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Top 40 Ranking UIC is ranked among the top 40 Best Public Affairs Programs in the U.S., according to U.S. News & World Report.
RFI MPA program page
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Concentrations That Fit Your Career Goals
Every online MPA student chooses one of the following concentrations to align coursework with their career goals.
Public Management Concentration
Build generalized knowledge in organizational theory, principles of management, program evaluation, and special topics in decision-making, strategic management, project management, and leadership in public organizations.
Nonprofit Management Concentration
Develop specialized expertise in the nonprofit sector including theory, history, management, fundraising, and financial management. Students examine the relationships between nonprofit organizations and government entities, such as the civic base of the nonprofit sector, intergovernmental and inter-sectoral relations, advocacy, lobbying, and budgeting for contracts and grants.
Financial Management Concentration
Gain specialized expertise in budgeting, the management of the financial affairs of government in accounting, and in economics, with special topic courses in areas such as public finance.
Not sure which is right for you? Read UIC’s Online MPA Concentration Guide to learn more.
Online MPA Courses
Housed within UIC’s College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, the online MPA curriculum incorporates emerging topics in public service and recent research in the field.
The program consists of 13 courses: 10 core courses (including a 1-credit professional development seminar) and 3 concentration courses, for a total of 53 credit hours.
Full-time students typically take two 8-week courses at a time and can complete the entire program in as little as 16 months. Part-time students complete one 8-week course at a time and set their own pace around work and other commitments.
Click the arrows below to view our online MPA program requirements and courses for the concentrations.
Required Courses for the Online MPA
PA 401. Foundations of Public Service | 4 Credit Hours
Examines political, legal, economic and social environment of public service, internal dynamics of public organizations, relationship between public organizations and external stakeholders, and ethical and moral challenges.
PA 402. Introduction to Data Management and Analysis | 4 Credit Hours
Topics and methods of analyzing information relevant to the administration and management of public programs and organizations. Includes causation, univariate statistics, significance testing, correlation, and regression.
PA 403. Economics for Management and Policy | 4 Credit Hours
Basic economic tools and methods relevant to public admin and current policy: opportunity cost, supply and demand, rational choice, production costs, competition vs monopoly, and economic efficiency versus equity, market failure, and public goods.
PA 504. Principles of Financial Management and Budgeting | 4 Credit Hours
Processes and methods relevant to government finances and fiscal health: revenues, taxation, budget formulation, operating budgets, cost analysis, planning and performance, budget reforms, politics, capital budgeting, role of budgeting in management.
PA 505. Public Management Practices | 4 Credit Hours
Current issues and challenges in public management as embedded in the disciplines of organization theory, economics, psychology, ethics, and law.
PA 506. Public Policy Development and Process | 4 Credit Hours
Examines the process by which public policies are formulated, decided on, implemented, and evaluated. Students learn techniques to appropriately structure, analyze, and communicate policy issues, as well as the economic rationale for public policy.
PA 521. Strategic Management: Planning and Measurement | 4 Credit Hours
This course addresses strategies and issues relating to the strategic management of public and quasi-public organizations. It addresses strategic planning and performance measurement processes within organizations.
PA 561. Intergovernmental Management | 4 Credit Hours
Constitutional, political, fiscal relationships among federal, state and local governments; management of public policy problems requiring cross-boundary solutions and overlapping programmatic, regulatory and fiscal responsibilities.
PA 590, Capstone and Portfolio in Public Policy, Management, and Analytics | 4 Credit Hours
Integration of classroom learning with practical experience and preparation of a student portfolio based on work completed in other courses to demonstrate competencies gained in degree program. The portfolio will contain a reflective essay on the role of the program in meeting the student’s individual career preparation. For the capstone, students will work in groups to solve real problems for public and nonprofit organizations. Extensive collaboration required among group members outside of class time. Students should expect significant field work at their assigned organizations. Students are responsible to the course professor and to the project supervisor in their assigned organizations. Because the coursework is team-based, students are not allowed to drop this course once teams are created. Course must be taken in the last two semesters in the MPA program or consent of the instructor.
PA 591. Managing Your Career | 1 Credit Hour
Preparation of a personalized strategy to optimize MPA program outcomes. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only.
Public Management Courses
PA 422. Project Management | 4 Credit Hours
A comprehensive review of project management practices and techniques necessary to successfully manage projects in government and non-profit organizations which is rooted largely in Project Management Institute (PMI) standards and practices.
PA 431. Civic Technology | 4 Credit Hours
Application of the Internet and related technologies for public management. Topics include, Web-based service delivery, online governance, the technological divide, the use of social media, and the changing role of public managers.
PA 550. Advanced Topics in Financial Analysis and Management | 4 Credit Hours
Advanced topics in financial analysis and management in government and nonprofit organizations, including cost analysis, revenue structures, fiscal health/distress, financial risk, management of short-term resources, and internal controls.
PA 571. Nonprofit Management | 4 Credit Hours
Topics include governance roles and responsibilities, ethics, accountability, liability and risk management, resource generation, managing staff and volunteers, marketing and public relations, performance measurement/program evaluation and advocacy.
Nonprofit Management Courses
PA 571. Nonprofit Management REQUIRED | 4 Credit Hours
Topics include governance roles and responsibilities, ethics, accountability, liability and risk management, resource generation, managing staff and volunteers, marketing and public relations, performance measurement/program evaluation and advocacy.
PA 422. Project Management | 4 Credit Hours
A comprehensive review of project management practices and techniques necessary to successfully manage projects in government and non-profit organizations which is rooted largely in Project Management Institute (PMI) standards and practices.
PA 431. Civic Technology | 4 Credit Hours
Application of the Internet and related technologies for public management. Topics include, Web-based service delivery, online governance, the technological divide, the use of social media, and the changing role of public managers.
PA 550. Advanced Topics in Financial Analysis and Management | 4 Credit Hours
Advanced topics in financial analysis and management in government and nonprofit organizations, including cost analysis, revenue structures, fiscal health/distress, financial risk, management of short-term resources, and internal controls.
Financial Management Courses
PA 550. Advanced Topics in Financial Analysis and Management REQUIRED | 4 Credit Hours
Advanced topics in financial analysis and management in government and nonprofit organizations, including cost analysis, revenue structures, fiscal health/distress, financial risk, management of short-term resources, and internal controls.
PA 422. Project Management | 4 Credit Hours
A comprehensive review of project management practices and techniques necessary to successfully manage projects in government and non-profit organizations which is rooted largely in Project Management Institute (PMI) standards and practices.
PA 431. Civic Technology | 4 Credit Hours
Application of the Internet and related technologies for public management. Topics include, Web-based service delivery, online governance, the technological divide, the use of social media, and the changing role of public managers.
PA 571. Nonprofit Management | 4 Credit Hours
Topics include governance roles and responsibilities, ethics, accountability, liability and risk management, resource generation, managing staff and volunteers, marketing and public relations, performance measurement/program evaluation and advocacy.
Get to Know Our Online MPA Faculty
The problems we confront have never been more challenging or the need for effective public policies greater. Our MPA graduates make important contributions to governments and nonprofit organizations throughout Chicagoland and Illinois, generally because of the skills and knowledge they gained through this program.
Jered Carr | Professor
An MPA is a versatile degree that allows graduates to pursue careers in the public sector. Graduates of our MPA degree have gone on to careers in education, law enforcement, health, in local, state, and federal government, and in the nonprofit organizations.
Dr. Allyson Holbrook | MPA Professor and Program Director
When developing the PA 505: Public Management Practices course, the primary goals were to familiarize students with the key concepts, ideas, and practical issues associated with managing organizations in the public sector.
Dr. Jiaqi Liang | Associate Professor
Real-World Skills You’ll Master
This program equips students with a range of skills to become effective leaders and problem solvers in their communities. These include analytics, communication, leadership, management, policy analysis, and ethics and accountability.
Online MPA Graduates will be able to:
- Lead and manage in the public interest.
- Participate in, and contribute to, the policy process.
- Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment.
- Articulate, apply, and advance a public service perspective.
- Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.
Jobs You Could Get with an Online MPA
An MPA degree is often described as the public sector’s equivalent of an MBA, offering the analytical and leadership skills needed for a variety of career opportunities.
Whether you want to become a city manager, budget or policy analyst, government services consultant, healthcare administrator, nonprofit director, or community leader, an online MPA degree from UIC can get you there.
Our graduates currently serve in the following roles:
Public Admin Roles List One
- Budget/ Financial Analyst
- Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer or Chief Financial Officer
- City Manager or Commissioner
- Compliance Officer
- Director of Strategic Initiatives or Community Outreach
- Environmental, Economic or Analytics Consultant
Public Admin Roles List Two
- Education or Healthcare Administrator
- Executive Director
- Fundraising or Policy Manager
- Policy, Data, or Management Analyst
- Project Manager or Public Relations Manager
- Urban/Regional Planner
Online Master of Public Administration Alumni Voices
UIC allowed me to tailor my coursework to ensure that my projects, reports, and portfolio were geared toward my interests and career goals. By the time I graduated, I had a professional portfolio that included not only academics but also research, policy analysis, and program development work for the Mayor’s Office.
Rachael Everson | MPA Graduate
My capstone project has been one of the most valuable experiences in the program. We’re focusing on cybersecurity, an issue that is not only incredibly relevant today but will continue to be in the future.
Emily Stenzel | MPA Graduate
UIC’s MPA program strengthened my data analysis and policy development skills. That strong analytical foundation has given me an edge, allowing me to present data and truly understand its story.
Katie Gross | MPA Graduate
Job Growth and Salaries
Earning Potential
Professionals with an MPA earn an average salary of $79,000 per year, according to PayScale, though certain roles — including financial manager, business operations specialist, management analyst, community service manager, and data analyst — average over $105,000 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Public Administration Job Growth
Demand for graduates with expertise in management, finance, data analysis, project management, and public policy is projected to grow nearly 6% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. BLS.
For financial managers, community service managers, and management analysts, the growth rate is projected at 11%.
Why NASPAA Accreditation Matters
NASPAA accreditation signals that a program has undergone a rigorous mission- and outcomes-based process and made a long-term commitment to quality education.
Degree programs seeking accreditation must be in substantial compliance with the standards of the field. The accreditation process is designed to foster continuous assessment and improvement, even after accreditation has been achieved. This review processes helps ensure UIC’s online MPA program continues to evolve with the needs of public service, providing the strongest possible academic curriculum.
Disclaimer
The online Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a Full Cost Recovery Program and is not eligible for tuition waivers by University of Illinois employees.