Northern Kentucky University is strengthening its Masters of Public Administration (MPA) degree with the addition of a fully online program.

NKU’s MPA program is one of the largest in Kentucky.

The MPA program engages students in service-learning projects that have a direct impact on where they live, such as developing emergency management plans for municipal governments and securing funding for non-profit organizations. NKU is also reducing the number of credit hours needed to complete the MPA program from 39 to 36 hours to better meet students where they are.

“We are committed to making our AMP degree more accessible to those interested in pursuing a career in public service in the Commonwealth and beyond,” said Dr Julie Olberding, Director of AMP. “Our commitment to access and affordability is woven throughout the program, from waiving GRE scores to being awarded our Diversity and Equity scholarship each year.

The MPA program also offers two graduate certificates in Nonprofit Management and Emergency Management, which can be earned on their own or “stacked” towards the MPA degree. In addition, students can gain micro-qualifications in areas such as arts administration, disaster preparedness, and GIS and mapping.

“All of our most recent graduates have secured positions within six months of graduation,” said Dr. Olberding. “We are extremely proud of our 700 alumni who serve communities and solve problems every day as city and county directors, police and fire chiefs, nonprofit executives and other civic leaders.”

NKU’s MPA degree is the only program in the region accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Business and Administration (NASPAA), which is the international benchmark for public service education. The program also continues to climb the US News & World Report’s list of top public affairs graduate programs, dropping from twenty spots to 146 this year.

To learn more about NKU’s Masters of Public Administration offerings, click here.