About the Program

The MPA Program seeks to prepare its students for public service by developing and supplementing the following:

• The theories and practice of public management, and the design and analysis of public policy.
• The public context in which public administrators work, including the institutions, actors, processes, functions, challenges, and responsibilities of government.
• Skills related to critical and analytical thinking, decision-making, and communication.
• An understanding of:
• The ability to practice effectively as an administrator in public, non-profit, or healthcare organizations.
• A recognition of, and appreciation for, the role of diversity in public service delivery.

The MPA Program serves North Dakota by educating future State and community public service professionals.

The MPA Program faculty are dedicated to:

• Excellence and innovation in teaching.
• Student service and mentorship.
• Serving the community, North Dakota, and profession through teaching, service and scholarship.
• Conducting research that is relevant and accessible to both practitioners and academics, and has the potential to improve the practice of public, nonprofit, and health administration.

Through the above mission goals and objectives, the University of North Dakota's MPA Program seeks to promote an appreciation and respect for the following public service values in its students:

• Dedication to service in the public interest.
• Personal and professional ethics and integrity.
• Pursuit of quality, performance excellence, and the efficient and responsible use of resources.
• Promoting accountability by striving for transparency, accuracy, and accessibility.
• Promoting, respecting, and upholding principles consistent with the democratic process, the rule of law, and/or U.S. and state constitutions, such as equality, fairness, representativeness, and due process in protecting rights.
• Opposition to discrimination and harassment.
• The exercise of compassion and empathy in service delivery.

• J.D./M.P.A.
• B.S.P.A/M.P.A.
• B.A./M.P.A.

The MPA Board is charged with taking an active responsibility for the advancement of the University of North Dakota's MPA Program. The Board will help to build the program for the future through personal commitments of time. The success of this board requires members to be actively committed, influential, and willing to encourage other public leaders to support the efforts of the program.

Major Responsibilities

1. Diligently attend board meetings, equipped with information on past meetings and current program and advancement activities.
2. Work closely with other Board members to establish and maximize working relationships within the board and in the public service community at large.
3. Commit seriously to the work of the Board as a whole and to specific strategies and initiatives for the advancement of the program.
4. Share unique expertise in public service trends with the MPA Director in order to ensure the program curriculum provides the knowledge and skills necessary for future student success in the workforce.
5. Promote alumni relations by engaging and building relationships with MPA alumni within the public sector of Grand Forks, North Dakota, the region, and the public sector at large.
6. Use professional expertise to develop learning and working relationships with MPA students in order to promote professional development outside of the classroom.
7. Promote the program to outside constituents in order to raise awareness of the University of North Dakota MPA Program, as well as raise awareness of the MPA degree in general.
8. Recruit and nominate new members, as needed.
9. Select a Board Chairperson.

Internship Locations

Students preparing to begin a career, or transition into a new career, have access to the Pancratz Career Development Center, located in Nistler College of Business and Public Administration. The Pancratz Center provides guidance and opportunities in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. Our students are particularly well-served through services provided for placement in public administration and nonprofit organization positions.

The table below reports employment data 6 months after graduation. The table combines employment status for both pre-service and in-service students.

The MPA program admitted 13 students in the 2018-19 Academic Year. To date, 75% of this cohort have completed the program.

The table below breaks down number of semesters between admission and graduation. One year includes three semesters (Fall, Spring and Summer). Time toward graduation is influenced by a number of factors, including part time or full-time status and number of courses taken per semester. The AY2017-18 cohort includes all students with admitted, approved, qualified and provisional status.