Master of Public Administration - MPA

Master of Public Administration, MPA

Master Public Administration and Drive Change in Your Community

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at McGeorge School of Law prepares students for leadership roles in public service, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Designed for working professionals and pre-service students alike, the program offers a dynamic curriculum focused on policy analysis, public management, budgeting, and leadership skills.

With a hybrid learning model, students benefit from the flexibility of online coursework combined with valuable in-person Saturday sessions on campus. The McGeorge MPA program in Sacramento is located near the California State Capitol—a prime location for networking and hands-on learning.

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Program Highlights

Flexible Hybrid Format

A combination of online instruction and in-person Saturday sessions accommodates working professionals.

Distinctive Legal Integration

Two required law courses—Law for Public Administration and Statutes and Regulations—equip you with essential legal analytical skills and a solid understanding of regulatory frameworks.

Career Advancement Opportunities

Hands-on simulations, networking events, and expert-led discussions enhance practical learning and career readiness as only an MPA program in California can.

Flexible Hybrid Format

A combination of online instruction and in-person Saturday sessions accommodates working professionals.

Concentrations with Experiential Learning

You can customize your education by choosing concentrations in Non-Profit and Social Capacity Management, Environmental and Water Policy, Public Policy Advocacy, or Policy Analysis. Through a blend of internships and dedicated policy projects, you’ll gain the practical, hands-on experience that only a California-based MPA program can offer.

Unit Requirements for the MPA Degree

The program features a 30-unit core curriculum and an optional 6-unit concentrations.

Distinctive Legal Integration

Two required law courses—Law for Public Administration and Statutes and Regulations—equip you with essential legal analytical skills and a solid understanding of regulatory frameworks.

Career Advancement Opportunities

Hands-on simulations, networking events, and expert-led discussions enhance practical learning and career readiness as only an MPA program in California can.

2 Years Full-Time
3 Years Part-Time

Evening & Weekend Hybrid Classes

Scholarships Awarded

Concentrations with Experiential Learning

You can customize your education by choosing concentrations in Non-Profit and Social Capacity Management, Environmental and Water Policy, Public Policy Advocacy, or Policy Analysis. Through a blend of internships and dedicated policy projects, you’ll gain the practical, hands-on experience that only a California-based MPA program can offer.

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Course Details

  • A total of 30 (MPA) or 36 (MPA with concentration) units completed over approximately one to three years, depending on full-time or part-time status. 
  • Fall and Spring semesters are 15 weeks long, while Summer courses are offered in an accelerated format.
  • A hybrid MPA program model with a mix of online and in-person courses, with students attending six to eight in-person Saturday sessions per semester.
  • Real-time, synchronous online classes provide direct interaction with professors and classmates, complemented by additional time for coursework and assignments.

The MPA program offers two pathways to completion:

  1. MPA Core Program (30 Units)
  • LAW 201: Law for Public Administration 3
  • PUB 251: Foundations of Public Administration 3
  • LAW 517: Statutes and Regulations 3
  • PUB 221: Economic Concepts and Tools 3
  • PUB 214: Budgets, Financial Management 3
  • PUB 233: Public Manager Analytics 3
  • PUB 211: Governance and Public Policy 3
  • PUB 241: Leaders, Organization Behavior 3
  • PUB or LAW: Elective 3
  • PUB 252: Capstone: Strategy, Implementation 3
 
  1. MPA with Concentration (36 Units)
  • All core MPA courses
  • Two additional concentration courses from selected tracks

MPA students can customize their learning experience by selecting from the following concentrations:

1. Policy Analysis

    • Students learn sophisticated techniques for evaluating and crafting effective public policies, statistical analysis and data-driven decision-making tools, and innovative strategies to boost community resilience and capacity, ensuring sustainable and impactful policy implementation.

 

Policy Analysis Concentration (select 6 units)

PUB 235: Advanced Policy Analysis 3

PUB 234: Advanced Quantitative Methods 3

PUB 213: Enhancing Societal Capacity 3

PUB 291: Externship Seminar (pre-service only) 3

 

2. Public Policy Advocacy

    • Students conduct in-depth exploration of legislative institutions and lawmaking processes; develop practical skills in drafting statutory language, preparing and assessing bill analyses, commenting on legislation, and actively participating in the legislative process; and become proficient in advocacy, negotiation, and compromise within policy-making settings.
 

Public Policy Advocacy Concentration (select 6 units)

PUB 253: Legislative and Public Policy Practicum 3

PUB 242:  Leading Systemic Change 3

LAW 505: Legislatures and Lawmaking 3

LAW 513: Lobbying & Politics 3

LAW 699X: Negotiations 3

PUB 291: Externship Seminar (pre-service only) 3

 

3. Environmental & Water Policy

    • Include description: Students gain a comprehensive understanding of the legal frameworks that safeguard our environment and water resources and develop the practical skills to advocate for sustainable environmental and water resource management.

 

Environmental/Water Policy (select 6 units)

LAW 507: Environmental Law 3

LAW 583: Water & Environmental Justice 3

LAW 230: Water Resources Law 3

PUB 291: Externship Seminar (pre-service only) 3

 

4. Non-Profit & Social Capacity Management

    • Leadership training for non-profit and public-sector executives.
    • Courses in non-profit management and system change strategies.
 

Non-Profit and Social Capacity Management (select 6 units)

PUB 243: Non-Profit Management 3

PUB 213: Enhancing Societal Capacity 3

PUB 242: Leading Systemic Change 3

LAW 699X: Negotiations 3

PUB 291: Externship Seminar (pre-service only) 3

Each concentration includes an optional externship component where students gain real-world experience in their chosen field, working under the supervision of industry professionals.

Career Outcomes

Graduates with a public administration master’s degree pursue leadership roles in government agencies, non-profit organizations, advocacy groups, and private-sector firms specializing in policy and administration. Common career paths include:

  • Public policy analyst
  • Government affairs director
  • City manager
  • Non-profit executive director
  • Legislative advocate
  • Public sector consultant
  • Public Administrator
  • Program Manager
  • City Manager or County Executive
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Career Outcomes

Graduates with a public administration master’s degree pursue leadership roles in government agencies, non-profit organizations, advocacy groups, and private-sector firms specializing in policy and administration. Common career paths include:

  • Public policy analyst
  • Government affairs director
  • City manager
  • Non-profit executive director
  • Legislative advocate
  • Public sector consultant
  • Public administrator
  • Program manager
  • County executive

2 Years Full-Time
3 Years Part-Time

Evening & Weekend Hybrid Classes

Scholarships Awarded

Alumni Network

Lacee Solis, '21

Lacee Solis, ’21, took an interest in getting an MPA because she wanted to learn how to make a difference in her community effectively. She decided on McGeorge School of Law because she was impressed that an MPA was offered at an ABA-accredited law school and that it was built into the curriculum. Solis wanted to become an effective public servant and give back to her community.

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Alumni Network

Lacee Solis, '21

Lacee Solis, ’21, took an interest in getting an MPA because she wanted to learn how to make a difference in her community effectively. She decided on McGeorge School of Law because she was impressed that an MPA was offered at an ABA-accredited law school and that it was built into the curriculum. Solis wanted to become an effective public servant and give back to her community.

Alumni Network

Max Huynh, MPA '21

In this video, Max Huynh discusses how earning an MPA degree from McGeorge School of Law helped him pursue the next steps in his career. Huynh, ’21, refined practical skills through his coursework. He is a program analyst at a non-profit organization called Physicians for a Healthy California.

Alumni Network

Max Huynh, MPA '21

In this video, Max Huynh discusses how earning an MPA degree from McGeorge School of Law helped him pursue the next steps in his career. Huynh, ’21, refined practical skills through his coursework. He is a program analyst at a non-profit organization called Physicians for a Healthy California.

Contact Us

MCGEORGE GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Location:

3200 Fifth Ave. Sacramento, California 95817

MCGEORGE GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Location:

3200 Fifth Ave.
Sacramento, California 95817