Texas Public Administration Degrees

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There are nine colleges in Texas that offer a Master of Public Administration program and are accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

Are there online MPA Programs in Texas?

Yes, there are Texas universities with online public administration degree programs. Of the NASPAA-accredited programs in the state, there are multiple that offer primary or 100 percent online accessibility: The University of Texas at Arlington, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M International University. The University of Texas Permian Basin also has a 100% online MPA program that students can complete in 12 months.

In depth review of top online MPA programs in Texas, updated for 2023

Texas A&M University EMPSA Program Online

An Executive Master of Public Service and Administration (EMPSA) can be obtained primarily online through The Bush School of Government and Public Service at one of the most popular universities in Texas. While all of the courses are 100 percent online, there are two residency weeks that must be completed during the summer semesters. There is a capstone project that wraps up the program.

Credit Hours and Tracks for the Texas A&M Online MPA

39 credit hours are needed to complete the program and students select among the following tracks: Homeland Security, Nonprofit Management, and Public Management.

The EMPSA can be obtained between two to three years. In general, 96 percent of the 2017-18 graduates that have completed a Master of Public Service and Administration at Texas A&M have found employment within six months of graduation. A quarter of those have found work in nonprofit organizations and the state and local governments.

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The University of Texas at Arlington Online Master of Public Administration degree

Under the College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs, a Master of Public Administration can be obtained on campus, through an accelerated online program, and a city cohort -- the latter provides a blend of daytime classes at government locations with online learning. All three versions require 39 credit hours with an internship waiver. Full-time students can complete the program in five semesters with part-time students needing six or seven semesters depending on if courses are taken along with the capstone project.

For on-campus students, there are 30 hours of core courses and nine hours of an emphasis area: Public Budgeting and Financial Management, Local Government Management, Urban Nonprofit Agency Management, and Strategic Human Resources Management. The online portion replaces emphasis areas with a certificate in Urban Nonprofit Management or Public Budgeting and Financial Management. Geared toward part-time students, the online MPA takes seven semesters to complete and there is no on-campus requirement.

As the biggest university in Texas to offer the MPA program, most students are enrolled in the online program as of Fall 2017 (nearly 80 percent). 90 percent of all students are enrolled part-time. 41 of the 42 graduates from the 2017-18 academic year have become employed or advanced their current career opportunities.

Texas Tech University Online Public Administration Degrees

An MPA is offered through the Department of Political Science and the Center for Public Service at TTU. Concentrations that students can pick from to complete the degree include Public Management, Healthcare Administration, Nonprofit Management, and Environmental Policy and Administration. The degree is offered on Texas Tech's main campus in Lubbock, Waco, and Collin College at Dallas/Fort Worth.

42 hours of coursework are needed to satisfy the MPA degree and students need to maintain a 3.0 GPA. This is geared toward full-time students to complete in two years, but 70 percent of part-time students can complete the program within three years. The internship requirement can be satisfied after two full semesters are completed. The Degree Portfolio requirement, in which students will showcase and defend what they have learned in their coursework, must be submitted by the end of the semester that precedes the final semester.

Of all the graduates from this program, 90 percent of them have found employment or are continuing their education within six months. Over the last three completed academic years, most students can find employment within three months, or they have been able to advance their work opportunities. Most students have entered into the public sector.

Available Online Public Administration Programs for Texas

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List of Texas Public Administration Programs

Recap: list of NASPAA Accredited MPA Degrees in Texas

• Texas A&M International University
• Texas A&M University
• Texas Southern University
• Texas State University
• Texas Tech University
• The University of Texas at Arlington
• The University of Texas at El Paso
• The University of Texas at San Antonio
• University of North Texas