Wisconsin Public Administration Degrees

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There are numerous locations within the state of Wisconsin that students can obtain a Master's degree in public administration.

Some of the biggest universities can be found in Madison, Milwaukee, and Oshkosh, with the latter also offering an online program. Concordia University offers a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Public Administration online or in many different campus locations.

Online MPA Programs in Wisconsin

For busy professionals needing a bit more flexibility in their MPA program, both the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh and Concordia University provide various on-campus education and a 100 percent online curriculum. Both schools are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Consider a featured online public administration program currently taking applications.

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University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

36 total credits are needed to complete the MPA program offered fully online or at the main campus in Oshkosh. There are four areas of concentration that students can choose from: Health Agency Administration, Nonprofit Management and Leadership, Fire and Emergency Administration and Management, and a general emphasis on organizing and evaluating various public policies and programs. The latter provides various electives to choose from while the other three specializations have a more streamlined set of courses.

Example core courses in the curriculum include Leadership and Ethics, Public Policy Analysis, Organization Theory and Practice, and Analytic Methods. There is also the alternative option pursuing a graduate certificate in Healthcare Management by completing courses in informatics, finances and economics, organization and delivery, and communication, and all courses are available online.

Available Online Public Administration Programs for Wisconsin

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List of Wisconsin Public Administration Programs

Concordia University Wisconsin

The Department of Business offers a Master of Business Administration in Public Administration, requiring 39 credit hours to complete. Students will obtain a faith-based education on various topics like public relations, budgeting, and administrative law. The entire program can be completed at their main campus in Mequon, online, or in various locations in the state, such as Appleton, Green Bay, Milwaukee, and more.

Admission requirements include submitting an application with fee, a one-page essay that explains why the student is pursuing a graduate degree, resume, two letters of recommendation, and official transcripts. GRE scores are not required. Students should hold a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. If completed within the last seven years, graduate transfer credit may be applied.

University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs offers a Master’s degree that requires 42 credit hours to complete within two years. In the curriculum, there are six core courses, eight electives, and an internship if waiver requirements are not met with work experience. Topics among the core courses includes utilizing data visualization, writing policy memos, and interviewing others, and foundational courses in public management and policy analysis.

Example elective courses in the program include Advanced Statistical Methods for Policy Analysis, Public Program Evaluation, and Benefit-Cost Analysis. Students also have the opportunity to combine other degrees such as the Juris Doctorate and Master of Public Health, or graduate certificates in Energy Analysis and Policy and various business certifications. Graduates have held public administration roles at Deloitte, the FBI, US Department of Transportation, and UW-Madison Center for Education Research.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

The College of Letters and Science and the Lubar School of Business offers a Master of Public Administration with the following three areas of concentration: Municipal Management, General Public Administration, and Nonprofit Management. 39 to 42 credits will be needed to complete the program based on previous work experience, and some may qualify to get the course waived. There are no specific course prerequisites to get into the program, but students should hold a Bachelor’s degree and a cumulative 3.0 GPA.

Core coursework in the program consists of predictive analytics, budgeting and finance, and analyzing public programs and policies. The capstone project at the end of the program is both a written and oral presentation on a particular topic that is agreed upon between the student and program director. Subject swill typically dive into issues within public administration and how the student would achieve them in their profession, showcasing what they have learned in the program.