Master of Public Administration (MPA)

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) is tailored for busy public and non-profit managers who seek to enhance their credentials and broaden their horizons. The UAS MPA program comes to you where you live and work in Alaska and the Yukon Territory, and is delivered through live classes streamed over various internet technologies (anywhere students have access to high speed Internet connection). The program combines the relationships and structure of the traditional classroom with the accessibility of a distance delivered program to create a stable, supportive, and high quality education.

The University of Alaska Southeast is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The UAS MPA Program is an Institutional Member of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). Institutional Membership provides for access to their resources, the ability to seek their guidance, and to align evaluation of the UAS MPA program with national standards. Due to the size of the UAS MPA Program we are ineligible for national accreditation with NASPAA.

The MPA student handbook describes our program, admission procedure, degree requirements, program policies, student resources, and include a description of all our courses. The handbook provides valuable information to start, plan, and complete the MPA degree.

"The flexibility of the UAS MPA program fit nicely with my work schedule. Unlike other e-Learning programs, my UAS MPA classes were highly interactive and relevant to my career in local government." Justin Doll, UAS MPA Graduate

MPA concentrations

In addition to the required core classes and the capstone course, MPA students must take four electives. UAS offers a number of choices for students to fulfill the elective requirement. A list of courses and course descriptions, including electives offered can be found in the Attachments.

Students have the option to use those four electives to earn an MPA general concentration or to pursue a special concentration in Natural Resource Policy, Municipal Governance, Higher Education Administration and Rural Development

General concentration

The MPA provides many opportunities for students to advance in their professional development. The general concentration is designed to give students freedom in choosing electives that best fit that development.

In this concentration, students can choose for their 12 elective credits any of the electives that are offered in the program. This allows students to define and develop their own plan that meets their current and future needs to be successful in their professions.