Overview

The Henry W. Bloch School of Management Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree is a prestigious and widely-respected program for those wanting to enter or advance in public service careers. This program equips students with the essential tools, skills and knowledge to excel in public service roles. Graduates of the Bloch School MPA become leaders in public service, administration and policy roles. Our program empowers current and aspiring professionals to embark on a career that is not only exciting and challenging but also significant. By developing leadership capabilities and creative problem-solving skills, graduates are well-prepared to address societal challenges and drive positive change. Ideal for those motivated by public service, our graduates find success in government and nonprofit roles, contributing to social impact and improved societal outcomes.

Program Structure

Delivery of this program is 100% online — no campus visits are required. Courses are semester-based. Typically, students take one to four classes each semester and finish in two to three years. MPA students have the opportunity to specialize by earning a graduate certificate in nonprofit management and innovation, health leadership or urban policy and management alongside their MPA degree. The Bloch School MPA program offers students an additional focus on program evaluation and policy analysis that uniquely equips them with in-demand skills.

MPA students have many opportunities to practice the skills they learn during their courses. All MPA students complete a program-long portfolio, which is guided by a faculty mentor and is a reflection of the skills gained during their graduate studies. Students are also required to complete at least one experiential learning course or activity, which could consist of an internship, an approved study abroad course or completion of PUB-ADM 5596: Consulting for Nonprofit and Public Service. Students without at least a year of professional public service experience are required to complete an internship. Support is available to help students locate suitable internships.

Courses

Courses for this program are 100% online — no campus visits are required. Much of the course work is asynchronous; however, each course contains some synchronous components. Most synchronous classes meet at either 5:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. Central time.

Successful completion of the program requires 36 credit hours of course work. Students should ensure that prerequisites are taken in the proper sequence. Not all classes are offered each semester. The online MPA program also allows students the flexibility of using 12 elective credit hours to meet their unique needs and goals. Electives will be offered in either online or in-class formats, with topics suiting a variety of interest areas. If desired, the 12 elective hours can be used to complete one of three complementary, 100% online graduate certificates offered with this program, including in health leadership, nonprofit management and innovation, and urban policy and management. 

Experiential learning requirement

Additionally, students must complete at least one of the following experiential learning courses or activities:

• PA 5595 or HA 5595 Internship in Public or Health Administration
• An approved study abroad program
• PUB-ADM 5596: Consulting for Nonprofit and Public Service

Course planner

The chart below shows the courses offered in this program. Courses are 3 credit hours each, unless stated otherwise. The university reserves the right to change or cancel courses as needed.

Core Courses (21 credit hours)
PUB ADM 5510 Research Methods in Public Administration
PUB ADM 5525 Financial Accountability and Policy Development
PUB ADM 5526 Foundations of Public Service
PUB ADM 5528 Supervision, Performance Leadership, & Human Resource Management or MGT 5512 Leading and Managing People, Teams and Organizations
PUB ADM 5541 Public Policy Development and Analysis
PUB ADM 5544 Program Evaluation
PUB ADM 5548 Leadership, Change and Social Impact

Electives (12 credit hours)

Students may use their electives to explore areas of interest or complete the requirements for a Bloch School graduate certificate program. Certificate options through the Department of Public Affairs include Nonprofit Management and Innovation, Urban Policy and Management, and Health Leadership.

Professional Competency (3 credit hours)

Students must complete one of the following experiential learning opportunities to meet the professional competency requirement in the M.P.A. program: Complete PUB-ADM 5596, Consulting for Nonprofit and Public Organizations. Complete an approved study abroad program. And, complete an internship for credit.

Consult with your advisor regarding additional program requirements.

Nondegree-Seeking Enrollment

Prior to acceptance into the program, you may enroll in up to 6 credit hours as a nondegree-seeking (in some cases, post-baccalaureate) student. Enrollment does not guarantee acceptance. Learn more about nondegree-seeking university student admissions.

State Authorization

States require that the University of Missouri-Kansas City be authorized to deliver university-level distance/online education to their residents. Each state handles this process differently.

Please see our state authorization page for more information.

How to Apply

Fulfill the admission requirements

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Admissions decisions are made using a holistic approach that includes factors such as undergraduate GPA, public service experience and other relevant information that supports the potential for success in the MPA program.

• Students must have earned a bachelor's degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Students not meeting the minimum GPA requirement are reviewed by the MPA admissions committee, and waivers may be granted for those students to be admitted provisionally.
• For students whose native language is not English, proof of English proficiency may be required. For more information, visit the International Student Affairs Office website.
• GRE, LSAT and GMAT scores are optional.

Submit required documentation

• All official transcripts sent from the school where you earned any degrees; undergraduate, graduate or credit. We prefer transcripts to be sent electronically to the Office of Admissions. 
  • By secure email to umkc-admtranscript@umkc.edu
  • By electronic transfer through your school
• If mailed, they must be sent in a sealed envelope to the following address:

• Résumé
• Goal statement — a one-page essay describing your career plans and how your desired degree or certificate can help you reach your goals.
• TOEFL, IELTS or PTE score reports for applicants whose native language is not English. For information on sending test scores, visit the Bloch School graduate admissions web page.

Complete the online application

• Domestic application fee: $45.00. This fee can be waived by participating in an information session with the Bloch School.
• International application fee: $75.00

Note: If you were ever enrolled at UMKC as a degree-seeking student, you do not need to resubmit the general UMKC application fee.

Application fee waiver questions: Contact Bloch with questions at Blochgrad@umkc.edu.

Apply to UMKC

Program Contacts

Gene Pegler Executive Director of Student Affairs Phone: 816-235-5254 Email: peglere@umkc.edu

Susan Opp Victor E. and Caroline E. Schutte Professor Chair, Department of Public Affairs Phone: 816-235-5177 Email: susan.opp@umkc.edu

Tuition and Fees

These estimates are for illustrative purposes only and are based on academic year 2024-2025 information.

These estimates are for illustrative purposes only and are based on academic year 2024-2025 information. They include:

• Graduate resident tuition rate of per credit hour for 36 hours
• Online course fee of per credit hour for 36 hours
• Graduate Public Administration Course Fee of per credit hour for 36 hours