Online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree at SDSU

This competitive 16-month online degree program is offered to experienced professionals who currently work in government and nonprofit agencies. The rigorous format has been designed for working professionals who are currently employed in managerial positions in public administration, non-profit administration, urban planning, criminal justice or related fields. Past experience in these fields will be considered for applicants who are not currently working in the public or non-profit sector. The 36-unit curriculum is the same as the campus-based program; however, the fast-track, online program is taught in six, two-month modules with two-on-campus experiences – one at the beginning and one at the end of the program.

Teaching Format:
In each two-month module, students take two accelerated courses as part of an online peer cohort. Students receive a brief break (generally two weeks) between modules. The final module consists of a capstone research course where students develop an applied research project. The capstone research project is presented to a panel of professional practitioners and faculty during the final on-campus experience.