Who Comes to Villanova?

Our MPA students are passionate about public service, and come to Villanova to develop the values, roles, skills and practices that will help them become competent professionals capable of ethical, intelligent and creative leadership. We have individuals at all stages in their professional careers, from those just starting out to individuals with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. The diverse backgrounds of our students combined with the depth and breadth of their knowledge and experiences tremendously enrich the classroom experience. Class discussions strike a good balance between theory and practice.

In addition to the MPA degree, we also offer certificates in Public Administration and City Management – both 15-credit programs. Students may enroll in the Certificate programs as a pre-Master's certificate, a specialization with the MPA program, or a post-Master's certificate.

Students may also consider our M.A. in Political Science program if they have more general interests in politics and the domestic, international and ideational forces that shape it. MPA students can also complete a certificate in Political Science.

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Outstanding Faculty

The MPA faculty is comprised of 6 full-time faculty members, based in several academic disciplines. They boast a wide range of scholarly interests and offer a variety of philosophical and practical approaches to public administration. They are actively engaged in research, publishing in the discipline's top journals and university presses. They regularly present their work to both academic and practitioner audiences. They have established networks with local organizations and governments. They are also deeply committed to teaching and advising.

In addition to the full-time faculty, we also have several adjunct faculty who hold advanced degrees and teach courses in their area of specialization and practice. The faculty has extensive experience in university administration, local professional management, and non-profit organizations. They are an invaluable asset to our students as well.

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Challenging Curriculum

Our curriculum includes six required courses dealing with public administration theory, organizational structures, financial management, public personnel, and research methods. Additionally, we offer a wide variety of electives. These include three-credit courses as well as one-credit workshops offered on three consecutive Saturday mornings. The types of courses offered are periodically updated to reflect trends in the study of public administration as well as faculty expertise and interests.

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 Small Classes, Close Mentoring, and Networking Opportunities

Enrollment in our courses ranges from 4 to 20 students with an average class size around 12. Each student is assigned an advisor with whom he or she meets every semester for class selection and career planning. Each spring semester students, faculty, alumni and alumnae are invited to attend the MPA Dinner. The dinner is a chance to honor the students graduating that academic year as well to welcome back our alumni and alumnae for a visit. The dinner also features a talk from a public sector leader who has a distinguished record of service.

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Flexibility

Our program is flexible in terms of the degree requirements and the scheduling of courses. We individually discuss with students their overall course selection to assure it matches their overall academic or professional goals. Individual research courses are available for advanced students with specific needs not met by available elective course work. Students can also take up to four elective courses from other graduate programs in order to help personalize your degree. Students can enroll in as many as three courses per semester, or as little as a single course. All courses are offered at night to accommodate working students. Courses are offered in the spring, summer, and fall semesters.

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Excellent Internship Opportunities

The MPA program has a strong internship program for students without prior management experience in the field. Students work with the MPA Director to arrange internships. Previous placements have included Upper Merion Township, Radnor Township, Montgomery Township, the Philadelphia Airport Authority, Trevor’s Campaign, and the Public Financial Management Group. The internships are paid, and afford students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience as public administrators.

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Convenient Location

Villanova is located on the historical Mainline, in a beautiful western suburb of Philadelphia. Philadelphia offers a wide variety of museums, libraries, concerts and professional sport teams. The campus is only thirty minutes from downtown Philadelphia. It is minutes away from all major highways and routes to and from major metropolitan areas such as: New York City, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. Villanova provides ample parking and mass transit stops right on campus, and students can travel easily to and from the campus by car, bus or train.

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