Master of Public Administration Program Outcomes

The UCF Master of Public Administration program develops public service leaders equipped with ethical, managerial, and professional skills and values that promote social progress. The program is nationally renowned for its development of public administration professionals that tackle the ever-evolving challenges facing our communities.

Program Requirements

The MPA program curriculum consists of 42 credits. Students complete a core of nine courses (27 credits), an advanced curriculum of four courses (12 credits), and a capstone experience equivalent to one course (3 credits). Students must achieve a minimum grade of 3.0 (“B”) for each core class and the capstone experience, and they must maintain an overall program grade point average of 3.0.

For more information, please visit the UCF Graduate Catalog.

Certificates

Students accepted into a graduate program within the School of Public Administration may apply some applicable credits toward a graduate certificate. Students must apply separately for the certificate program. View the graduate certificates offered by the School of Public Administration.

Application and Admission

Applications are accepted in the fall and spring semesters. Apply online through the College of Graduate Studies.

Note: The Graduate Record Examination is not required except for those students wishing to compete for a fellowship.

To be considered for admission, the following documentation must be on file with UCF by the appropriate application deadline date:

Undergraduate transcripts.
Graduate transcripts (if another graduate degree in a related field has been completed).
Supporting documents:
- Resume
- Statement of Interest
- Three letters of recommendation from professors or professional individuals

The MPA program typically admits students with an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, depending on space availability; those whose undergraduate degree is still in progress may be admitted conditionally until the transcript is provided showing the final undergraduate GPA. Students with GPA below 3.0 may be offered a provisional admission, provided their portfolio demonstrates considerable promise for success.

Online Learning

Public administration students now have the option of completing the MPA program requirements on campus, online or a combination of the two.

Internships

Students without practical administrative experience in the public sector are strongly advised to complete an internship as part of their advanced curriculum. MPA students have the advantage of developing internship placements through our experiential learning coordinator. Internship placement varies by student interest and semester. During the 2024-25 academic year, one MPA student received an internship placement.

Graduation Rates

MPA students have considerable flexibility in completing the degree. Our program is designed so that a full-time student can easily complete the MPA during two full academic years (five semesters including summer). Many of our MPA students pursue the degree on a part-time basis, balancing their educational goals with work and family priorities. Graduation rates are reported on an “Academic Year -5” basis (AR-5). For the 2019-20 cohort of the 136 entering students, 9 graduated within two academic years, 51 graduated within three academic years, and 72 graduated within four academic years.

Job Placements

MPA graduates work in various fields of the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. Our 2023-24 graduates work for: