USN Badge Grad Schools Public Affairs 2025Public service begins with people, and so does your education at the UCF School of Public Administration. Our degree and certificate programs are designed for students who care deeply about their communities and want to create a lasting impact in government, nonprofits, planning, emergency management and more.

Whether you’re earning an undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degree — or adding a certificate to strengthen your expertise — you’ll find flexible options to learn in-person, online or hybrid. Based at UCF Downtown, our programs place you in the heart of Orlando with access to real-world opportunities right outside the classroom.

Our faculty include five National Academy of Public Administration Fellows and are among the most published in the field. It’s no wonder we’re ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report — including:

No. 1 in Emergency and Crisis Management
No. 15 in Nonprofit Management
No. 21 in Public Management and Leadership
No. 27 in Public Finance and Budgeting
No. 46 in Public Affairs

Wherever your goals take you, we’re here to help you lead with purpose.

Academic Programs

Emergency management staff monitoring weather on multiple screens
Student volunteers serving food
Public administrators in a meeting
Women attentive in a meeting
Man pointing at display during meeting
Two researchers looking at computer screen
Urban planners reviewing drafts

Service to Service

Veterans, your next mission starts here!

UCF’s Service to Service initiative, the only one of its kind in the Southeast and one of just 12 nationwide, is your launchpad to civilian leadership. Kicking off in Fall 2025, this groundbreaking program, backed by The Volcker Alliance and We the Veterans, transforms your military expertise into a rewarding career in public service.

As a Service to Service Fellow, you’ll dive into graduate programs like Urban and Regional Planning, Public Administration or Emergency Management at UCF Downtown, with scholarships, GI Bill support, and our top-tier Veterans Academic Resource Center by your side. Tap into mentorship, professional development and a nationwide network to land roles in local or state government.

Military serviceman

With UCF’s No. 8 ranking for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans and Collegiate Purple Star Campus status, we’ve got your back. Join us and lead the charge in your community!

Advising

Start your public service education with confidence. Our expert advisors guide you through tailored course plans in programs like Urban and Regional Planning, Nonprofit Management or Public Policy. Whether online or in-person, they’ll work with you to map your path to graduation, aligning coursework with your career goals—be it leading nonprofits or shaping cityscapes.

Connect with an advisor today and start charting your future!

Undergraduate
Undergraduate students have an assigned Academic Success Coach who can provide guidance on academic planning, connect you with resources and answer questions about your UCF journey. Appointments can be scheduled on campus, virtually or over the phone.

Prospective, minor and certificate students may request an appointment by emailing ccieuginfo@ucf.edu.

Graduate
To meet with a graduate advisor, graduate students email the appropriate advisor.

Edlira Dursun, Graduate Advisor
Public Affairs Ph.D.
Emergency and Crisis Management MECM and Graduate Certificate
Urban and Regional Planning MSURP and Graduate Certificate

Nasrin Lakhani, Graduate Advisor
Nonprofit Management NMN and Graduate Certificates
Research Administration and Graduate Certificate

Austin McDaniels, Graduate Advisor
Public Administration MPA and Graduate Certificates
MPA + MS Criminal Justice Dual Degree
Public Policy

Undergraduate FAQs

Graduate FAQs

Information Sessions

Curious about the School of Public Administration programs? Join our information sessions to get the full picture of what to expect!

From navigating admissions and mastering your application to exploring academic programs and major requirements, our engaging panels, presentations and Q&A sessions have you covered.

Connect with us to get your questions answered.

Scholarships

Each year, the College of Community Innovation and Education awards scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students who are driven to serve, lead and make a difference. Thanks to the support of generous donors, these scholarships recognize your academic success, leadership potential and commitment to your community, while helping to ease the financial burden of tuition, books and more.

Explore opportunities designed just for School of Public Administration majors, and be ready to apply when the scholarship window opens each spring.

Applications are open January through March.

Scholarships for School of Public Administration Students

  • Ann McCormick Simpson Endowed Scholarship
  • APA Florida Orlando Metro Section, Judith Mucci Endowed Scholarship
  • Augustin Military to Public Service Transition Scholarship
  • Colonel Mike Murdock, USMC, Endowed Scholarship
  • Dr. Naim Kapucu Endowed Scholarship for Doctoral Students
  • Dr. Thomas T.H. Wan Endowed Scholarship
  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security - Graduate
  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security - Undergraduate
  • Feldheim Nonprofit Management Endowed Scholarship
  • Fred & Sandra Kittinger Scholarship Fund
  • Gerald-Mark Breen Memorial Scholarship
  • John L. Mica Public Service Scholarship
  • Kevin Tyjeski City Planning Endowed Scholarship Fund
  • The Light Orlando Luminary Leaders Fund
  • Travis M. Leslie Emergency Management Endowment Fund
  • VHB Miller Sellen Endowed Scholarship in Urban and Regional Planning
UCF graduate walking at graduation with diploma in hand