Public Administration, MPA

Maxine Goodman School of Urban Affairs

https://levin.csuohio.edu/mpa/mpa

In an era where the need for informed, ethical, and innovative leaders in public service is more paramount than ever, our MPA program is designed to empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage organizations and solve social problems. We aim to enable students not only to understand these roles but to visualize a career path that resonates with their individual interests and core values-whether focused on Northeast Ohio or beyond.

One of the defining features of our program is its interdisciplinary nature. We firmly believe that public service requires a lens wider than any singular perspective. Thus, our students are immersed in an academic environment that offers insights into the intricate web of collaboration between public, nonprofit, and private sectors, all striving toward the shared goal of the public good-albeit in a contested political environment.

This blend of perspectives ensures that our students are theoretically proficient but also practically adept. The culmination of our MPA program aims to produce graduates who are prepared to assume pivotal roles across government, nonprofit, and in some case private-sector organizations. The program is designed both for in-service students and recent college graduates. Most courses are offered in the evening and some online, allowing students to take classes while working full-time or pursuing other goals.

Students have the flexibility to mix and match electives or apply them toward certificate programs if they choose to do so. These options enable students to customize their education to align with their individual interests and career aspirations. It is worth noting that the Levin School offers a range of certificate programs, including Local Government Management, Graduate Certificate , Nonprofit Management, Graduate Certificate , Diversity Leadership and Change Management, Graduate Certificate , Environmental Sustainability, Graduate Certificate , and Society 5.0: Technology, Innovation, Equity, and the Future of Humanity, Graduate Certificate . 

For updated MPA program and faculty information, visit https://levin.csuohio.edu/mpa/mpa.

Additional Information

• Internship opportunities are available to all students, and scholarships and graduate assistantships are available to qualified students through a competitive selection process.
• A formal mentoring program is also available in which students are paired with public service practitioners working in the student’s area of interest. 

Accreditation and National Rankings

The Master of Public Administration program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). The MPA program is ranked THIRD (3rd) in the nation by U.S. News in the specialization of Urban Policy and TWELFTH (12th) in Local Government Management.

Mission

The MPA program prepares graduates to lead in diverse and dynamic urban environments. By applying engaged and interactive learning, faculty and students work together to discover, generate, share, and extend intellectual resources for the benefit of the community. Coursework provides a foundation in public service, administration, and management with specialized skills grounded in one of the program’s areas of expertise (local government management, nonprofit management, public financial management, and urban policy).

Research Units

Students have the opportunity to work with the faculty and staff in the research, public-service, and training centers of the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education. See https://levin.csuohio.edu/research/research for information on the facilities.

Career Information

The School of Urban Affairs, through the Public Affairs Student Services Center and the faculty, provides a variety of services related to career planning to help students and graduates find employment related to their program of study. Current job postings are maintained in the on the Levin College website. Cleveland State’s Office of Career Development and Exploration also provides graduate students and alumni with career advice and career-development assistance, including resume review. 

Financial Assistance

For fullest consideration, GA applicants should submit the School of Urban Affairs GA application and be admitted with degree-seeking status by February 15.

Student employment opportunities are available to eligible degree-seeking students. Internship information is available through the Public Affairs Student Services Center and student employment information is available through the Office of Career Development and Exploration.

Admission Information

Applicants to the Master of Public Administration Program must meet the minimum requirements established by the College of Graduate Studies and the MPA program faculty:

1. Ideally, applicants should have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. However, we understand that GPAs don’t always fully reflect an applicant’s abilities and potential. Students who have a lower GPA are encouraged to enhance their applications by detailing their readiness for success in the program within their statements of purpose.
2. Applicants are asked to describe their motivation for applying to the program at CSU’s Levin School, their qualifications, and how the program will help them advance their career goals. This statement of purpose should be concise, ranging from one to two single-spaced pages. We encourage applicants to present their writing unassisted by ChatGPT or other large language models to ensure it truly reflects their individual voice and writing skills. If you do decide to use such a tool, please clearly acknowledge this by mentioning how you used it in your statement of purpose.
3. Non-native English speakers must demonstrate English-language proficiency as indicated under “Admission Requirements for International Students and Permanent Residents” in the Admissions  section of this catalog.

Apply Now: https://grad.engagecsu.com/

Types of Admission

The academic status of a graduate degree-seeking applicant is determined after a review of admission credentials. Graduate Program Committees, in concurrence with the Office of Graduate Admissions, may recommend admission of applicants as regular or conditional graduate students. Please refer to the Admissions  section of this catalog for information on admission categories.

Admission for CSU Honors College Graduates

The School of Urban Affairs offers expedited admissions for students graduating through Cleveland State University’s Honors College. Interested students should contact the Graduate Programs Coordinator (urbanprograms@csuohio.edu) for details.