University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Knapp-Sanders Bldg, Campus Box 3330
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3330
(919) 966-5381
(919) 962-0654
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General Description
The MPA program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has one of the strongest legacies in educating local government leaders in the country. For over 50 years, the program has been preparing exceptional public service leaders for all levels of government and the non-profit sector. With the addition of our online format eight years ago, we continue to offer our top-ranked MPA degree for those looking for a full-time campus-based experience and for professionals looking for a more flexible part-time program with the same commitment to excellence. Our program is continuously ranked in the top 25 Best Public Affairs programs in the country according to U.S. News and World Report, and our #2 ranking in Local Government Management makes us a top choice for students looking to pursue a career in local government. Our 45 credit hour program curriculum is designed to support our mission of preparing public service leaders and creating usable knowledge to improve governance. The UNC MPA degree supports students with a wide range of interests in everything from education to environmental affairs to social services and public health, but our specific expertise in local government management is reinforced by our renowned local government faculty in the areas of Local Government Management, Budgeting and Finance, Performance Management, Human Resource Management, and Organizational Development. In addition to Local Government Management, students may also select concentrations in Public Management, Community and Economic Development, Public Health, and Nonprofit Management. Currently, the UNC MPA program enrolls around 160 students across both the on-campus and online formats. The on-campus format enrolls once per year in the fall, with approximately 30 students in each cohort. It is a full-time program with students in the same cohort taking their core courses together, often forming lifetime relationships. The online format enrolls students four times per year from all over the country (85 percent who work full-time). Regardless of format, we are committed to enrolling students who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and ideas to the program. Currently, almost 100 percent of our student body receive a financial aid offer upon admission. We also offer a Local Government Employee Match Scholarship for local government employees who receive tuition support from their employers. We encourage you to explore our program and learn about what makes it exceptional. Our cohort model creates an intimate and collaborative learning environment, and the staff will support your individual journey of professional development to help you reach your career goals. Our alumni network is dedicated, involved, and supportive of our students. The Carolina MPA program has a 99 percent job placement rate and 82 percent of our alumni report high levels of satisfaction in their careers. Join a group of distinguished leaders dedicated to service.
Areas of Research
Citizen & Resident Surveys, Code of Ethics, Community Diversity, Community Engagement, Council-Manager Relations, Cybersecurity, Economic Development, Elected Officials, Equity & Inclusion, Ethics, Finance & Budgeting, Food Security, Form of Government, High Performance Organizations, Housing & Community Development, Human Resources, Infrastructure Planning, Innovation, Leadership, Legal Issues, Management, Next Generation of Managers, Organizational Development, Partnerships, Performance Management , Police, Privatization, Process Improvement, Public Safety, Public Works, Strategic Planning, Transportation, Utilities, Water & Wastewater
Other Programs Offered
We offer dual degrees in the following: MPA/JD, MPA/MSW, MPA/MA in City and Regional Planning, MPA/MA in Library Science. We offer concentration areas in Local Government Management, Public Management, NonProfit Management, Public Health, and Community and Economic Development.
Type or Delivery Method Available
Both Traditional and Online