Why Pursue a Master's Degree in Public Administration
The MPA program contributes to regional governance by educating skilled and responsible leaders and managers for the public and non-profit sectors.
The program faculty, comprised of academics and practitioners, bring community-relevant research and public sector experience to the classroom, enabling students to broaden their world views and develop analytic and decision-making skills. The MPA course of study enables a diverse body of pre-service and mid-career students who are passionate about public service to improve their organizations and communities. The program inspires students to fulfill their full potential as public servants who formulate and solve complex problems collaboratively.
MPA graduates learn to identify and respect a diversity of values, interests, and stakeholders, and address public issues ethically and effectively.
See What Our Students Say
When you choose UT San Antonio, you join a community of talented scholars and professionals being taught by award-winning faculty. Megan Legacy, alumna and chief executive officer of SA Hope Center, talks about her experience as a student of the Master of Public Administration program.
Advance Your Career with an Accelerated MPA
Students who want to advance in a career in public service can save time and money by pursuing an Accelerated Master’s in Public Administration.
If you have not yet earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public administration, the Accelerated MPA Program allows Public Administration undergraduates to earn the MPA degree with 30 credit hours instead of the normal 39 credit hours.
Choosing this pathway allows graduates to build a network of graduate level peers and faculty as well as accelerate their path to leadership in the Public Administration field.
See AMPA requirements here.
Admission & Application Requirements
Applications are submitted through the UT San Antonio Graduate Application. Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UT San Antonio Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UT San Antonio by the appropriate application deadline.
| Public Administration (MPA) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Required Degree | Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution. | |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) Departments may consider GPA of last 60 semester credit hours | |
| Coursework | Completed adequate credit hours or foreign institution equivalent coursework as preparation for the program. | |
| Transcripts* | Required from all institutions attended; international transcripts must be recorded/translated to English | |
| Credential Evaluation | Required if you have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions. Submit an evaluation of your transcripts from FCSA or any NACES-approved credential evaluation agency. | |
| English Language Proficiency | 550 TOEFL Paper / 79 TOEFL Internet / 6.5 IELTS / Duolingo 100 | |
| Purpose Statement | Required | |
| Resume | Required | |
| Letters of Recommendation | 1 academic or professional reference(s) demonstrating your attributes for successful completion of this program (you will request these through the Graduate Admissions Application; let your recommenders know of your deadline to ensure submissions are on time). Professional references for this program are preferred. | |
| *Unofficial transcripts will be taken into consideration for admissions; however, if admitted into the program, you must submit official transcripts to the University. | ||
Application Deadlines
Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.
| Public Administration (MPA) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing on Admission Decision: Completed applications will be reviewed for admission on a rolling basis. Decisions generally will be made and sent to applicants within 4 to 6 weeks of receiving the application. | |||
| Application Deadlines for: | Priority | International | Domestic |
| Spring 2026 | November 1 | December 8 | |
| Summer 2026 | Not Available | Not Available | |
| Fall 2026 | June 1 | July 1 | |
| Spring 2027 | November 1 | December 1 | |
| Summer 2027 | Not Available | Not Available | |
Funding Opportunities
Funding is available for a limited number of Graduate Research Assistants (GRA). GRAs assist faculty members on their research projects. GRA openings are generally announced near or at a semester’s start by email or within the classroom. Students interested in working as a GRA may email the following to the Department’s administrative staff: (1) a cover letter specifying your interest and background and, (2) a current resume.
For information about scholarships, click below.
Learn moreCareer Options
UT San Antonio prepares you for future careers that are in demand. The possible careers below are based on data pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls information from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program.
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is fully accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). UTSA’s program is one of only 10 NASPAA-accredited master’s programs in public administration, affairs, and policy in Texas.
The MPA program is designed to prepare students to lead with integrity, think critically and drive impactful change in government, nonprofit and community-based organizations. The curriculum combines foundational leadership training with advanced analytical skills, starting with Introduction to Public Service Leadership and Management, which sets the stage for understanding the responsibilities and opportunities of public service.
Students learn from expert faculty and community leaders in classes like Managing Public Organizations, Ethics and Leadership, Strategic Management and Public Policy Process. They learn how to navigate complex bureaucracies and make ethical decisions that serve all populations. Courses in Public Budgeting and Finance, Research Design and Applied Quantitative Methods ensure that students not only understand how to craft effective policies but also how to assess, fund and measure them with precision.
The majority of courses are offered once a week, from 5:30-8:15 PM, at the Downtown campus. Courses are offered Monday – Thursday evenings. Some courses are offered in online modality, and some are in hybrid modality providing working professionals with greater convenience to complete their coursework.
The Department of Public Administration also offers a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Administration and Leadership to further enhance your degree. Refer to the Graduate Catalog for additional information.
- Issues of Public Administration theory
- Public policy formulation in general and in specific fields such as environmental, energy, and civil rights
- Public management issues
- Human resource management and its implications
- Nonprofit/public sector and public/private partnerships
- Economics in the public sector
- Local and regional economic development
- Urban planning and diversity issues in the public sector
