Why earn an MPA (Master of Public Administration) degree, if anyone can work their way from the bottom up? Likewise, isn’t a Bachelor’s degree enough to get one’s foot in the career door?
Working in Public Administration is a very challenging, well-paying and rewarding career, and one that anyone can enter; but drive and ambition will only get you so far. If your career goals reach higher than making fundraising calls, you will need to earn a master’s degree to expand your job options.
What does a degree in Public Administration do? Public Administration is closely related to the field of Public Policy (also similar to Business Management, Political Science, Political Affairs, and Organizational Management and Leadership). This discipline teaches graduates about budgeting, grant-writing, public relations, mediating, leadership, organization, research, policy-writing, and much more. Graduates tackle and try to find practical solutions for modern, real-world issues, such as sustainable living, climate-change, education, and health care reform.
After earning a degree in Public Administration, one is equipped to manage public and private organizations, non-profit and service groups, and work in various levels of government (federal, state, county, and local) and civic organizations, overseeing various departments.
With a bachelor’s in P.A., a degree holder will be able to get their foot in the door and will be a well-equipped candidate for working in lower-level management at the organization of their choice.
Then why earn a Master’s degree in Public Administration? If you dream of leading a company or organization, managing complex projects, consulting, teaching or overseeing a department, you will need an advanced degree. Most higher-paying careers will require at least a master’s.
Though landing your dream job is a substantial perk, there are other benefits to earning your MPA: many accredited colleges now offer online degrees, which can be completed in two years. One more advantage to a Master of Public Administration degree is that the field is flexible, with overlapping and transferable coursework, so that a graduate can switch between career paths with ease.
What careers are available with a Master of Public Administration? There are hundreds of job options, considering the field of P.A. is broad and flexible. A graduate can choose to work in the private or public sector, with non-profit organizations, government agencies, universities, service organizations, on a board of directors and more.
According to www.publicservicecareers.org, the following job titles are just a small sampling of the careers available for those with MPA/MPP degrees
– Senior Research Manager (at a prestigious college)
– Director of Health Services (at a government agency)
– Project Director (at a charitable trust)
– City Director (in a major metropolitan city)
– Deputy Director (for a non-profit)
– Faculty Position (at a university)
– County Commissioner
– Vice President of Budgets and Contracts
– C.E.O. (Chief Executive Officer)
If you feel called to a leadership career in organizational management or governmental structure, and want to make real, practical and positive changes in your community, then earning a Master’s degree in Public Administration may be the right choice for you.
Sources::
www.publicservicecareers.org
http://naspaa.org/
www.worldwidelearn.com
http://www.gopublicservice.org/
www.britannica.com
