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    Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service
    Ohio University
    Building 21, The Ridges
    1 Ohio University
    Athens, OH 45701 – 2979
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    Master of Public Administration Careers

    Prepare for Leadership Roles in Your Community

    Experiential coursework | Interactive workshops

    When you earn a Master of Public Administration degree at Ohio University, you can prepare to lead public sector, nonprofit and governmental organizations. Overall employment in management occupations is projected to grow 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. 1

    What Makes Us Unique?

    • 1:1 Faculty Coaching
    • Interactive Workshops
    • Master's-level Leadership Development
    • Award-winning Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service

    Top Jobs for MPA Graduates

    Unlock limitless potential with a MPA degree. Explore diverse opportunities in analytics, nonprofit management and community services, leveraging your master's level skills for a rewarding career. The salaries listed represent the median annual salaries.

    • City Manager

      $103,840

      per year 2

    • Emergency Management Director

      $83,960

      per year 3

    • Nonprofit Manager

      $77,030

      per year 4

    • Budget Analyst

      $84,940

      per year 5

    Open Doors to a Range of Career Opportunities

    Ohio University's Master of Public Administration degree gives you specialized knowledge and skills in public policy, governance, finance and management so that you can make a significant impact in the public sector. As you pursue advanced roles in government, nonprofits and more, your degree can equip you with the expertise to address complex societal challenges and foster positive change in your community. You can also position yourself for long-term success in a fulfilling career dedicated to public service.

    Your MPA degree can offer a distinct advantage in career advancement and earning potential. Top executives typically need a bachelor's or master's degree in an area related to their field of work; top executives of large corporations may require a master’s degree. 1 With several potential MPA career paths, one option is emergency management leadership:

    • About 900 openings for emergency management directors are projected each year, on average, from 2021–2031. 3
    • The top 10% of salaries for emergency management directors exceed $151,000 per year. 3

    Program Outcomes and Skills Acquired

    What You'll Learn

    • Data analytics and measuring outcomes for strategic purposes
    • The value of implementing public-private partnerships
    • Theory and concepts related to nonprofit management, state and local government management and public leadership and management

    Skills You'll Gain

    • Lead and manage in public governance
    • Participate in and contribute to the policy process
    • Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions
    • Articulate and apply a public service perspective
    • Communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry

    Career Services

    Ohio University's Career & Student Success Center offers a variety of expert, personalized career services specifically for business students and alumni. With OHIO's Career Acceleration Team (GradCAT), you will also have access to four months of support from a dedicated team that includes a personal career coach, a branding expert and a career concierge. Our alumni benefit from a proprietary technology platform and one free coaching session each year – for life.

    Personalized Career Coaching

    We offer convenient, live coaching via video conference or by phone to help you prepare for career success and maximize your professional potential. We help you determine your career goals, then ensure you have the resources you need to achieve them.

    Job Search Resources

    Put your best foot forward and stand out to employers with helpful templates, detailed best-practice guidelines and more. We also offer job search tools like personal assessments, professional development webinars and online resources that can be accessed anywhere, anytime through our industry-leading technology platform.

    Professional Development Sessions

    OHIO students can also participate in free professional development sessions led by industry experts. These live, virtual sessions cover topics like career self-concept, basic job search skills, and how to qualify for promotions and prepare for leadership opportunities.

    Sources

    1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Management Occupations. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/home.htm .
    2. Top Executives. BLS.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm .
    3. Emergency Management Directors. BLS.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/emergency-management-directors.htm .
    4. Social and Community Service Managers. BLS.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/social-and-community-service-managers.htm .
    5. Budget Analysts. BLS.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/budget-analysts.htm . 
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