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Master of Public Administration

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Contact Information

School of Business

(573) 875-7535

ba@ccis.edu

Step into a dynamic world of innovative theories, practical applications, and limitless possibilities. We foster an entrepreneurial spirit and prepare you for the ever-evolving landscape of business.

Meet Your Faculty

Why Study Public Administration?

Starting Fall 2026

The online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program equips you to make an impact in government, nonprofit and public service organizations. Designed for working adults and military-connected students ready to advance their career, this program focuses on ethics, management and data-informed decision making.

As public administration careers continue to grow, an MPA from Columbia College prepares you for leadership and long-term success in a competitive and rewarding field. Graduates advance into careers such as city management, emergency and disaster response, homeland security and nonprofit leadership.

What You'll Learn 

Through our curriculum focused on leadership development, you’ll gain the skills essential for public administration roles. Coursework covers public budgeting, financial management, organizational behavior and talent management, with a strong emphasis on statistical analysis and evidence-based decision-making. You’ll also master strategic communication and marketing skills specifically tailored for public service organizations, including strategic communication and stakeholder engagement.

Customize your degree to fit your professional goals. You can pursue a generalist Master of Public Administration degree or specialize in one of three concentrations tailored to high-demand career areas:

  • Emergency and Disaster Management
  • Homeland Security and National Defense
  • Nonprofit Management

Apply your learning through a capstone project and an internship (or professional work experience alternative). You’ll develop a portfolio that demonstrates your readiness for leadership roles.

Program Details

The admission requirement for full admission to Columbia College graduate programs is a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (conditional admission available below 3.0).

Core Curriculum (27 credit hours):

  • Introduction to Public Administration Theory and Practice
  • Statistical Analysis for Decision Making
  • Organizational Behavior and Talent Management
  • State and Local Governance
  • Public Budgeting and Financial Management
  • Ethics and Leadership
  • Strategic Communication and Marketing in Public Sector Organizations
  • MPA Internship (or Professional Work Experience alternative)
  • MPA Capstone

Emergency and Disaster Management Concentration: This concentration prepares students for leadership roles in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery operations. Students study policy and planning issues for both natural and human-caused disasters, examining the responsibilities of government and nonprofit organizations in disaster response and long-term community recovery.

Homeland Security & National Defense Concentration: Designed particularly for military-connected students, this concentration examines security threats, counterterrorism policies, and interagency collaboration in national security. Students explore the relationships between homeland and national security, studying bureaucratic operations and coordination between agencies responsible for national defense.

Nonprofit Management Concentration: This concentration focuses on the unique challenges and opportunities in nonprofit sector leadership, including organizational theory, fundraising, grant writing, and social entrepreneurship. Students develop skills essential for managing nonprofit organizations and NGOs in domestic and international contexts.

In addition to a required capstone project, students must complete either a 100-hour internship or demonstrate Professional Work Experience (PWE) consisting of two years of full-time work in government, nonprofit, or business organizations. Students with verified PWE will take an additional elective course instead of the internship, accommodating working professionals.

We believe in the power of online programs to help you create your future on your terms. Our students are all over the world living their real lives, holding down jobs and caring for others, while learning their way to something better. That’s why we’ve developed a master’s program that’s 100% online. A flexible degree should have flexible options, so you can make a real difference for yourself and others, starting today.

Careers & Outcomes 

Earning a master’s degree in public administration opens up various career opportunities.

Where You Can Take Classes

At Columbia College, our flexible options make it easy to adapt to changing circumstances and pursue your education wherever life takes you. Many of our degrees are offered 100% online. If you prefer a traditional classroom experience, you can attend selected classes at our nationwide locations or at our main campus in Columbia, Missouri. Students at all locations will engage with multiple learning methods, including online and virtual while completing their degree.

Online Programs

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By submitting this form, you expressly consent to Columbia College contacting you via email, phone, or text, including automated technology and AI for calls and texts to the provided wireless number. Message and data rates may apply. Your consent is not necessary for purchasing goods or services.

Contact Information

School of Business

(573) 875-7535

ba@ccis.edu

Step into a dynamic world of innovative theories, practical applications, and limitless possibilities. We foster an entrepreneurial spirit and prepare you for the ever-evolving landscape of business.

Meet Your Faculty

because a future built by you is a future built for you.

Too many people have been made to feel that higher education isn’t a place for them — that it is someone else’s dream. But we change all that. With individualized attention and ongoing support, we help you write a new story for the future where you play the starring role.

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