The Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) is the membership association of graduate programs in public administration, public policy, and public affairs. The Commission on Peer Review & Accreditation (COPRA) is the accreditor of these master’s degree programs. NASPAA is considered the global standard in public service education.
MPA Program Accreditation
UAB's MPA program undergoes a reaccreditation process every seven (7) years. In 2021-2022, the MPA program underwent a self-study, and in spring of 2023, it completed its accreditation site visit. The MPA program at UAB was subsequently found to be in substantial conformance with the standards set forth by COPRA and NASPAA. UAB’s MPA program is fully accredited through August 31, 2030. The next reaccreditation cycle will begin in fall of 2028.
NASPAA Program Data 2023-24
UAB’s MPA program values transparency, honesty, and accountability. The faculty and staff believe in the value of public service and strive to provide information and data that reflect our strengths and limitations. You will learn more about the program through the recommended framework of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
Degree Title: Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Organizational Relationship: The MPA degree resides in the UAB College of Arts and Sciences, housed in the Department of Political Science & Public Administration
Modes of Delivery: On-ground with some online coursework available
Number of Credit Hours: 39 (42 for pre-service students with 3-credit internship)
Length of Degree: 5 semesters (full-time)
Dual Degrees:
- Master of Public Administration (MPA)/Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ)
- Master of Public Administration (MPA)/Master of Public Health (MPH)
- Master of Public Administration (MPA)/Juris Doctorate (JD; with Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law)
Number of Students: 60 enrolled in fall 2024
Mission Statement: The UAB MPA program is committed to excellence in graduate education through teaching, research, service, and practice. Through a knowledge- and skills-based curriculum informed by public values, the program focuses on building the next generation of ethical, inclusive, and responsive decisionmakers who advance the public interest.
Admission: The general prerequisite for admission to the MPA Program is a four-year bachelors' degree with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA of the junior-senior year (last 50-60 credit hours). Under extenuating circumstances, an average below 3.0 will be considered. The following factors will be considered in the determination of a student's admission status:
- Undergraduate grade point average, especially in the junior-senior year
- Work history
- Writing skills (based on the applicant's admissions essay)
- References (based on two written letters of recommendation)
Fall 2024 New Enrollment
Total: 20
Faculty
Number of faculty teaching in the program: Six full-time faculty
- Erin L. Borry, PhD
- Nevbahar Ertas, PhD
- Victoria Gordon, PhD
- Akhlaque Haque, PhD
- Peter A. Jones, PhD
- Stephanie Pink-Harper, PhD
Cost of Degree
In-state students
- Tuition: $20,160 ($480 per credit hour)
- Fees: $60
- Total cost: $20,220
Out-of-state students
- Tuition: $49,392 ($1,176 per credit hour)
- Fees: $60
- Total cost: $49,452
Financial Aid Information: Many UAB students utilize FASFA for their financial aid. Visit UAB's Office of Student Financial Aid
Assistantships: The MPA program does have graduate assistantships available.
Job Placement Statistics for UAB MPA Program
from 2022-2023 Cohort
This list includes job placement statistics from self-reported graduate surveys who were employed in the profession within six months of graduation, by employment sector, per NASPAA guidelines:
| Employment Sector | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| National or central government in the same country as the program | 0 |
| State, provincial, or regional government in the same country as the program | 3 |
| City, county, or other local government in the same country as the program | 3 |
| Government not in the same country as the program (all levels) or international quasi-governmental | 1 |
| Nonprofit domestic-oriented | 5 |
| Nonprofit/NGOs internationally oriented | 0 |
| Private sector—research/consulting | 0 |
| Private sector but not research/consulting | 5 |
| Obtaining further education (Ph.D.) | 0 |
| Military service | 0 |
| Unemployed (not seeking employment) | 0 |
| Unemployed (seeking employment) | 0 |
| Status Unknown | 3 |
TOTAL |
20 |
Graduation Completion
| Initially Enrolled | Graduated within 2 Years | Graduated within 3 Years | Graduated within 4 Years | Total Students Graduated and Persisting to Graduation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the AY-5 Cohort (2018-19) | 33 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Faculty Contribution
Programmatic Outcome
Graduation Rate
Students enrolled in Academic Year 2018-19: 33
- Graduation within two years: 20 (61%)
- Graduation within three years: 24 (73%)
- Graduation within four years: 24 (73%)
- Discontinued: 9 (27%)
Graduate Outcome: Employment Sector
