Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Lead in Solving Public Problems

Do you have a head for administration and a heart for building stronger communities? Our online and on-campus Master of Public Administration equips you with executive management skills through hands-on opportunities in public administration analysis and a foundation in constitutional government. Choose from several concentration options and align your MPA degree with your career goals.

Locations: On Campus, Online

Total Credit Hours: 36

Next Session Start: January 13, 2025

Manage Strategically

Gain tools in budgeting, policymaking, law, communication, and management.

Access Faculty Experts

Be mentored by renowned scholars and skilled practitioners.

Become an Exceptional Leader

Regent University’s MPA program equips Christian servant leaders with exceptional character and competence to promote the public interest.

Earn Your MPA in Two, Three, or Four Years

Full Time: Four semesters (8 8-week sessions; approximately 9 credits per semester) Part-Time: Six to seven semesters part-time (12-14 8-week sessions; 2 courses per semester).

ALIGN YOURSELF WITH EXCELLENCE

Presented from a Christian perspective, this degree is supported by our respected faculty in Virginia Beach. Regent has been ranked among Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report. We have also been recognized as a Military Friendly Top 5 School by Military Friendly®, 2024-25, and among the Top 10 Best for Vets Colleges: Online & Nontraditional by Military Times, 2020.

Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.

Regent University Ranked Among the Best Online Master's in Public Policy Degree Options by Forbes

Regent University ranked #24 of Top 25 Best Online Master's in Public Administration Programs

Top 25 Best Master's Programs in Virginia, 2024, UniversityHQ.

Career Opportunities

On completing the Master of Public Administration degree, you can:

Conduct risk assessments, present findings, and develop solutions to build stronger communities.
Apply a moral and ethical mindset when addressing and influencing policy.
Understand management processes and the roles of local, state, and federal government.

Career Opportunities

Budget/Finance/Economic Director
City/County Management
Emergency Management
Program Analyst/Manager
Public Affairs & Communication

20%

Higher median usual weekly earnings for workers with a master's versus a bachelor's degree U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019

Concentrations

Emergency Management & Homeland Security

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) – Emergency Management & Homeland Security will equip you with emergency management skills to identify, assess and prepare for potential threats from domestic terrorism to natural disasters.

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General Public Administration

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) – General Public Administration will equip you with executive management skills through hands-on opportunities in public administration analysis, case studies and a foundation in constitutional government.

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Nonprofit & Faith-Based Organizations

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) – Nonprofit & Faith-Based Organizations will teach you how to navigate regulations, seize fundraising opportunities and foster key relationships among board members, staff, volunteers and donors.

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Public Leadership & Management

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) – Public Leadership & Management will equip you with executive management skills through hands-on opportunities, so you can serve key stakeholders in the public and nonprofit sectors.

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Featured Courses

Featured Courses
Code	Name	Credits
GOV 603	Research Methods	3	Qualitative and quantitative reasoning, the basic principles of the philosophy of science, and positivist and reflexivist approaches to knowledge creation. Cross listed with GOV 703.
GOV 604	Christian Foundations of Government	3	Offers a biblical perspective of the religious, philosophical, and cultural foundations of Western civilization. Cross-listed with GOV 704.
GOV 623	Public Policy Initiatives	3	Provides comprehensive overview of the public policy process and policy analysis. Examines contexts and actors of public policy, the principles and techniques for analyzing policy alternatives, and the methods for evaluating the effectiveness of governmental policy initiatives. Cross-listed with GOV 723.
GOV 630	Public Human Resources Management	3	The history, evolution and modern-day dynamics, policy and issues within human resource management, discussing examples from all three levels of government.
GOV 634	Public Budgeting & Taxation Policy	3	Understanding the development of successful fiscal policy initiatives, the technical material and the political processes involved in making tax and spending policy to interact effectively with other professionals in the development, prosecution and ultimate attainment of a public policy objective. Cross-listed with GOV 734.
GOV 668	Leadership & Administrative Ethics	3	A detailed analysis of moral and ethical reasoning from a Christian world view perspective entailing deontological, teleological and character virtue perspectives. Cross-listed with GOV 768.
GOV 670	Principles of Public Administration	3	An in-depth analysis of the history of the discipline of American public administration and a development of several distinct principles of normative administrative theory and Judeo-Christian ethics based upon classics in the field.
GOV 671	Organizational Theory	3	Focuses on theories of organizational structure, dynamics, culture, leadership, motivation, goals and effectiveness, policy decision-making, and pertinent management issues with public organizations.

Admissions Requirements

2024-25 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

Session	Semester Check-In	Session Start Date
Session A	Friday, August 9	Monday, August 19
Session B	Friday, October 11	Monday, October 21
Session C	Wednesday, January 8	Monday, January 13
Session D	Friday, March 7	Monday, March 17
Session E	Friday, May 2	Monday, May 12
Session F	Friday, June 13	Monday, June 23

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.

Step 3: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.

Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

Tuition & Fees

2024-25 Tuition Rates

PART-TIME STUDENTS

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$695	6	$4,170
Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA)	$695	6	$4,170
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)	$900	6	$5,400

Full-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$695	9	$6,255
Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA)	$695	9	$6,255
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)	$900	9	$8,100

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)	$850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)	$700

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

2023-24 Tuition Rates

Part-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$695	6	$4,170
Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA)	$695	6	$4,170
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)	$900	6	$5,400

Full-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$695	9	$6,255
Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA)	$695	9	$6,255
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)	$900	9	$8,100

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)	$850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)	$700

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

FAQ

Whether you are a prospective student or a current student, your questions matter. Please take a few moments to skim our Frequently Asked Questions. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact us.

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“I'm so glad Regent isn't afraid to engage with other viewpoints. It's a place where people are willing to debate their position honestly and without fear.”

Larry Mayes, M.A., 1998 Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston

“The whole concept at Regent was, if you are pursuing administration in the public interest, you aren't just doing it to be a bureaucrat, but to serve those around you. You have to be engaged and know what you believe when you go into it, to stand up for what you think is right.”

Andrew Owen, MPA, 2017 Deputy Treasurer, City of Suffolk

“All of my professors have such a passion for what they are teaching and it is contagious. RSG professors have first-hand knowledge about the subjects they teach. They emphasize that we can make moral arguments in the public sphere.”

Keelyn Geoghean, M.A., 2014

“Professors give real-life lessons and then connect them with God's purpose for your life in a relevant manner.”

Hannah Bell, M.A., 2012 Nonprofit Organization Leader

“Through the MPA program at Regent, I was chosen to participate in the Ph.D. Project ― an award-winning program designed to create diversity in corporate management. I learned that the pursuit of a doctoral degree is a challenging, yet rewarding experience.”

Theresa Judge, MPA, 2017 The Ph.D. Project