[Hamm]

There was an MBA thread a while back and there was some good info in it, so I thought I would ask advice of Mayberry regarding the MPA.

I am about to graduate with a Poli Sci/International Relations degree. My school just started an MPA program, and at $2800 a semester it seems like a really good priced graduate degree. I am looking to go into work with the federal government when I graduate. I am wondering what you guys think or know about this degree and what impact it would have on my job search and earning potential?

I am thinking of pairing it with graduate level communications courses.

I am also considering applying to the University of Utah for the Middle Eastern studies program, which do you think would be a better choice?

[Dolomite]

What's an MPA degree?

Also, when I think "Finger on the pulse of the Middle East", I really don't think of Utah.

[Hamm]

Originally Posted by Dolomite

What's an MPA degree?

Also, when I think "Finger on the pulse of the Middle East", I really don't think of Utah.

The University of Utah has an excellent Middle East studies program, and the Aziz Atiyah library is "one of the largest in North America and is recognized internationally as a major center for research in Middle East studies"

thats what their website says anyway.

MPA from Wikipedia

MPA programs focus on public administration at the local, state/provincial, national/federal and supranational levels, as well as in the nonprofit sector. Through its history, the MPA degree has become more interdisciplinary by drawing from fields such as economics, sociology, anthropology, political science, and regional planning in order to equip MPA graduates with skills and knowledge covering a broad range of topics and disciplines relevant to the public sector. A core curriculum of a typical MPA program usually includes courses on microeconomics, public finance, research methods/statistics, policy process and policy analysis, ethics, public management, leadership, planning & GIS, and program evaluation/performance measurement. Depending on their interest, MPA students can focus their studies on a variety of public sector fields such as urban planning, transportation, health care (especially public health), economic development, urban management, community development, education, non-profits, information technology, environmental policy, etc.

[Είμαι αυτός]

I would worry about a school that just started a graduate program. Maybe worry isn't the right word. I"m trying to say maybe there are bugs that need to be worked out and the degree won't carry as much weight as one from an established school. The price is almost too good to be true, but I think I would lean towards an established program.

[Hamm]

Originally Posted by Είμαι αυτός

I would worry about a school that just started a graduate program. Maybe worry isn't the right word. I"m trying to say maybe there are bugs that need to be worked out and the degree won't carry as much weight as one from an established school. The price is almost too good to be true, but I think I would lean towards an established program.

It is a State School and has been offering Graduate Degrees for as long as I can remember, they do MBA, MFA (Fine Arts), MSFS (Forensic Science) Masters of Communication, Accounting, Education etc etc.

The Public Administration program is just the new degree. I understand its not an Ivy League education. I am more interested in the validity of the degree itself in todays job market.

[Triangle Choke]

hmm, im actually in the same boat as you...

I too am going to be graduating from university in June with a bachelors in poli sci and criminology and have looked into getting my masters sometime next year...(this year, after graduating im looking to take the year off and work to save up some money for grad school/travel...also gonna try and apply for CSIS, Canada's equivalent of the CIA...if i dont make it as an intelligence officer, i look to enter grad school in IR and then grab a job as a political analyst in Asian/Middle Eastern studies for the government or CSIS...)

in terms of getting an MPA, i would suggest thinking what you would possibly want to do with it (ie. where do you see yourself working in? non-profit? government? private consulting? etc.)...it'll help with networking for future jobs and focusing your research...

from my understanding, I always thought that public administration is more business-oriented, more government-business oriented, but i could be wrong...at least thats what i got from some of the calendars ive looked at regarding the degree...

[Triangle Choke]

*dbl post