Cornell Institute for Public Affairs

Preparing Leaders in the Public, Private & Nonprofit Sectors

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at Cornell is designed to build the skills and knowledge required for your career in the field of public administration.

About the MPA Degree Program

The MPA is a two-year graduate program offered through the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs (CIPA). We prepare individuals for management and leadership careers in public service. Our MPA offers a solid foundation of core coursework in management, economics and finance, and quantitative analysis.

As a student, you will receive a rich combination of coursework and practical experience, with hands-on opportunities offered both inside and outside of the classroom. MPA graduates go on to work for a wide range of governmental, nonprofit and private organizations, where they serve as managers, executives, and policy analysts, among other things.

Build Your Public Engagement Portfolio with Flexible Learning

The MPA degree program places a strong emphasis on experiential learning. Real-world consulting opportunities, internships, off-campus study, and Capstone experiences help you develop the skill set you need to be successful in your future careers, and provide relevant material for inclusion in résumés and job interviews.

Our flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum also affords you the opportunity to work with renowned faculty across many different departments, schools and colleges at Cornell as you build this expertise.

You have eight broad concentration options from which to choose at CIPA:

• Economic and Financial Policy
• Environmental Policy
• Government, Politics and Policy Studies
• Human Rights and Social Justice
• International Development Studies
• Public and Nonprofit Management
• Science, Technology and Infrastructure Policy
• Social Policy

Within each of these concentrations, you have the flexibility to formulate a personalized study plan.

Admissions

We are looking for exceptional students who have the analytical, leadership and communication skills required to take on some of the most complex policy challenges facing our world today. Learn more!