University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government

The Fels Institute has a 70-year tradition of graduate education with a focus on leadership for results. Fels prepares its graduate students to address complex problems in a political environment so that they can successfully lead in the public sector.

The 12-course Masters of Public Administration program is designed to provide a broad-based education that prepares students to move within and between government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private firms engaging in public sector work. The program can be pursued in either a full-time or executive (part-time) format.

MPA students take eight core classes and four electives. The core courses revolve around four areas: public finance (budgeting, financial management); politics (political orientation and policy development); management (public and performance management); and quantitative (statistics and economics). Electives are chosen from Fels' offerings or, with the approval of the Fels academic advisor, from other graduate programs within the university. Pursuit of an area of specialization can also lead to a dual graduate degree or a five-course certificate in addition to the MPA. Specialization areas include: Public Finance, Nonprofit Administration, Politics & Public Leadership, Economic Development.