Online Master’s in Public Administration and Policy
24 Month Duration
100% Online
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Learn to Lead
The online master’s in public administration and policy combines American University’s nationally recognized and NASPAA-accredited master’s in public administration and master’s in public policy degree programs into one foundational, highly marketable credential. With this program, you will achieve a master’s-level understanding of modern governance from an award-winning faculty working and teaching in the heart of government, Washington, D.C.
#10 Best Public Affairs Program U.S. News & World Report Public Affairs Graduate Schools (2023)
#4 Top Public Management & Leadership Program U.S. News & World Report Pubic Affairs Graduate Schools (2023)
At AU, you will gain a distinct advantage over the competition by mastering the disciplines of both public policy and public administration and graduate with a foundational skill set to build on for life.
Professional Programs for Your Future
The curriculum in the online master’s program will equip you with the real-world skills you need to succeed.
Courses you may take in this program include:
- Foundations of Policy Analysis: Explore the scope, methods, issues, and evolution of policy studies while learning various frameworks for approaching the enterprise of policy analysis.
- Budgeting and Financial Management: Explore public sector budgeting and budgetary processes, including budget execution and control, cost estimation, capital financing and debt management, performance budgeting, and more.
- Public Managerial Economics: Learn about the concepts managers need to become informed consumers of microeconomics-based policy analysis, including resource scarcity, opportunity cost, and supply and demand.
- Organizational Analysis: Diagnose administrative problems and devise practical solutions to enhance governance using organizational analysis with an eye toward developing effective policies.
Public administration and policy is a field that’s always growing and always in demand. In fact, employment of operations research analysts is projected to grow 25% from 2020 to 2030.1
Some jobs our graduates pursue include:
- Government official
- Non-profit program manager
- Non-profit director
- Financial officer
- Ambassador or international leader
- https://www.bls.gov/
“I was able to apply new knowledge and skills toward all three of my careers and it has allowed me to advance my understanding of difficult policy topics and make well-informed decisions.”
– Justin Schultz, Regulatory Manager, 2021 Graduate