Online Master’s in Public Administration and Policy

24 Month Duration

100% Online

Financial Aid & Scholarships Available

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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
  1. 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

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