The Department of Public Policy and Administration supports undergraduate, MPA and PhD students. Our three core missions of research, teaching, and public service are interrelated and mutually supportive.  In keeping with Rutgers-Camden’s responsibilities as a unit of New Jersey’s land grant university, our research mission is of primary importance, and informs our commitments to teaching and public service. Our core values reflect our vision of academic and professional excellence.

Research  Expand knowledge by conducting and disseminating effective theoretical and applied research on diverse policy and management issues that influences the state of knowledge and quality of life. This reflects the Department’s position in a research university with membership in the Association of American Universities.

Teaching – Prepare professionals for careers in the public and nonprofit sectors and those roles within the private sector relating to public service. The Department of Public Policy and Administration has a dual educational mission: (a) to teach our students about policy and the policy process; (b) to teach our students about public management. In both of these mission areas the Department aims to teach core content and general and specific competencies. 

Public Service – Provide, enable, and stimulate public service in our host City of Camden and its region and at other local, regional, state, national, and international levels. 

The MPA Program Mission

The Master of Public Administration offered by Rutgers-Camden is nationally accredited.  The mission, vision, core values and learning outcomes for that program can be found under the MPA program information page  linked here.