MPA Specializations

Rutgers-Camden MPA

All students admitted for the MPA degree are admitted under the requirements adopted and posted here. Each specialization is noted below. Students who were admitted prior to Summer/Fall 2017 can elect to complete the program under the requirements in place the year they were admitted or the new requirements.

The MPA curriculum consists of a “common core of knowledge”, a set of courses that all students in the program must complete; a set of required, colloquia, and elective courses in one of three areas of specialization; an internship or special problems policy course; and a capstone research project.  Some core courses are offered twice a year and some are only offered once a year.  Please check with your academic advisor.

The seven-course, 21-credit common core consists of:

  • 56:834:501 Foundations of Policy Analysis
  • 56:834:503 Law and Public Policy
  • 56:834:515 Introduction to Public Budgeting and Finance
  • 56:834:525 Public and Nonprofit Management
  • 56:834:535 Research Methods
  • 56:834:557 Human Resources Management
  • 56:834:675 Capstone Research Workshop (Prerequisite: all core courses)

MPA Specializations

  1. The Public and Nonprofit Management specialization prepares professionals for careers in government, nonprofit organizations, and business in roles relating to public issues. Graduates serve in state, local, and federal government or community service agencies within the region, as well as foundations, corporations, or other public policy settings.
  2. The Community Development specialization provides students with a grounding in theories of power, policy, advocacy, and resource allocation, and applied aspects of domestic and international urban public policy and administration
  3. The Executive MPA Program is offered for mid-career professionals.

The Coverdell Fellows Program provides Returning Peace Corps Volunteers with an MPA program option to prepare for workforce re-entry, and prepares students for careers in international development or community development in the U.S. Our graduates work in nonprofit, government, philanthropic, educational, and other settings.   Funding opportunities for Coverdell Fellows are available.