The MPA degree program is housed within the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Southern Utah University. Versatile in its design, students may customize the 36-credit hour program to suit their personal interests and career objectives.
Areas of Emphasis within the SUU MPA:
A variety of online course electives are available: students may choose the general MPA degree plan, but may also choose electives that help them earn an emphasis in
- Higher Education
- State and Local Government
- Nonprofit Management
- Criminal Justice
Join our Current Students: Who are they?
- Student Demographics as of Fall 2025
- By Gender: 45% male; 55% female
- Utah Residency: 79% live in Utah; 17% live out of state; 3% are international students living abroad
- By Experience Level: 82% are non-traditional students (ages 26+); 18% are traditional students (ages 18-25)
Why choose SUU?
- Accreditation matters. We are the only NASPAA*-accredited, fully online MPA program in the state of Utah. (*Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration).
- Student Body. The SUU MPA program currently has approximately 200 students, most of whom complete the MPA degree within two years.
- Smaller Class Sizes. Our courses are limited to 25 students per class. Electives often have smaller class sizes.
- Hands-On Learning. We strive to develop our students as professional leaders in public and nonprofit organizations through
- Experiential learning in the online classroom with tactical skills and projects
- Reflective practice to develop critical thinking and decision-making skills
- Projects with community partners
- Exploring discernment as we integrate the use of AI into our careers
- Faculty Experience. Our core faculty have extensive practitioner experience, in addition to participating in innovative research projects in the public sector. Our part time faculty are also distinguished practitioners in their field of expertise.
- Extensive Alumni Network. Since our program was founded in 2007, our SUU MPA alumni network has over 700 graduates of our program who are located across the United States and internationally.
- Job Placement Rates. Between 2013 and 2024, our MPA graduates had a 91.6% job placement rate in the public/nonprofit sectors. For more information, please see our Program Effectiveness page.
The SUU MPA Study Abroad Experience
Experiential Learning is a part of our mission as well as the overall mission of Southern Utah University. The SUU MPA Program also offers a Study Abroad experience, where students can earn up to 6 credit hours while traveling on a short-term trip abroad with students and faculty. Study Abroad course credits are offered in the Summer Semester with trips that last approximately 10 days. Students can experience another country’s culture and public service norms, while they spend time studying and experiencing various aspects of public administration, higher education, nonprofit management and criminal justice.
Transfer Credits
SUU Undergraduate students interested in obtaining a Masters in Public Administration may apply to our Grad Path Program. Eligible students may earn up to 6 hours graduate level credits at undergraduate tuition rates.
Professionals involved in the SUU Leadership Institute, including the Utah Rural Leadership Academy (URLA) and the Iron Leaders Academy (ILA), as well as the Utah Municipal Clerks Association, can earn course credit towards their SUU MPA degree.
Students earning master's degree credits from other MPA programs may also transfer up to 12 hours of course credits. Students who apply should include their course syllabi in the application for a request to have those courses reviewed for credit towards the 36-hour MPA degree.