Master of Public Administration Program
Director's Welcome
Welcome!! We are so glad that you are interested in the MPA Program at Southern Utah University! Housed in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, we offer concentrations in State and Local Government, Higher Education Leadership, Nonprofit Management, and Criminal Justice. Our Mission is to develop professional public service leaders through engaged learning, reflective practice, and a dedication to civic responsibility. The SUU MPA Program is also accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
Experience the Difference. If you are interested in becoming involved with an engaged, high-energy group of faculty, students, and alumni, you have found the right place. We strive to support and equip you for future leadership opportunities in the public and nonprofit sector. Our program applies theory and practice to help students reach their career goals and build a network of alumni that are using critical thinking skills, decision-making skills, and public service values to make a difference in their professional and personal lives.
Join Our Community. Our traditional and on-line classrooms truly are communities. We welcome students that have years of experience working full-time, along with students who are just starting their careers and entering the field of public service. We work together, laugh together, and strive for excellence in coursework and projects that impact both public and nonprofit organizations.
It is an honor to be a part of such a great university with a mission and faculty that is truly outstanding. Thanks for your time and please let me know if you have any questions about joining our MPA Program.
Donna Handley
Director, MPA Program
MPA Mission & Values
The MPA program develops professional public service leaders through engaged learning, reflective practice, and dedication to civic responsibility, in concert with SUU's commitment to personalized experiential learning.
- Lead, manage, and apply effective public governance.
- Participate in and contribute to the public, fiscal, and economic policy process.
- Solve problems using analytics, critical thinking, ethical thinking, and conceptualizing and applying best practices.
- Articulate and apply public service perspectives, norms, and legal skills.
- Communicate orally and in writing in a way that is productive and effective in a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.
- Lead through change
- Engage the community
- Improve decision making based on data, reliable information, and analysis
- Protect public resources and ensure they are used in the most efficient and effective manner
- Model ethical behaviors
- Partner with students for lifelong learning
These six Core Values go hand-in-hand with our mission statement, as well as our key public service values: serving professionally with competent leadership; cultivating participation and awareness; demonstrating critical thinking and objectivity; protecting public resources with efficiency and effectiveness; modeling ethical decision making, and engaging with students for ongoing professional growth.
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