Master of Public Administration- Local Government

Local governments provide the most essential of public services, such as health and safety, transportation, sanitation, environmental, and utilities. Public administrators play a critical role in the delivery of these services and the management of local government organizations in North America and around the world. They hold a variety of professional positions, including chief administrative officer, city manager, staff assistant, program specialist, planner, and policy analyst, just to name a few. Because local governments function so close to the citizens they serve, administrators need special management skills, like citizen engagement and community development. The local government concentration in the UNO MPA program, develops competencies to work in and succeed in this level of government. Opportunities for internships, networking with city administrators, and courses through the UNO Urban Studies program helps round out those skills. Occupational projections show growth in the local government management field. UNO MPA graduates work in local government around the country.
A master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska Omaha is more than just a professional degree. It's a gateway to transforming society through a career in public service. It's a chance to develop your own intellectual identity. It's a way to gain exposure to people who are already guiding communities, operating nonprofit agencies or helping others in emergency services.
Our mission is to strengthen the public service in a democratic and diverse society by educating students to manage and lead public and nonprofit institutions effectively, ethically, and democratically. Our alumni work in a variety of areas including: federal, state, and local governments, in nonprofit organizations delivering services such as health care, youth and human services, and community development, in international development, and in public service-related private businesses.

The general prerequisite for admission to the MPA program is a four-year bachelors' degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA in the junior and senior years (last 50-60 credit hours)
English Language Proficiency: Applicants are required to have a command of oral and written English. Those who do not hold a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from the United States, OR a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from a predetermined country on the waiver list, must meet the minimum language proficiency score requirement in order to be considered for admission.
Paper-based TOEFL: 550, Internet-based TOEFL: 80, IELTS: 6.5, PTE: 53, Duolingo: 105
Statement of Purpose/Admissions Essay: The essay should be two to four pages (doubled-spaced) and answer the following questions:

Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation are required