I have some questions about MPA degrees.
September 21, 2011 1:55 PM Subscribe
I have some questions about the MPA degree. Is it a useful degree? Does it actually help in the job search?
I'm thinking about getting an MPA, but I don't know anyone who has it, so I'd like some first-hand opinions about it. I'm specifically looking at Baruch and NYU Wagner, but feedback from people with experience at other schools is welcome.
1. If you have an MPA or taken courses at a school of public administration, what did you like and dislike about it? What are the students like? Is the coursework engaging and reasonably challenging? Are there many people who are being sent by their employers and don't really care about the classes?
2. How is the degree viewed by employers when making hiring decisions? Is it positive, neutral, or seen as a useless degree?
3. Is there any way a school like Wagner is worth the extra expense?
Background: I'm in my mid 30's, would be going part-time, paying partially out of pocket and partially with loans. I've worked in non-profit social services my whole career, the last several years in a non-management professional position requiring a graduate degree. I would like to move into city/state government or management of a social services or supported housing agency in 5-7 years. I think the courses on accounting, budgeting, and quantitative analysis would be genuinely useful. The rest seems like stuff you can learn on the job. I am not interested in just collecting another degree. I would only do this if it seemed like it would be useful and practical.
I'm thinking about getting an MPA, but I don't know anyone who has it, so I'd like some first-hand opinions about it. I'm specifically looking at Baruch and NYU Wagner, but feedback from people with experience at other schools is welcome.
1. If you have an MPA or taken courses at a school of public administration, what did you like and dislike about it? What are the students like? Is the coursework engaging and reasonably challenging? Are there many people who are being sent by their employers and don't really care about the classes?
2. How is the degree viewed by employers when making hiring decisions? Is it positive, neutral, or seen as a useless degree?
3. Is there any way a school like Wagner is worth the extra expense?
Background: I'm in my mid 30's, would be going part-time, paying partially out of pocket and partially with loans. I've worked in non-profit social services my whole career, the last several years in a non-management professional position requiring a graduate degree. I would like to move into city/state government or management of a social services or supported housing agency in 5-7 years. I think the courses on accounting, budgeting, and quantitative analysis would be genuinely useful. The rest seems like stuff you can learn on the job. I am not interested in just collecting another degree. I would only do this if it seemed like it would be useful and practical.
er, got the department names wrong: the city one is the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the state one of the Office of Mental Health (OMH).
posted by griphus at 2:16 PM on September 21, 2011
posted by griphus at 2:16 PM on September 21, 2011
I live in a government town, and have worked for government, and an MPA (or MBA, or, if it's a specialized field in government, like Ag or Resources or something, a PhD) is pretty much standard for middle management. PMP designations are also useful.
I guess the question you have to ask yourself is, will you be happy at as middle or senior manager (but not exectutive - that's a whole different kettle of fish) in government? Here in Canada, in BC anyway, government is very very very toxic as a working environment.
posted by KokuRyu at 2:41 PM on September 21, 2011
I guess the question you have to ask yourself is, will you be happy at as middle or senior manager (but not exectutive - that's a whole different kettle of fish) in government? Here in Canada, in BC anyway, government is very very very toxic as a working environment.
posted by KokuRyu at 2:41 PM on September 21, 2011
Girlfriend just got an MPP from Johns Hopkins and had many, many, more opportunities than she would have had otherwise.
posted by josher71 at 3:44 PM on September 21, 2011
posted by josher71 at 3:44 PM on September 21, 2011
I am sitting in my MPA program class right now.
I'll address your questions as best I can.
1. If you have an MPA or taken courses at a school of public administration, what did you like and dislike about it? What are the students like? Is the coursework engaging and reasonably challenging? Are there many people who are being sent by their employers and don't really care about the classes?
So far, I am really enjoying my MPA program. I'm not working in the field (also interested in Nonprofits, its my focus), but I am trying to. It seems difficult to break in without it, as most job seem to desire it now.
What I like about it: The program is very interesting. Not only am I learning specifically about nonprofits, but in government budgeting, advance research methods, government management, and a whole slew of other marketable skills/education.
What I don't like about it: Not much, but I'm still getting started. It is much different from undergraduate work. Much higher expectations, much more reading, and many more papers.
Most people are in these courses on their own accord. People seem to be very intrigued in the course work, and are very engaged in the program. Class size is about 20 or so, some less, not much more.
2. How is the degree viewed by employers when making hiring decisions? Is it positive, neutral, or seen as a useless degree?
Well, this is anecdotal evidence, but I know a couple of people with these degrees and they both have great jobs in the state capital. I know some of the positions I want to eventually be in desire one. I don't particularly think it can be classified as "useless" (in comparison to my undergrad PoliSci degree).
Not sure what Wagner charges, but I'm paying about $20k for this degree, perhaps a bit more with inflation or tuition increases. I am going full time, and plan to finish in the 2 year track while I work.
posted by handbanana at 4:29 PM on September 21, 2011
I'll address your questions as best I can.
1. If you have an MPA or taken courses at a school of public administration, what did you like and dislike about it? What are the students like? Is the coursework engaging and reasonably challenging? Are there many people who are being sent by their employers and don't really care about the classes?
So far, I am really enjoying my MPA program. I'm not working in the field (also interested in Nonprofits, its my focus), but I am trying to. It seems difficult to break in without it, as most job seem to desire it now.
What I like about it: The program is very interesting. Not only am I learning specifically about nonprofits, but in government budgeting, advance research methods, government management, and a whole slew of other marketable skills/education.
What I don't like about it: Not much, but I'm still getting started. It is much different from undergraduate work. Much higher expectations, much more reading, and many more papers.
Most people are in these courses on their own accord. People seem to be very intrigued in the course work, and are very engaged in the program. Class size is about 20 or so, some less, not much more.
2. How is the degree viewed by employers when making hiring decisions? Is it positive, neutral, or seen as a useless degree?
Well, this is anecdotal evidence, but I know a couple of people with these degrees and they both have great jobs in the state capital. I know some of the positions I want to eventually be in desire one. I don't particularly think it can be classified as "useless" (in comparison to my undergrad PoliSci degree).
Not sure what Wagner charges, but I'm paying about $20k for this degree, perhaps a bit more with inflation or tuition increases. I am going full time, and plan to finish in the 2 year track while I work.
posted by handbanana at 4:29 PM on September 21, 2011
My father, who is as high as you can get while still technically being a middle manager, and who does his own hiring process, is trying to encourage me to get an MPA. This is because in his highly competitive government office, an MPA immediately gets you past the first resume cull and gets your resume in the hands of non-HR people (aka your actual bosses) to assess you for personality, experience, and fit. Almost everyone he hires has an MPA, or has a professional certification in a specific field (I am being vague deliberately, but it is a tightly regulated certification).
posted by flibbertigibbet at 5:30 PM on September 21, 2011
posted by flibbertigibbet at 5:30 PM on September 21, 2011
I finished my MPA earlier this year - I was in my mid 30s when I started, and I took a part-time professional degree for people already in the workforce. Took me just under three years, which is standard for the program. This is up here in Canada.
When I started the program, I was interested in moving from the nonprofit sector into government. I found the program very useful for the subject matter and giving me an idea about how government works as well as some more abstract research and analysis skills - basic stats, economics and policy science work that I didn't have experience with in my undergraduate degrees.
One of the best things about the program were my fellow students. Many of them wre already in government and had some of their costs covered, but they really took it seriously. They were also great contacts and were a big part of helping me get ready to transition into government and succeed in the recruitment process (I don't know what the recruitment process is like for public service positions are where you are, but here they are intensive with a fairly prescribed process, so having that network of contacts from school was enormously helpful to get feedback and help prepare).
I don't know how my employer viewed my degree on its own, but I believe that it was helpful in giving me knowledge and experiences I could point to in my interview and during the process to demonstrate relevant skills. I also still find it useful in my current government job because I was able to take some electives and do some research in the field I ended up in. The major research project I did also helped me a lot even though I did it on a subject that was more of use to my previous employer than it was to my current field.
In terms of costs, I can't speak to the school you are looking at, but I am still hurting financially from doing my degree. Even though it was money well spent, i still get night sweats thinking about paying off the debt. The higher salary at the new position helps. :)
posted by Cyrie at 5:55 PM on September 21, 2011
When I started the program, I was interested in moving from the nonprofit sector into government. I found the program very useful for the subject matter and giving me an idea about how government works as well as some more abstract research and analysis skills - basic stats, economics and policy science work that I didn't have experience with in my undergraduate degrees.
One of the best things about the program were my fellow students. Many of them wre already in government and had some of their costs covered, but they really took it seriously. They were also great contacts and were a big part of helping me get ready to transition into government and succeed in the recruitment process (I don't know what the recruitment process is like for public service positions are where you are, but here they are intensive with a fairly prescribed process, so having that network of contacts from school was enormously helpful to get feedback and help prepare).
I don't know how my employer viewed my degree on its own, but I believe that it was helpful in giving me knowledge and experiences I could point to in my interview and during the process to demonstrate relevant skills. I also still find it useful in my current government job because I was able to take some electives and do some research in the field I ended up in. The major research project I did also helped me a lot even though I did it on a subject that was more of use to my previous employer than it was to my current field.
In terms of costs, I can't speak to the school you are looking at, but I am still hurting financially from doing my degree. Even though it was money well spent, i still get night sweats thinking about paying off the debt. The higher salary at the new position helps. :)
posted by Cyrie at 5:55 PM on September 21, 2011
I've done two management Masters - one just on PA, and the other in Management with some PA electives thrown in. I loved it; it made an immediate difference to my job performance as a federal civil servant; this difference got me promoted before I'd even finished (twice - once for each degree); and I've made some fantastic, long-lasting connections with the other students and even a couple of lecturers. If you had an MPA with decent grades, I'd hire you in a heartbeat.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 12:47 AM on September 22, 2011
posted by obiwanwasabi at 12:47 AM on September 22, 2011
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Also, my mother worked for the state's Department of Mental Health and she hit the ceiling as well. However, in her case, the state paid for her master's (which she did at Hunter; however it was Rehab Therapy, not an MP*) and gave her a stipend.
posted by griphus at 2:15 PM on September 21, 2011