Our Mission
The MPA program's mission is to develop ethical professionals and leaders committed to the public interest, and capable of making significant contributions to the practice and scholarship of public and non-profit administration.
Our MPA
ETSU’s Master in Public Administration program is innovative because it focuses on the local level. Over 60 percent of civilian public sector jobs are in local government. Public and not-for-profit organizations together account for a quarter of all jobs. ETSU’s Master in Public Administration introduces students to the skills local governments and local not-for-profits organizations told us they sought in job applicants.
Career Outlook with a MPA degree
Public administration jobs can be found in the following industries:
- Local, state and federal government agencies - state and city government, Department of Transportation, Department of Economic and Community Department etc.
- Nonprofit organizations – Youth Corps, Salvation Army, United Way, etc.
- Private Business – Consulting businesses, human resources, etc.
Over 90 percent of the alumni of the MPA program at ETSU are currently employed in some aspect of public management, with over two-thirds holding positions in urban administration. Approximately a third of the alumni are city managers or town administrators. Others serve as planners, financial and personnel officers, federal and state civil servants, managers and administrative officers of non-profit and private sector organizations, and other occupations connected with urban affairs. Given the expansion of professional management in many areas of public administration, the prospects for graduates of the program are excellent
Followings are salary ranges for MPA graduates from entry level to more senior level. Note that salaries for these positions vary greatly due location, work experience, industry sector, and other factors.
Position |
Sector |
Salary |
| Local Government Analyst | State/Local Gov | $26,000 – $45,000 |
| Program Coordinator | Nonprofit | $30,000 – $48,000 |
| Program Assistant/Manager | Nonprofit | $32,000 – $63,000 |
| Policy Analyst | Nonprofit/Government | $40,000 – $68,000 |
| Statistician | Nonprofit/Government | $46,000 – $65,000 |
| Research Associate | NP/Gov/Private | $45,000 – $60,000 |
| Marketing/PA Specialist | NP/Gov/Private | $66,000 – $85,000 |
| City Manager/Chief Administrative Officer | State/Local Gov | $101,000 – $108,000 |
Source: Indeed.com
Program Objectives
Upon completion of this program graduates will be able to:
- Articulate and apply a public values perspective
- Analyze and evaluate public policies and initiate solutions for the future
- Apply organizational theory and develop leadership in public governance
- Participate and contribute to the policy process
- Communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry