Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Face Real-World Challenges in an Internship

You can see theory come to life if you complete an internship at a local government agency or nonprofit group as part of the MPA program. Over the course of the internship experience, you’ll build deeper insights into the constituents you’ll serve and the opportunities (and limitations) you’ll face.

Serving the Southwest

At St. Mary’s, the MPA prepares you to work anywhere, but the curriculum is specifically designed to meet the needs of local governments and nonprofit organizations in Texas and the Southwest. From our campus in San Antonio, the second-largest city in Texas, you’ll have an up-close look at the challenges organizations face.

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  Program of Study

  Students can complete this 36-credit program either in-person or online, learning from skilled faculty who are also active practitioners. Core classes such as Management of the Public Budget, Urban Economic Development, Public Policy and Program Evaluation, Human Resources Management, and Policy Formulation and Implementation, provide as-it-happens insight into current issues

• Degree Plan

  Students can specialize in General Public Administration or Urban Management and can pursue a thesis or non-thesis option.

  Master of Public Administration

  Students can also pursue a 5-year Combined Degree Program:

  Combined Bachelor’s (various majors) and Master of Public Administration

  The School of Law and the University also offer a joint program of study:

  Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and Master of Public Administration (MPA)

  Explore curriculum

• Course Areas

  Courses are taught by highly respected faculty members and practitioners in urban management and public policy in areas such as:

  Ethics
  Leadership
  Municipal law
  Program evaluation
  Public budgeting
  Public policy analysis
  Urban planning and economic development
  Urban political institutes

  Students also participate in an internship or Applied Public Service.

  Read Course Descriptions

• Have questions? Email the Office of Graduate Admission at graduate@stmarytx.edu to learn more.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

The St. Mary’s MPA develops administrators and leaders equipped to serve across sectors — with a focused lens on the public and nonprofit organizations. The experiential learning opportunities in the program ensure you can bring theory to life and make a real impact in these settings.

The program’s case studies are grounded in current public administration problems, helping you move beyond the classroom and into the kind of applied thinking that defines effective public service. If you pursue an internship, you can jump into a new role with an organization, earning academic credit while learning how different organizations collaborate as you strengthen your communication skills and see how policy affects real people.

If you are already working in public service, St. Mary’s Applied Public Service program lets you use your current role as the foundation for your graduate research, conducting a focused project tied directly to the work you are doing every day. The results aren’t just academic; they are designed to create tangible value for your organization and the communities it serves.

MPA students also have the opportunity to serve as full-time volunteer staffers for a Texas State Representative or Texas State Senator through our Frank Madla Jr. and Irma Rangel Legislative Internship Program to earn additional course credit. Analyze policies and proposed bills, research and draft legislation and interact with constituents as part of this competitive program, offered when the Texas Legislature is in session.

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  Combined and Joint Degrees in Public Administration

  Earn an undergraduate degree and your Master of Public Administration in just five years through our Combined Degree Program. All St. Mary’s undergraduate students who meet the qualifications are welcome to apply.

  This accelerated pathway saves you both time and money, as you earn a valuable credential that puts you in line for management-level positions as soon as you graduate. Students with a GPA of at least 3.0 can apply to the program in their junior year.

  In addition, our joint J.D./MPA program enables you to become a lawyer with specialized skills in affirmative action, natural resource utilization, land use, civil rights and other in-demand areas. The program can be completed in just three years — the same time it takes to earn a law degree alone.

MPA graduates from St. Mary’s hold leadership and management roles, including:

Students applying to the MPA program must provide:

Two letters of recommendation
An essay explaining why public service matters
Résumé or CV
Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended

International students whose native language is not English must also complete the TOEFL or IELTS English competency exam. (This requirement is waived for students graduating from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.)

• Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis, and students can enter during the fall, spring or summer terms. Questions? We want to help. Email the Office of Graduate Admission or call 210-436-3126.

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  Public Service Scholarship

  Serving others is a calling, and the world needs more individuals willing to heed it. St. Mary’s offers a Public Service Scholarship to make an MPA even more accessible. Every applicant to the program is automatically considered for the award — no separate application is required.

Lift Your Community Through Service

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Lead the Systems That Shape Communities in St. Mary’s MPA Program

Behind every well-managed city, every effective public agency, and every high-impact nonprofit is someone with the skills to lead. St. Mary’s Master of Public Administration program develops administrators, analysts, and executives who shape how communities in Texas and the Southwest function — and how they thrive. If you’re ready to step into that role, this is where you start.

• Contact Us

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  To learn more about the Master of Public Administration at St. Mary’s University, contact the Office of Graduate Admission at graduate@stmarytx.edu or 210-436-3126.

  Graduate Admission