Welcome! One of the top-rated public affairs programs in the country, KU’s Department of Public Administration offers degrees at the master’s (MPA), doctoral (PhD) and undergraduate levels. Through our collaboration with the Public Management Center, we offer a Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program.

The master’s of Public Administration (MPA) combines an established tradition of academic excellence with dedication to the practical aspects of public management. This degree educates students to play leadership and management roles in the public sector, especially at the state and local levels, in order to strengthen the provision of public services in society. To see a video about the program in Quicktime click here, or click here to watch the video in Windows Media Player.

The PhD in Public Administration builds on the Department’s tradition of excellence to train, mentor, and place future academic and research leaders in public administration and related fields. Our doctorate provides advanced education in the field by fostering an environment of challenging intellectual discussion, encouraging participation in active, ongoing faculty-led and student-led research, and providing mentoring in scholarly development and teaching skills.

PhD Program Special Announcement: For the 2009-10 academic year, the Department will begin offering Four-Year University Graduate Fellowships at a level of $20,000 per year in financial aid plus coverage of tuition and fees. Additional assistantships are also available. Application deadline: January 25, 2009. For more information, contact Chuck Epp, PhD coordinator.

The undergraduate major in Public Administration offered at KU’s Edwards Campus in Overland Park is designed for students who have earned an associate's degree or equivalent hours and are looking to complete their bachelor's degree. Graduates will be prepared to work in settings such as local and state government, nonprofit organizations and private sector businesses.

The Certified Public Manager Program is a nationally accredited comprehensive management development program designed specifically for managers in federal, state and local government. Offered through the Public Management Center, the Program’s primary goal is to improve the performance of public sector managers and the organizational performance of local, state and federal government.

Special Announcement- Loan Forgiveness for Recent Grads Working in Public Service: Effective October 1, 2007, there is a new loan forgiveness program for public service employees. Under this program the amount forgiven is the remaining outstanding balance of principal and accrued interest on an eligible Direct Loan for a borrower who is not in default and who makes 120 monthly payments on the loan after October 1, 2007. The borrower must be employed full-time in a public service job during the same period in which the qualifying payments are made and at the time that the cancellation is granted. For more info: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/repaying.jsp