MPA – Public Leadership & Management

Take Charge of Transforming Your Community

Do you have a head for administration and a heart for building stronger communities? Our online and on-campus Master of Public Administration – Public Leadership & Management equips you with executive management skills through hands-on opportunities in public administration analysis and a foundation in constitutional government so you can serve key stakeholders in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Locations: On Campus, Online

Total Credit Hours: 36

Session Start: August 23, 2021

Approved Degree Plan: Download PDF

Manage Strategically

Gain tools in budgeting, policymaking, law, communication, program analysis and development, and management.

Access Faculty Experts

Be mentored by renowned scholars and skilled practitioners.

Become an Exceptional Leader

Regent University’s MPA program equips Christian servant leaders with exceptional character and competence to promote the public interest.

Earn Your MPA in Two, Three, or Four Years

Full Time: Four semesters (8 8-week sessions; approx. 9 credits per semester) Part-Time: Six to seven semesters part-time (12-14 8-week sessions; 2 courses per semester).

Presented from a Christian perspective, this degree is supported by our respected faculty in Virginia Beach. Regent has been ranked among Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report. We have also been recognized as a Military Friendly Top 10 School by Military Friendly®, 2020, and among the Top 10 Best for Vets Colleges: Online & Nontraditional by Military Times, 2020. Experience the Regent difference.

To learn more about this program, please complete the Request Information form on this page.

Regent University ranked #24 of Top 25 Best Online Master's in Public Administration Programs

Career Opportunities

On completing the MPA – Public Leadership & Management degree, you will be able to:

Understand management processes and the roles of local, state and federal government.
Develop, analyze and implement programs to strengthen communities.
Employ management principles for healthy relations with colleagues and those you serve.

Career Opportunities

Budget/Finance Director
City Manager or Council Member
Executive Director, Nonprofit Organization
Economic Development Director
Human Resource Management Director

Featured Courses

Code

Name

Credits

GOV 608

Public Information Systems Management

The application of information systems concepts and tools to challenges and opportunities in the public sector focusing on information system trends; managerial use of information systems; hardware, software, and telecommunications; systems development processes and practices; strategic and policy issues in IS, and ethical and moral issues surrounding information system management.

GOV 667

Local Government Administration

Addresses the work of local government managers and leaders in promoting ethical, effective, efficient and accountable government for cities, counties and local and regional authorities.

GOV 669

Public Management

Examination of the management process in federal government and agencies, focusing on contemporary issues and problems facing the modern-day federal manager, how the manager addresses these issues and with what tools. Uses case studies.

GOV 678

Crisis & Disaster Consequence Management

Policies and procedures to mitigate, prevent and respond to disaster, the literature of risk, regimes for safety and risk reduction, the ethics of care and compassion, and mechanisms for measuring threat and recovery.

GOV 681

Intergovernmental Relations

Relationships among national, state and local governments, the theory of federalism, intergovernmental cooperation and conflict, municipal and state collaboration, regional relationships and unfunded mandates.

Other Concentrations

Admissions Requirements

2021-22 Semester Check-In Deadlines:

All new students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

Session	Semester Check-In	Session Start Date
Session A	Friday, August 13	Monday, August 23
Session M	Friday, September 10	Monday, September 20
Session B	Friday, October 15	Monday, October 25
Session C	Tuesday, December 21	Monday, January 10
Session T	Friday, January 28	Monday, February 7
Session D	Friday, March 4	Monday, March 14
Session E	Friday, April 29	Monday, May 9
Session F	Friday, June 10	Monday, June 20

Note: The application deadline for international applicants applying to attend on campus is March 15.

Prerequisites:

Applicants for the Master of Public Administration must possess an earned undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution or an equivalent degree from a foreign university.

Application Process:

1. Complete Your Online Application

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office for assistance.

2. Pay Your $50 Application Fee

Pay the $50 nonrefundable application fee by check or money order mailed to Regent University, Enrollment Support Services, 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464.

3. Submit your Unofficial College Transcripts*

Unofficial transcripts from a U.S.-based school, indicating successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program, can be used for an admissions decision. Email your unofficial transcript to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: RSG Master’s Application Pieces.

Non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by an NACES-approved company. See the International Admissions Checklist for details.

*Upon conditional acceptance to the program by review of unofficial transcripts, Regent University’s Admissions Office will attempt to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution, which indicate successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program. We will notify you if your previous institution will not release transcripts directly to us.

4. Complete an Admissions Questionnaire Regarding Your Professional Goals and Interests

5. Submit Your Professional Resume (Optional)

Your professional resume or curriculum vitae should include:

Employment history with details of responsibilities, skill sets, and results
School, community, and church leadership positions
Service activities in which you have been involved
Academic and non-academic honors and distinctions you have received

Email your resume to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: RSG Master’s Application Pieces.

6. GRE or LSAT Score (Optional)

Test scores may strengthen your application file and improve access to scholarship opportunities. Official scores should be sent directly to Regent University by the testing agency.

7. Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please email a scanned copy or photograph of it to apply@regent.edu with the subject line: Government ID.

8. International Applicants

Visit the International Students Admissions page for additional admission requirements and to determine if you qualify as an international student.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

Tuition & Fees

2021-22 Tuition Rates

PART-TIME STUDENTS

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$675	6	$4,050
Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA)	$675	6	$4,050

Full-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$675	9	$6,075
Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA)	$675	9	$6,075

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)	$800
University Services Fee (Online Students)	$650

2020-21 Tuition Rates

Part-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$675	6	$4,050
Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA)	$675	6	$4,050

Full-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$675	9	$6,075
Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA)	$675	9	$6,075

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)	$750
University Services Fee (Online Students)	$600

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Estimated Cost of Attendance: View the estimated cost of attendance to see an example of the total cost of tuition and fees.

FAQ

Whether you are a prospective student or a current student, your questions matter. Please take a few moments to skim our Frequently Asked Questions. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact us.

Related Programs

Andrew Owen, MPA, Class of 2017

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“Regent provided valuable internship experiences — from working for a Congressman to work in Iraq with the Kurdish government.”

Jennifer Salcido, M.A., 2012

“A Master of Public Administration with honors — I did that! A single mom, worked full time and a full-time grad student too.”

Keeley Daye, MPA, 2020 Workforce Service Representative, Virginia Employment Commission; Owner, Capture the Daye Photography

“All the time, when people hear I am studying public administration, they say, ‘Oh, we need more Christian leaders in government!’ It’s a perfect fit for Regent’s mission. And if you’re a Christian, you have something anchoring you to the decisions you make that affect an entire country.”

Sonya Mills, MPA, 2018 Human Resources Administrative Specialist, U.S. Department of Justice, Hawaii

“Professors give real-life lessons and then connect them with God's purpose for your life in a relevant manner.”

Hannah Bell, M.A., 2012 Nonprofit Organization Leader

“What stuck out to me at Regent was the character and ethics — the commitment to glorifying God in all that we do. I am grateful to be part of a place impacting this world for eternity. By getting past our fallibilities, we can see what the power of God can do.”

Bill Dudley, MPA, 2014 Logistics Manager, U.S. Navy; Worship Pastor, Beach Beacon Baptist Church