MBA with a Public Administration Concentration

Study at Keller on campus, online or a mix of both

We give you the flexibility to attend classes at any of our 90+ campus locations, take all of your graduate courses online or even do a combination of both.

Explore online learning

At Keller, we offer online graduate classes taught with the same focus on personal attention and academic rigor as classes taught on campus. And because courses are offered online, you can schedule working on your education around working on your career — not the other way around.

On campus and online

For those students who need the flexibility of studying online to balance work, school and life, but also want a classroom experience, we offer a mix of both on campus and online learning. Take some courses online and some at a location convenient for you, whichever best fits your schedule.

Tuition, fees and expenses^†
MBA with a Concentration in Public Administration¹

Note: Tuition for Canadian residents enrolled in U.S.-based programs delivered online is charged in Canadian dollars at rates shown.
† Effective beginning July 2011.
1 Availability varies by location.
2 At average estimated per-course expense for textbooks and materials of $175; average estimated per-course expense does not apply to exam-prep courses, the per-credit-hour cost for which includes textbook and materials expense.
3 At current tuition rates and credit hours shown; includes $50 application fee and average estimated textbook and materials expense.

Experience the real value of a graduate education

Not only will you be learning skills that could help you rise to the top of your field, you'll also be gaining a valuable credential that may affect your entire career. A graduate education could change your earning potential, ability to be promoted and more.

Financing options

There are many scholarships and other financial aid options available for qualifying students that may help make your graduate education more affordable. Click one of the links below for more info.

MBA in Public Administration Graduation Requirements

Total program length varies based on the number of courses taken per 8-week session. That means that if you take 1 class per session, you could complete your degree program in as few as 32 months.

MBA in Public Administration Coursework

Required program courses (30 credit hours)

We've designed the core program courses in our MBA to provide you with the fundamentals to make an impact in the business world. See MBA Required Program Courses for a list of required coursework.

Public Administration concentration courses (12 credit hours)

The concentration coursework is designed to further focus your MBA curriculum to better prepare you for success in a specific field or industry. To add a concentration to your MBA degree program, you may choose courses totaling 12 credit hours from the following list:

Click on a course name below for its full description.

Negotiation Skills (HR595) - 3 credit hours

This course introduces general business negotiation techniques, strategies and tactics. Strategies focus on approaches to negotiation situations; tactics focus on moves effectuated during negotiations. In addition to developing and enhancing students' negotiating proficiency, the course emphasizes processes and methods of conflict resolution. Topics include preparing for negotiations; distributive and integrative bargaining; resolution of impasse; ethics; the roles of power, personality and dispute resolution processes; and communication processes. Students use developed skills in the classroom, electronically and through telephonic negotiation situations. No prerequisite

Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting (PA504) - 3 credit hours

This course introduces core concepts and tools of accounting, reporting and financing for managers of governmental and nonprofit organizations. Topics, presented from a user perspective, include transaction analysis; financial statement analysis and interpretation; and operational and cash budgeting. Functional areas of accounting such as financial reporting and management accounting are developed with reference to these concepts. In addition, the impact of standards such as those promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) are investigated and evaluated. No prerequisite

Nonprofit Organization Management (PA571) - 3 credit hours

Students in this course study special skills and systems required to effectively plan and manage in a not-for-profit environment. Topics include personnel administration, governmental regulations and requirements, funding and human resources. Legal and tax basis of nonprofit organizations, funding options, budgeting, managing volunteers, working with a board, conflict resolution, marketing and public relations are addressed. No prerequisite

Managing Nonprofit Development Programs (PA572) - 3 credit hours

Students in this course investigate ways in which nonprofit organizations procure resources in an effort to finance organizational development objectives. Topics include strategic planning, fundraising options and processes, gathering community support, establishing business partnerships, negotiations, lobbying, team building and entrepreneurial skill development. Prerequisite: PA504

Governmental Budgeting and Finance (PA581) - 3 credit hours

This course provides thorough study and analysis of revenue and expenditure systems at all levels of government. Topics include alternative revenue sources, public budgeting processes, the appropriations process, capital budgeting and analysis, tax analysis and government debt financing. Tax expenditures, forecasting and budgeting, and finance software systems are addressed. Prerequisite: GM545

Public Policy Formulation and Implementation (PA582) - 3 credit hours

This course examines principles, mechanisms and tools through which governments make resource allocation decisions on social and economic programs. Topics include the policy process; establishing appropriate efficiency and equity objectives; rational, political and bureaucratic models of government decision-making; voting mechanisms; public choice; log rolling; cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis; public-private partnerships; impact of special interest groups; ethics; and program implementation and evaluation. No prerequisite

Intergovernmental Management (PA584) - 3 credit hours

This course provides a comparative study of issues involved in formulating and implementing government programs that impact multiple jurisdictions. Students investigate ways in which various levels of government relate to each other in matters of legality and responsibility, including issues of intergovernmental externalities and their resolution. Methods of resolving intergovernmental conflicts are explored and evaluated. No prerequisite

Elective courses (6 credit hours)

You can take your electives in a variety of career fields. Students may choose any electives for which they meet the prerequisites. Download the Academic Catalog and view "Course Offerings" for a complete list of courses that could satisfy your elective requirements.