Master of Public Administration Online
Earning an online Master of Public Administration from Lamar University is one of the best ways to advance your career and announce you’re ready for greater professional responsibilities. Our MPA leads to a wide variety of opportunities in policy development and implementation; disaster management; local, state and national government sectors; research; and nonprofit organizations.
Program Overview
Get to know our 100% MPA online program
Lamar University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) online program provides you with the comprehensive education you need for advanced management positions. A valuable addition to your existing career—or a great start for a career change—this degree shows employers you’re serious about public service and committed to improving society.
The MPA program is designed for working professionals and allows you to decide when and where to attend online courses. This 100% online MPA program gives you the critical-thinking and decision-making skills you need to serve as a confident, competent leader for the public.
This online Master of Public Administration degree has 36 credit hours of coursework that emphasize state policy, constitutional law, ethics and morality in public administration, as well as the leadership methods, strategy and administrative politics necessary to bring about change in high-performance organizations. Major theoretical and practical approaches central to managing public sector organizations and problem-solving government issues are also examined.
In this online MPA program, you will:
- Study state policy, constitutional law, ethics and morality in public administration
- Explore leadership methods, strategies and administrative policies necessary to bring about change in high-performance organizations
- Examine major theoretical and practical approaches central to overcoming government challenges and managing public-sector organizations
- Study state policy, constitutional law, ethics and morality in public administration
- Explore leadership methods, strategies and administrative policies necessary to bring about change in high-performance organizations
- Examine major theoretical and practical approaches central to overcoming government challenges and managing public-sector organizations
Possible career outcomes for an MPA graduate:
- Director of Transportation
- Urban Planning and Development Executive
- Parks and Recreation Manager
- Police Commissioner
- Director of Public Affairs
- Game Warden
- Director of Transportation
- Urban Planning and Development Executive
- Parks and Recreation Manager
- Police Commissioner
- Director of Public Affairs
- Game Warden
*Distance learning fee is included in the tuition listed.
Tuition
Learn more about Lamar University’s affordable tuition
The following is the tuition breakdown for students pursuing a Master of Public Administration online. Our tuition is affordable and can be paid by the course.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program* |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPA | $342 | $1,026 | $12,315 |
*University fees are included in the tuition listed. University fees are able to be covered by Financial Aid if you choose to apply and are qualified.
Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice due to action by the Board of Regents or the Texas State Legislature.
Total program cost depends upon transfer hours and program advisement relevant to program requirements. For more information, contact a Lamar University enrollment specialist.
Financial Aid
Ready to get started on your degree program online but need help finding ways to fund your education? We can help you discover student financing sources that include grants, loans and other payment options. Learn more about financial aid here.
In addition to the textbook, some courses may require ancillary course materials that may range up to $150 each. Use of additional resources are at the discretion of each professor.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
See the milestones to guide your student journey
Our Master of Public Administration online program features multiple start dates to accommodate your busy schedule. Find the start date that works best for you and apply before the application deadline associated with it.
| 8 week courses | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2 | 10/14/24 | 9/23/24 | 9/30/24 | 10/7/24 | 12/12/24 |
| Spring I | 1/16/25 | 12/26/24 | 1/2/25 | 1/9/25 | 3/7/25 |
| Spring II | 3/17/25 | 2/24/25 | 3/3/25 | 3/10/25 | 5/7/25 |
| Summer I | 5/29/25 | 5/8/25 | 5/15/25 | 5/20/25 | 7/31/25 |
| Fall 1 | 8/21/25 | 8/7/25 | 8/7/25 | 8/15/25 | |
| Fall 2 | 9/29/25 | 9/15/25 | 9/15/25 | 9/23/25 |
Now enrolling:
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?
Admissions
View the steps to being admitted into our online program
The Master of Public Administration online program has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify. All students seeking admission to the public administration degree program must first meet the required standards of the College of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also have the approval of the Department of Political Science.
Admission Requirements:
- Online Application
- Bachelor's Degree
- Minimum 2.6 Undergraduate GPA
MPA Admission Requirements
- Completed online application form (U.S. or international) and pay a one-time application fee of $25
- Submit official transcripts from all high schools, colleges, and universities you have attended
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in political science, public administration, emergency management, or the equivalent. Applicants with degrees in other fields are required to have taken an American Government course.
- Students with an overall GPA of 3.25 and higher may be eligible for a GRE waiver.
Conditional Requirements
- Overall GPA of 2.6 to 3.24 may be granted conditional admittance to the program and the student must maintain a GPA of 3.0 for each course in the first 9 hours of graduate coursework to continue in the program
- Overall GPA below a 2.6 must meet the GRE / GPA standards assigned for the College of Graduate Studies for Admittance according to the formula (GPA x 50) + (GRE Verbal + Quantitative) > or = 428
Send all required documents to:
Lamar University Online Admissions
PO Box 10017
Beaumont, TX 77710
OR
Submit electronically to [email protected]
Check to see if the program is offered to residents in your state before applying by clicking here.
*All applicants must submit official transcript(s) indicating: 1) The conferred bachelor's or master's degree as required for the program of application from a regionally accredited US institution or its equivalent. 2) The transcript of the most recent attendance if it differs from the institution of the conferred degree. This requirement applies regardless of the length of time in attendance and regardless of whether credit was earned or is desired. However, if a department or program wishes to review additional transcripts from prior attendance for decision purposes, the department or program may directly request the applicant to submit the official transcript(s) to the Office of Admissions for processing. Students must be eligible to re-enter all colleges and universities previously attended. Failure to disclose previous college attendance is justification for revocation of acceptance and dismissal from Lamar University. Send transcripts to: Lamar University, P.O. Box 10017, Beaumont, Texas 77710
Courses
Take a look at the online MPA curriculum
Coursework for this online MPA consists of 12 courses that total 36 hours and features public-private partnerships, leadership, policy formulation, state law and disaster policy. A thesis and non-thesis track are available.
Comprehensive Exam
Following completion of core courses, each student is required to take a competency exam that will demonstrate your ability to synthesize and apply material from the program. The exam is pass/fail and offered twice yearly.
To successfully earn the MPA degree, students must complete 36 hours of graduate work. These hours include 15 hours of core coursework. The non-thesis track includes 21 hours of supporting coursework. The thesis track includes 15 hours of supporting coursework and 6 hours of thesis coursework.
