Master of Public Administration Senior Leadership

Public Administration Senior Leadership students in class in discussions

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Low Residency. High Impact.

For proven leaders ready to do more

The Clark MPA for Senior Leadership program is specifically designed for experienced public sector and non-profit professionals who want to advance their careers and grow their capacity to drive change.

Connect with professional peers

Students in the program are accomplished public service professionals with at least five years of experience. Network with senior practitioners from all over New England who share your professional goals and challenges.

Online / low-residency design

The 18 months, low-residency format includes eight online classes and six residency sessions focused on pressing policy challenges.

Course credit for work experience

Students receive two applied learning credits for prior work experience.

Keep your job while you earn your MPA

The program’s flexible, affordable format allows you to keep your career on track while you earn your degree quickly and expand your professional network. Learn from your fellow cohort students and expert faculty who are experienced practitioners in their field and apply what you learn to your daily challenges in real time.

Program Facts

Length: 18 months
Low Residency Format: Online study with in-person workshops
Two course credits for your professional experience
Generous Scholarships Available

Interested in learning more?

Reach out for more information about the MPA Senior Leadership program.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mary M. Piecewicz, MBA, MSPC, PMP
Professor of Practice
Interim Director Senior Leadership

mpiecewicz@landaiztc.com
1-508-259-0172

This program did a great job of allowing me to balance work and school.

Che Anderson, Clark MPA ’21

Assistant Vice Chancellor for City & Community Relations,

University of Massachusetts Medical School

Tuition Scholarships

Generous scholarships are available for experience public service and non-profit professionals

View Details

Program Outcomes

The job market for public administrators and civil servants in the United States is expanding, creating many opportunities for a new generation of skilled leaders. Through Clark’s MPA-SL program, you learn strategies to address the complex issues in public administration and successfully implement solutions at your current job and your future career plans. Public policy leadership is one of the largest job growth areas in the non-profit sector. The MPA-SL will position you academically and professionally to tap into this dynamic and growing field.

CAREER OUTCOMES

Municipal Department Leadership Positions
City or Town Managers
Police/Fire Chiefs
State Government Departmental Leadership Positions
Planning Director
Finance Director
Public Works Director
Economic Development Director
Parks and Recreation Director
Disaster Response Coordinator
Nonprofit Program Director
Executive Director, Human Services
Educational Administrators
Human Services Director
Advocacy Director
Support Services Director

The Right Master’s Degree for the Right Time

Our field of public administration is constantly changing, presenting new challenges as well as opportunities to serve our communities. Clark’s MPA Senior Leadership program will provide emerging and seasoned public leaders with new tools and skills to meet these challenges and advance in their careers.

Our classes are led by accomplished academic leaders and former public managers who will work collaboratively with you to solve real world problems. It is an exceptional opportunity for career development that is flexible and rewarding.
—Joseph O'Brien
Former Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts

The Essentials

Program Overview

Clark’s Master of Public Administration Senior Leadership (MPA-SL) equips public sector professionals with expertise in policy and program formulation, implementation, and evaluation, decision-making and problem-solving techniques, human resources, and conflict resolution skills.

The MPA-SL is a cohort-based program that starts in August and takes 18 months to complete. Students will complete the six low-residency courses (online and in-person) together in a sequential order. Two Capstone units are completed by participants with guidance from their program adviser. Coursework will be completed online, with the exception of onsite two-day sessions held throughout New England. Students are required to attend all onsite sessions.

Program FAQ’s

Prior Learning Credit

We recognize the valuable experience and perspectives that working professionals bring to the classroom. The MPA-SL is a cohort-based, low-residency program consisting of a select group of public sector professionals who learn and interact as a group throughout the program. Accepted students will have three to five years of experience in the public sector.

Prior learning credit will be applied for two courses (Foundations of Public Service and Administration and Change Management) upon completion and approval of Assessment of Prior Learning (APL) portfolio. We will provide guidance to help you with your APL portfolios.

Skills for Experience

Courses and Residency Workshops

Courses

Policy Analysis
Leading Teams
Labor Relations
Crisis Management
Program Development Evaluation
Public Budgeting

Residency Workshop Examples

Opioid Response Best Practices – Worcester, MA
Disaster Response – Portland, ME
Union Management Relations – Concord, NH
Cannabis: New Industry, New Challenges – New Haven, CT
Change, Challenges, and Complexities – Providence, RI
Public Budgeting – Burlington, VT

Program Costs

Requirements

10 course units

2 Assessment of Prior Learning credits – Foundations of Public Service and Administration and Change Management
6 online courses (plus in-person residency workshops)
Capstone project (2 units)

Course Catalog

At Clark University, we pride ourselves on diversity and internationalism, and our classrooms contain a rich mix of career-minded professionals from around the world with at least three to five years of work experience. Within Clark’s liberal arts environment, you can build a personalized educational program that’s tailored for your needs. Faculty members work closely with you to identify goals that will help you advance your skillset, your career – and your ideals.

Opportunities Abound

Tailor your capstone experience to suit your professional needs, exploring topics that directly affect your professional world. Capstone is spread over two semesters with scheduled advising sessions with the instructor four times during the semester.
Participate in engaged debates and scholarly discussions with your colleagues and faculty members online and during weekend intensives.
Learn from distinguished keynote speakers on topics such as cannabis industry challenges, disaster response, and union management relations and dealing with the opioid addiction problem.
Travel throughout New England to gain new perspectives on issues affecting cities throughout the region (room and board included in program cost) and grow your professional network through the region.

The Capstone project is intended to be a culminating experience calling upon your ability to analyze an organization’s issues and apply the competencies you developed through your coursework in your MPA-SL program. You choose the project! The project deliverable is a demonstration of your professional competencies and evidence of your foundation of knowledge applied to “real-world” public administration and non-profit challenges and issues. Through the process of close collaboration with your instructors, you will probe and address issues surrounding your chosen project using analytical, research, writing, and other professional skills acquired during your course of study.

Program Mission

Clark University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is dedicated to cultivating ethical, innovative, and effective leaders and problem-solvers to address complex public challenges and advance the public interest. Rooted in a commitment to public service “to pursue the public interest with accountability and transparency” (NASPAA), our program prepares students to examine their roles and responsibilities as global citizens to tackle pressing issues facing communities at all levels with integrity. In this program, students will engage in rigorous academic coursework, research, and experiential learning opportunities, and gain insights from diverse perspectives to enable them to make meaningful and sustainable contributions to the public sector and nonprofit organizations.

Program Outcomes

To accomplish the program’s mission, Clark University commits to providing an education that prepares students to achieve the following program outcomes:

Ethical Leadership: Graduates will demonstrate ethical leadership skills, applying principles of integrity, accountability, and transparency to address complex public challenges and promote social equity.
Innovative Problem-Solving: Graduates will develop innovative problem-solving skills, using evidence-based strategies to propose solutions to pressing public issues.
Public Service Values: Graduates will embody public service values, advocating for inclusive and equitable policies and practices with integrity and compassion.
Global Citizenship and Responsibility: Graduates will recognize their roles and responsibilities as global citizens, critically examining challenges with integrity and empathy, and advocating for inclusive solutions to promote the common good.
Applied Learning: Graduates will apply theoretical knowledge and gain practical skills through experiential learning opportunities, e.g., internships, fieldwork, and community service.
Effective Communication and Collaboration: Graduates will demonstrate effective communication and collaboration skills to achieve common goals and promote positive change.
Lifelong Learning: Graduates will engage in continuous professional development to enhance their skills and leadership in public administration and service.

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