The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a professional degree for those who seek leadership positions in public service. You will learn the skills and techniques to design and implement policies, projects and programs to provide vital daily services and address important societal problems while attending to the day-to-day administrative issues in organizations. Students are prepared for leadership and management positions in the public and non-profit sectors, at local, state and national levels with an emphasis on the development of effective and ethical management of organizations.<br><br>The University of Wyoming MPA Program is designed for experienced public officials, as well as for traditional pre-career students wanting to enter public service. Most of the students in the program have been or are employed in public or not-for-profit agencies. Pre-career students find this a valuable learning and mentoring environment that also expands opportunities for subsequent employment.<br><br>The MPA curriculum consists of 39 credits including 24 hours of core courses and 15 credits of elective courses. Core courses are designed to develop comprehensive administrative, managerial, quantitative, financial and analytical skills with an understanding of their applications in different sectors. Elective courses provide opportunity to develop skills in more specialized areas, supplementing the core courses and facilitating the achievement of professional and career objectives. One of the four electives is a required internship in the public arena for pre-service students and can be replaced with an additional elective if the MPA Director approves a waiver. Students may complete the degree within 2 years full-time or approximately 3-4 years part-time.