Master of Public Administration Senior Leadership

the clark mpa program graduate students in conference room in discussions

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For proven leaders looking to do more

Make a greater impact

Does a deep commitment to public service define your professional life? Are you ready to tackle bolder challenges to make a greater impact? If so, join our Master of Public Administration Senior Leadership (MPA-SL) program and move your career to the next level. Our cohort-based model offers a flexible, asynchronous learning option and low-residency design to fit your busy schedule.

Connect with professional peers

The MPA-SL is an executive program for accomplished public service and non-profit leadership professionals with at least five years of experience.

Connect with a network of senior practitioners from all over New England who, like you, are working to implement innovative and relevant public policy
Learn and network with expert faculty who practice in their field
Accelerate your career advancement with the acquisition of new skills to maximize your leadership potential

Low Residency = In-person workshops + online courses

Residency sessions held throughout New England are an integral part of the program, allowing you to engage in person with fellow cohort members, faculty, and staff. After each course’s residency introduction, you complete classes and coursework online, with no on-campus participation required.

Earn a lifetime credential that sets you apart

Receive your degree from a program ranked among the top 50 Master’s in Public Administration Programs for 2020 by Intelligent
Engage in action-oriented coursework that will hone your skills at managing operational issues, crafting policy positions, communicating your vision, navigating organizational challenges, and mediating politically sensitive situations
Become part of a collaborative professional network of active leaders working to implement innovative and relevant public policy
Discover and share best practices and innovative solutions in online discussions with experienced faculty and a driven cohort of fellow public services leaders
Expand your professional network with connections that will serve you long after you have graduated
Pursue your master’s degree on your terms – online and on-site during select weekend sessions

For anyone who is a government or nonprofit employee, you understand how balancing work plus school could be difficult. But this program did a great job of allowing me to balance those things.

Che Anderson, Clark MPA ’21

Assistant Vice Chancellor for City & Community Relations

University of Massachusetts Medical School

Being able to go to school with colleagues who are from different types of organizations was really beneficial to me. It helped me take my position to the next level and gave me a more well-rounded view of everything I’m working on.

Effy Larkin, Clark MPA ’21

Hiring Manager

City of Worcester

My advice? Don’t wait. The relationships you build through the program are huge.

Nathan Boudreau, MPA for Senior Leadership ’22

Hubbardston Town Administrator

Gardner City Councilor

I earned my master’s on my schedule.

Dan Donahue, MPA for Senior Leadership ’23

Massachusetts State Representative

Worcester’s District 16

The idea of going back to school again was overwhelming, but the professors made sure we felt comfortable.

Laura Paladino, MPA for Senior Leadership ’21

Chief of Staff, Worcester City Manager

City of Worcester

As a senior leadership professional working during the pandemic, the flexibility of this program was key.

Sue Sleigh, LPN, MPA for Senior Leadership ’22

Chief Operating Officer

Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc.

The connections I’ve made with colleagues from different political philosophies than mine have helped me become a better public servant.

Drew Russo MPA for Senior Leadership ’23

Personnel Director

City of Lynn

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

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 two years 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

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

Prior learning credit will be applied for two courses upon completion and approval of Assessment of Prior Learning (APL) portfolio. (APL portfolios in Leadership and Change Management are completed prior to formal acceptance. Guidance will be provided for completing the portfolio).

Policy and program formulation, implementation, and evaluation
Human resources, diversity, and labor relations
Decision-making skills and problem-solving techniques
Conflict management and conflict resolution skills

Courses

Policy Analysis
Non-Profit Management
Labor Relations
Ethics and Governance
Organizational Behavior and Leadership
Public Budgeting

Residency workshops (subject to change)

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 tuition is $36,360, based on 8 courses (with 2-course Prior Leaning Credit).

Please see more tuition and scholarship information here.

Requirements

10 course units

2 Assessment of Prior Learning credits (approved courses prior to formal acceptance – Project Management and Change Management; apply during the admissions application)
6 courses (online and 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 course work 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 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.

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