Program in Public Administration & Planning

Planners often gravitate to management positions in local and state government that require knowledge of
budgeting, personnel, and government administration and politics. City and county managers grapple with
planning and development issues, which constitute a large portion of local government agendas. This dual-
degree program prepares professionals who want the flexibility of moving between planning and management
positions in government. The department and the Public Administration program in the School of Government
collaborate to enable students to receive both the M.R.P. and the M.P.A. degrees in three years, plus a
summer professional field experience in public administration.

The intent of the combined program is to ensure that students have two complete and complementary, but distinct,
areas of training. The MPA requirements ensure adequate training in public management. The MRP requirements
ensure adequate training in core planning knowledge and skills, and in an area of planning specialization.
Students must obtain admission to both the MPA and MRP programs independently. Students must take 33
semester credits in planning and complete the Master’s Project to fulfill the planning degree requirements.
Students are advised to gain approval from faculty advisors for their specific program of courses during the first
semester of residence to assure that they can meet all requirements of both programs within three years.

To request an admission packet for the Master of Public Administration Program, please contact:
Graduate Admissions
Master of Public Administration Program
School of Government, UNC-Chapel Hill
CB # 3330 Knapp Building
Chapel Hill NC 27599-3330
ph: 919-962-0425 fax: 919-962-8271
(email) mpastaff@iogmail.iog.unc.edu
(Web) www.mpa.unc.edu


	RELATED LINKS: Master's Program 8.24.07		Planners often gravitate to management positions in local and state government that require knowledge of budgeting, personnel, and government administration and politics. City and county managers grapple with planning and development issues, which constitute a large portion of local government agendas. This dual- degree program prepares professionals who want the flexibility of moving between planning and management positions in government. The department and the Public Administration program in the School of Government collaborate to enable students to receive both the M.R.P. and the M.P.A. degrees in three years, plus a summer professional field experience in public administration. The intent of the combined program is to ensure that students have two complete and complementary, but distinct, areas of training. The MPA requirements ensure adequate training in public management. The MRP requirements ensure adequate training in core planning knowledge and skills, and in an area of planning specialization. Students must obtain admission to both the MPA and MRP programs independently. Students must take 33 semester credits in planning and complete the Master’s Project to fulfill the planning degree requirements. Students are advised to gain approval from faculty advisors for their specific program of courses during the first semester of residence to assure that they can meet all requirements of both programs within three years. To request an admission packet for the Master of Public Administration Program, please contact: Graduate Admissions Master of Public Administration Program School of Government, UNC-Chapel Hill CB # 3330 Knapp Building Chapel Hill NC 27599-3330 ph: 919-962-0425 fax: 919-962-8271 (email) mpastaff@iogmail.iog.unc.edu (Web) www.mpa.unc.edu