6 Undergraduate Degrees That Prepare You for a Master of Public Administration

Do you have a passion for helping others? Your college major may be the perfect fit for advanced study in public administration

Public administration is a fulfilling chance to advocate for and work to enhance overall wellbeing in your community. Public administrators generally work behind the scenes in both public roles and private sectors at the county, state and federal levels or within nonprofit organizations. These skilled and dedicated professionals implement, oversee, coordinate and direct the policies within their realm of influence.

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) at is a fully online degree, perfect for working professionals. Within the degree, students choose from four concentrations—criminal justice, nonprofit management, emergency management and a self-designed concentration that allows them to tailor their education to their desired career path. Additionally, SHU’s MPA program partners with the Institute for Sustainability & Social Justice and the Center for Nonprofits to give students the research and hands-on experience they need to thrive in their professional careers.

While obtaining an MPA is an obvious choice to help you on a public administration career path, you may be wondering which undergraduate degree will best prepare you for your graduate studies. The good news is there is no one right answer. Many undergraduate degrees can offer you a strategic advantage and position you to transition seamlessly into an MPA program. Here are six possibilities.

Political Science

A political science degree includes the study of political theory from domestic, comparative and international perspectives and covers the American constitutional framework and public policy processes. This degree will develop your ability to think critically about the political world and prepare you for roles in both the public and private sectors. With a political science background, your foundation in public policy will provide you with the roadmap needed to succeed in your MPA and beyond.

Economics

An undergraduate degree in economics will help you develop the analytical and problem-solving skills needed to make calculated decisions in public administration roles. An economics degree combines economic theory with business applications to give you a well-rounded view of how economic trends affect public investments, markets and wealth management in the real world. With this degree, you will be exposed to the economic effects and ethics of policy actions at local, state, national and international levels. This robust approach will help you transition into an MPA with an acute understanding of how economics drives and influences policies in the realm of public administration.  Business Management  

An undergraduate degree in business administration will help you develop the business acumen vital for public administration roles. You understand disciplines such as accounting, finance, marketing, human resources management, international business and management. The business administration degree is one of the most popular undergrad majors for future MPA students as it primes its recipients for roles in leadership and sharpens skills in communications and critical thinking. A foundation in business administration will give you a dynamic understanding of business and the leadership skills needed to motivate people and make a difference in a public administration role.   

Marketing

An undergraduate degree in marketing will give you a well-rounded perspective in both marketing and business, which translates well into public administration roles. You will gain a general understanding of business and global markets and learn how marketing contributes to the political, economic and legal aspects of the business.

The combination of both business and marketing theory provides you with the opportunity to practice strategic decision-making and develops your ability to present ideas that will make a strong impact. You will also understand ethics and standards that will prove invaluable when studying policy in your MPA degree.

Sociology

An undergraduate degree in sociology provides you with a systematic and scientific view of social life and human behavior that is woven into public administration positions. In this degree, you will be exposed to the complexities of social and cultural diversity and the causes and consequences of social inequality. You will also practice applying social theory to real-world problems.

A foundation in sociology will help you develop the critical-thinking skills you need to assess community needs and develop solutions from a culturally and economically sensitive perspective—helping you maximize benefits across the community. An undergraduate degree in sociology complements an MPA in that they both work to promote the wellbeing of society.

Criminal Justice

An undergraduate degree in criminal justice will help you gain a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. criminal justice system. As part of your degree, you'll take courses in the areas of corrections, law enforcement, legal studies and security. This foundation will prepare you to apply criminological theory to evaluate policies and laws and how they affect the populations you'll serve as a public administrator.

Think Sacred Heart University’s Master of Public Administration Program Might be Right for You?

Choosing any of these undergraduate degrees will undoubtedly enable a smooth transition into an MPA program. At SHU, our fully online MPA program, which can be completed in as little as one year, empowers future leaders in nonprofit, emergency and community management to effect change and motivate people for the betterment of society. A foundation rooted in policy, business, human culture or human behavior will set you on the best footing to understand the processes you will be immersed in during your MPA program. In addition to prior studies, SHU values prior experience: the MPA program offers a 50% tuition discount for first responders throughout the tri-state area who enroll.    

Curious about earning your MPA at Sacred Heart? Talk to Cristen Meehl, associate  director of graduate admissions & recruitment, at meehlc@sacredheart.edu or schedule a virtual appointment today!