Overview
The Executive Master of Public Administration program consists of 36 credits over 18 months, through online and residential experiences. The curriculum covers fundamental public management and policy analysis competencies and theories, and offers electives in leadership, strategy, decision analytics, managing personnel, and leveraging technology. The curriculum includes three intensive sessions on-campus in Ithaca. A capstone project, where students work with faculty to apply their coursework to a work project deemed strategically important by their managers, will complete the program’s academic requirements. All courses have been developed by Cornell faculty and are supported by Executives-in-Residence who mentor students through their capstone projects. Students need a 3.0 GPA for graduation and cannot receive any grade below a C- in a required course. For additional information, see the Executive Master of Administration website.
Cornell’s Executive MPA consists of 22 five-week, online core courses and 4 online electives. The degree includes three 1-week residential sessions in Ithaca, New York and a substantial capstone project, which unfolds over the duration of the program and culminates in a final presentation. The entire program (online courses + on-campus intensive sessions + capstone project) comprises 36 credits. Students should expect to spend an average of 18-20 hours per week on their studies.
Tailor your program by choosing from 2 concentrations:
• Public and Nonprofit Management, with elective courses in managing technology, managing personnel, decision analytics, and leadership and strategy
• International Policy, with elective courses in frontiers of international policy, human rights, international management, and leadership and strategy
Degree Program Information
The Executive Master of Public Administration program is delivered as a cohort model designed for working professionals with at least eight years of relevant experience. Students learn through asynchronous and synchronous online coursework, with three week-long sessions on Cornell University’s campus in Ithaca, NY.
Admissions Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or an equivalent international degree
- Resume demonstrating 8 years of professional experience. Applicants with fewer than 8 years may be considered if their experience is especially relevant and other qualifications are strong
- Transcript(s) from previous institutions
- Two letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
- Video interview
- TOEFL or IELTS scores if from outside the U.S.
Core Courses
Online
Ithaca, NY Courses
Elective Areas of Study (4 credits)
Students may select from approved elective courses. Some possible areas of study include:
- Business Analytics
- Comparative Public Administration
- Cross-Cultural Communication
- Cybersecurity
- Data Privacy Strategy
- Digital Transformation
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Employment Law
- Human Rights Obligations
- Executive Presence
- International Human Rights Law and Policy
- Introduction to R Programming
- Leadership Agility
- Navigating Power Relationships
- VUCA Leadership