Graduate Degrees

Preparation for whatever comes next

An IU education gives you the tools to succeed no matter which direction life takes you, whether your next step is graduate school or employment.

Graduate Degrees and Certificate

Master of Public Affairs (MPA)

An MPA degree helps to prepare students for leadership positions within the following sectors: local/state/federal government agencies, public, health, and nonprofit organizations, as well as positions addressing public affairs in the private sector. Students can choose from the following concentrations: Criminal Justice, Leadership, Health Administration and Social Change, & Sustainability and Social Change.

Graduate Certificate

Students pursuing the SPEA certificate program option can use the coursework to supplement their primary fields of study. For example, individuals may seek graduate level courses as they plan to move from professional or technical roles to managerial or administrative roles. Students may find our certificate program beneficial to their career advancement.

Internship and Services Learning

Graduate students have the opportunity to participate in internships if they choose as part of their program requirements for the MPA program. Internships provide students to

  • Apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world situations
  • Gain valuable work experience relevant to their academic program
  • Spot career opportunities
  • Connect with professionals who can mentor you, write letters of recommendation, and help you find jobs

Service-learning refers to learning that actively involves students in a wide range of experiences, which often benefit others and the community, while also advancing the goals of a given curriculum.

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A lifetime of success

Tony Ellis received his MPA from Indiana University Northwest in 2014. Today he's enjoying a career in Washington, D.C. as a nutrition policy associate for The Center for Science and the Public Interest.

...so it would behoove me to go ahead and receive the skills and training that is necessary for me to be successful in this career field.

- Tony Ellis
Graduate Success Story