Public Administration and
Economics are inextricably linked. Economists provide much of the theory and
analytic foundation that administrators use to evaluate and implement policy.
Economic theory must consider the challenges in implementing and administering
new ideas and proposals. Graduates with a strong quantitative background are in
demand across all job markets.
Public Affairs and
Administration graduates go on to a wide variety of careers. Most SPA graduates
work in the public sector at federal, state, and local levels, while others
work in the nonprofit sector or as private sector professionals. Careers range
from policy analyst, program auditor, program officer and executive director to
Presidential Management Fellow, manager or director at a state or federal
agency and consultant.
The MA Econ program
emphasizes applied skills that employers demand through substantial exposure to
econometrics and forecasting, working with large and diverse data sets, and
using a wide range of statistical software. In recent years, a number of
graduates from the MA Econ program have gone on to top-ranked Ph.D. programs
including Harvard, Stanford, UC-San Diego, and University of North Carolina.
Others have gone to work as economists in various federal, state, and local
government offices. Most MA Econ graduates move into the private sector,
working as economists or quantitative analysts.
Students can obtain both
degrees with a minimum of 48 semester hours, as compared with 66 hours to
complete the degrees independently. To be eligible for the dual MPA/Econ
program, students must be admitted to
each of the two schools under their respective admissions procedures.
Students currently admitted or enrolled in
either SPA or Econ graduate schools may apply to the dual program by submitting
an application to the other program and indicating their intent to seek the
dual master’s degree.
DegreePlan