Master of Public Administration
program receives reaccreditation

The Master of Public Administration program at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro has recently been reaccredited for five years.

The program was evaluated and recognized by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). The M.P.A. program was found to be in agreement with NASPAA standards and will now be included in the Annual Roster of Accredited Programs.

“One reason accreditation is so important is because it shows excellence in the university,” said Dr. Patrick Stewart, associate professor of public administration and M.P.A. coordinator and advisor. 

In the M.P.A. program, students are prepared to work in leadership positions in government and non-government public service organizations. Students learn management skills, such as budgeting, human resources, computer applications, finance and research. 

Graduates of the ASU M.P.A. program work in areas such as the U.S. Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Social Security Administration, and as political aides to President George W. Bush and U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln.

The M.P.A. program began at ASU in the late 1970s and first received accreditation in 1993. The M.P.A. program is in the Department of Political Science, which is part of the newly formed College of Humanities and Social Sciences.        

For additional information, please contact Dr. Stewart at 870-972-3048.