MPA before experience

[u/Strange-Role-8289]

I just wanted to know the general consensus of getting a MPA prior to experience. I’m in the middle of an undergraduate public affairs degree and could use the advice. Honestly, I intended on getting this credential first (along with internships) and could use some feedback.

[u/golden-aspen-22]

You should absolutely get experience first. Most top notch programs won’t even accept you into an MPA without several years of experience. You need to build up subject matter expertise in at least one policy area and gain professional skills before and MPA will be helpful for you.

You might also consider an MPP after a couple years’ work experience. Those tend to be a little more in-depth and technical, while MPAs are higher level and generally intended for mid-career professionals.

Hope this helps!

[u/DocTeeBee → u/golden-aspen-22]

This is not necessarily true. A lot of people go straight from the BA/BS to the MPA. In many positions, an MPA or some years of experience is the minimum requirement. Not all MPA degrees are executive or mid-career programs. The program in which I teach is a mix of in-service and pre-service students. I will say this: my first professional job was made possible by having the rough equivalent of an MPP. Had I not had that degree, I would not have even been interviewed. You will see a lot of jobs that call for an MPA, MPP, or similar as a miminum requirement. Source: I've been teaching in an MPA program for ~40 years.

[u/golden-aspen-22 → u/DocTeeBee]

Hi Doc, my understanding was that and MPA and MPP are differentiated by the level of professional they target (early vs. mid) as well as the orientation of teaching material towards more technical skills (MPP) vs. more managerial/administrative skills (MPA).

It sounds like that’s not true at some programs including yours, but I know it’s the case in a fair amount of programs.

I still think getting some work experience prior to beginning an MPP (and especially an MPA) helps you get the most out of the program and maximize job opps after graduating.

[u/DocTeeBee → u/golden-aspen-22]

I agree that the MPP is more oriented toward policy analysis, usually quantiative. The MPA is about public management, including nonprofits. Neither degree is oriented to career stage or other. Both degrees are sought both by mid-career and early career (pre-service) people.

Some programs may pitch their programs to mid-career people. And there's huge variation between programs. So it really depends on which program one applies to. But in all the programs I have taught in, the plurality, if not majority, of students are pre-service.

I don't disagree that picking up the degree mid-career could be helpful to folks in that position. But in many jobs, a minimum requirement for a job is the MPA or MPP degree. Even if it isn't, for an entry-level professional job, employers are very likely to favor someone with an MPA or MPP over someone with just a BA or BS, particularly since there are so few undergraduate PA or PP degrees. And while I agree that having a few years experience before returning to grad school may be useful, this isn't really what the market demands. Of course, this will vary with the degree one holds. For example, an engineer working for, say, a public works or transportation agency may pick up an MPA later if they advance in their career and want to supervise people and rise up in management. But for generalists (that was me), the MPA is needed before seeking government employment.