Earn an Executive MPA from the O'Neill School at Indiana University
The Executive Master of Public Affairs (EMPA) is a 39 credit hour professional course of study that builds on the 18 hours earned in the Executive Public Management Certificate program and provides the knowledge, networking, and interdisciplinary experience necessary to operate and manage public agencies and nonprofit organizations.
Offered with a management concentration, the Executive MPA challenges students to explore critical social, political, legal, global, and administrative problems in public affairs.
Identifying various policy models and issues surrounding their application
Applying statistical analysis to decision making
Analyzing executive leadership in public organizations
EMPA 2023 cohorts
96%Graduated after 5 semesters
100%Are employed in the government sector
More than two dozen employees of the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center were part of the latest cohorts to earn their Executive Master of Public Affairs degrees in 2023. Crane has partnered with Executive Education to offer the EMPA to its employees for the last 30+ years. Read more about this unique partnership on the O'Neill blog.
Course descriptions
An introduction to methods of statistical analysis and its application to decision making. The course is designed to provide an understanding of the theory and application of statistics in analyzing both experimental and non-experimental data. Use of computer tools for carrying out analysis is emphasized.
An examination of the role of public affairs professionals in policy processes. Focuses on relationships with political actors in various policy areas.
Explanation of law in society and its influence on public sector operations. Examination of some of the central substantive areas of the study of law, including regulatory processes, administrative adjudication, the Administrative Procedures Act, and ombudsmen and citizen rights, among others.
Examination of how the programs of public agencies are proposed, established, operated, and evaluated. Discussion of the role and conduct of research in the program evaluation process. In addition, techniques of effective evaluation and analysis are discussed.
This gateway course will increase student appreciation of the role of public affairs professionals in governance across multiple sectors of society within the global context. Students will learn norms associated with effective practice in public affairs and frame a professional development plan to acquire leadership skills to support these norms.
Analysis of executive leadership within the context of public organizations in the United States. Examines the role of public managers and the principles and factors that affect their actions in light of current research and practice.
This course is designed to help students recognize and deal with the ethical issues that are inherent in situations they and other managers deal with. In the course students will utilize cases and hypothetical and videotaped material. There will be a heavy emphasis on class discussion and on individual and group exercises.
Get started
To pursue the Executive MPA, or to customize the program for your organization or employee, contact Sara Johnson at 317-274-3418 or smj3@iu.edu.
For students who are not part of an employer-based cohort, the O’Neill Master of Public Affairs program offers open, rolling admissions. Our MPA is ranked 39th in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Students can pursue the degree on a full-time or part-time basis and choose from one of seven concentrations.
Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs social media channels
