MPA Executive Track Program Expands to UConn Stamford
The School of Public Policy’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) executive track program will expand to UConn Stamford in Fall 2024, providing a new opportunity for professionals in Fairfield County to advance their careers in the public and nonprofit sectors.
“Our faculty felt strongly that we need to be part of the career success of public servants in this part of the state,” says Mohamad Alkadry, professor and director of the School of Public Policy. “[It’s] an area that is not being served by any public institution offering an MPA degree.” Alkadry notes it’s also the only Connecticut program accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
The program, which has operated at UConn Hartford since 2017, will offer a 36-credit degree in a cohort model that meets on Saturdays. Students pursue courses in project management, public finance and budgeting, and economic analysis and can choose a focus area tailored to their interests. Previous tracks have included executive leadership, law and public policy, state and local government management, and urban planning.
“It’s purposefully in person, so you get that interaction with your professor,” explains Catherine Guarino, director of student and academic affairs in the School of Public Policy. “You’re going to learn from your peers in the classroom.”
The program is designed to be completed in two years. Guarino says the supportive environment becomes a second family for many students.
“It’s very interactive,” she says. “There’s something special about being around other people who are working full-time, have families they’re taking care of, and other life responsibilities.”
Jennifer Orlikoff, dean and chief administrative officer at UConn Stamford, says the cohort model also allows students to build a strong professional network.
“Adding it to our campus is a logical extension of this important program, given the number of business enterprises, Fortune 500 companies, and nonprofit organizations established in the city and the region,” says Orlikoff. “Students will greatly appreciate and benefit from having the opportunity to pursue this degree in close proximity to where they work.”
Applications for the MPA executive track program are open for both campuses. Priority will be given to applicants who submit their materials by Feb. 15. The final application deadline is May 15.
The program expansion will be celebrated during a reception at UConn Stamford on Dec. 7.
Latest UConn Today
- X-ray Echoes Reveal the 3D Structure of Molecular Clouds in our Galaxy’s CenterA creative new method uses decades of data to learn about the 3D structure of molecular clouds, the birthplace of stars, in the center of the Milky Way
- ‘Black Hole Archaeology’: Understanding How Black Holes Gained Their MassBy measuring black hole spin 7 billion years ago to now, researchers gained surprising new insights into the nature of black holes
- Sound Waves Go FlatEngineers at UConn’s College of Engineering are unlocking new frontiers in wave control and energy localization
- Formula Shortage Decreased Breastfeeding DisparitiesA formula shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic created an experiment for the researchers to see if and how breastfeeding patterns change in response to the crisis
- Dr. George Kuchel to Serve on the NIH National Advisory Council on AgingDr. George Kuchel has been invited by Xavier Becerra, The Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to serve on the National Advisory Council on Aging.
- Mitigating Climate Change ExtinctionMitigating Climate Change Extinction Can mapping the big picture pinpoint the most fragile futures? UConn ecology and evolutionary biology professor Mark Urban has crunched the numbers — again — and the results are even clearer: For every degree that global temperatures rise, more species will become extinct. Published in the journal Science in December 2024, […]
