What’s the Difference? Master of Public Service vs. Master of Public Administration

Public Service and Public Administration are two different fields of work, but many students and professionals often get confused about the differences. Public Administration is a profession that deals with all aspects of public sector management, including budget, policy, regulatory and legal issues. A degree in public administration equips a student with management skills for government agencies, non-profit agencies, and even the private sector. On the other hand, a degree in public service equips students with the skills needed to offer services directly to citizens in areas such as social welfare, education, public health, and many more. 

Read on to learn more about the differences between a Master of Public Service and a Master of Public Administration. Let’s dive right in.

Master of Public Service

Public service is a career path that can be pursued by anyone who likes to relate with the general public. Public service majors and master’s holders get trained to serve the community by offering social services, educating young and old, promoting public health, and many more.

Earning a master’s in public service requires a bachelor’s degree in public service programs or other related courses. It could also require some professional certification, prerequisite coursework, a professional license, and some level of field experience. If you have some personal skills such as data analysis and critical thinking abilities, it’ll give you an edge in this career path. A Master’s degree in public service offers graduate-level training in various fields such as public administration, public affairs, public health, urban planning, criminal justice, and others, depending on the sector you wish to practice. During your Master Of Public Service training, you’ll learn the theoretical and practical aspects of the course. You’ll also undergo internship training, complete a master’s degree thesis, and pass your final exams.

Career Options For A Public Service Master’s Degree Holder.

Once you’ve bagged your Public Service Master’s degree, you are certified to work in various fields. For instance, you can work as a police officer enforcing law and order in the law enforcement department. You can also work as a clinical social worker, community social worker, school principal, school teacher, health education specialist, and many more. However, to work in these various fields, you might need to have some background training in your field of choice.

Master of Public Administration

Public administration can be likened to business management for the public sector. A bachelor’s degree in public administration builds the learner’s foundation in public policy, policy budgeting, public implementation, and public management. Earning a Master’s degree in Public Administration will further build on the foundation created during your undergraduate-level degree training. Therefore, to pursue a graduate-level degree in Public Administration, you’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree in public administration, political science, or a related field. Although it might not be a necessary requirement, it’ll surely give you an upper hand in getting admitted to the university for your Master of Public Administration (MPA).

The coursework in an MPA program typically includes courses on topics such as public management, economics, finance and budgeting, ethics and values in public service, social sciences research methods, and statistics. The curriculum also includes internships that allow students to gain practical experience in their chosen field. During your master’s training in public administration, you’ll also learn more about the science of policy evaluation, supervision, policy analysis, leadership training, and many more. This training/coursework will help you to manage budgets and regulatory agencies in government or even private sectors. It will also provide you with the knowledge needed to lead organizations in the private sector as well as nonprofit organizations. 

Career Options For A Public Administration Master’s Degree Holder.

A master’s degree in public administration is an excellent way for students to get a career in various public fields. Public Administration Masters degree holders can choose from a variety of options in any government system, such as city or county government, the federal government, or even a nonprofit organization. Graduates can go into fields such as law, policy-making, management, and even finance.

Furthermore, with an MPA, you will have the expertise to collaborate with civil servants to create and achieve public policy objectives. MPA also allows you to work with the government to build strong work relationships between private organizations and different public sectors by facilitating the creation of policies that unites the interest of both sectors.

Whether you choose to earn a Master of Public Administration or a Master of Public Service, you’ll enjoy good career prospects as well as contribute immensely to the development of our society at large.