If you have a passion for the arts but think there’s no way you can make a living in the field, think again. The Arts Production & Management program gives you the skills you need to take charge in the arts industry.
Typically $1,234 per semester
Tuition & Fees
77 credit hours
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Public administrators in government and nonprofit organizations must keep reinventing themselves to meet the new challenges of a changing society; our 36 to 39-credit* Master of Public Administration program trains you to do just that. (*The 3-credit internship requirement may be waived by the program director for those with pertinent experience.)
This program was the first in the state to be fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). See the NASPAA Member Code of Good Practice.
36 to 39-credit program (3 credit internship may be waived for those with pertinent experience). Learn more
Fall: Rolling; Spring: Dec. 1; Summer: April 1. See the admission requirements
Fully accredited online program, or convenient evening and online classes offered at the University of Baltimore campus in Baltimore and at the Universities at Shady Grove campus in Rockville, Md.. Dual J.D./M.P.A. is also available.
Program Costs
See tuition and fees. Online MPA students and regional residents pay the in-state rate.
Scholarships
If you are an incoming graduate student, we’ll automatically consider you for merit scholarships. For more information, speak with a graduate admission counselor.
Graduate Assistantships
A graduate assistantship can help fund all or part of your tuition, and you'll gain academic, professional
or research experience while working on campus and making progress toward your graduate
degree or certificate.
The University of Baltimore's College of Public Affairs is ranked in the 2024 edition of U.S. News and World Report's Best Graduate Schools, for best graduate schools in public affairs.
You will reflect critically on the role of public administration in a democratic society, the role you can play in applying our constitution and what your civic responsibilities are, as a public servant. You can choose from among six specializations:
You will also enhance your skills in research methods and quantitative techniques.
If you have not worked in the public sector, you can gain valuable experience through an internship or through a limited number of fully funded fellowships at UBalt's Schaefer Center for Public Policy, the research and consulting arm of the College of Public Affairs. Your work might involve program evaluation and analysis, opinion research, strategic planning, performance measurement or management training.
You are strongly encouraged to participate in American Society for Public Administration activities and in are invited to apply for membership in UBalt's chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha, an honorary public administration society for those who have achieved academic excellence.
Michael Raup, Jr., M.P.A. student
"The M.P.A. program is about reinventing oneself to adapt to the needs of an ever-changing
interconnected world. I believe this is a key differentiator of UBalt's program compared
to other M.P.A. programs in the area, including those in Washington, D.C. Learning
how to innovate myself to become an effective leader in the future is one reason why
I decided to attend The University of Baltimore."
Emmanuel Welsh, M.P.A. '16, Appointed Board of Public Works Executive for Governor Moore
Emmanuel Welsh, M.P.A. ’16, was recently appointed board of public works executive for Maryland
Governor Wes Moore. Welsh previously served as chief of staff, deputy chief of staff
and senior advisor to former state comptroller, Peter Franchot. Welsh is also a former
Schaefer Center for Public Policy Fellow, and now serves on the Center’s advisory board.
Denisha Hobbs, M.P.A. '21
Enrolling in The University of Baltimore's M.P.A. program opened many doors for Denisha
Hobbs, such as the opportunity to participate in the Community Development Fellowship Program.
Graduation Rates, New Students Enrolled in the Fall 2017 or Spring 2018 Semesters
| Initially Enrolled | Graduated within Two Years | Graduated within Three Years | Graduated within Four Years | Total Students Graduated and Persisting to Graduation | |
| Total Number of Students in the ARY-5 Cohort | 97 | 2 | 26 | 52 | 53 |
| Initially Enrolled | Graduated within Two Years | Graduated within Three Years | Graduated within Four Years | Total Students Graduated and Persisting to Graduation | |
| Total Number of Students in the ARY-5 Cohort | 113 | 1 | 28 | 25 | 62 |
| Initially Enrolled | Graduated within Two Years | Graduated within Three Years | Graduated within Four Years | Total Students Graduated and Persisting to Graduation | |
| Total Number of Students in the ARY-5 Cohort | 112 | 10 | 32 | 46 | 49 |
| Initially Enrolled | Graduated within Two Years | Graduated within Three Years | Graduated within Four Years | Total Students Graduated and Persisting to Graduation | |
| Total Number of Students in the ARY-5 Cohort | 122 | 7 | 42 | 59 | 75 |
Data for the graduation rates were obtained from the admissions data system at the
University of Baltimore. All students who had been enrolled in the M.P.A. program
prior to the ARY-5 and who were then readmitted during ARY-5 were screened out of
the data set (6) as were students who were admitted to the M.P.A. and changed majors
since admission (5).
The lack of a GRE requirement encourages mid-career students to "try-out" graduate
school if they meet the qualifications in other areas. Eleven students stayed only
one semester. If these students are excluded from the graduation rate calculations
change to 66.67%. Excluding the additional seven students who only took two semesters
of classes raises the graduation rate to 67.56%.
| Initially Enrolled | Graduated within Two Years | Graduated within Three Years | Graduated within Four Years | Total Students Graduated and Persisting to Graduation | |
| Total Number of Students in the ARY-5 Cohort | 130 | 32 | 54 | 68 | 75 |
*In addition, there is one student who continues to be active in the program.
| Initially Enrolled | Graduated within Two Years | Graduated within Three Years | Graduated within Four Years | Total Students Graduated and Persisting to Graduation | |
| Total Number of Students in the ARY-5 Cohort | 111 | 31 | 52 | 60 | 64 |
| Percentage | 27.9% | 46.8% | 54% | 57.7% |
*In addition, four students were still active as of Nov. 2018. Graduated students plus active students have a persistence rate of 61.2%.
These data used are new students who applied for the 2013 academic year and took their first class in either the Fall 2012 or Spring 2013 semester. Under UBalt rules, students must reapply for admission if they have been out for more than two semesters. Readmitted students were excluded from this analysis. Previously reported data included the readmitted students.
Many students in the M.P.A. program are working professionals at the time of admission and are seeking to advance within their current organizations. See the following lists of employers and job titles of recent M.P.A. graduates:
| Sector | Number of Students |
| National of central government in the same country as the program | 3 |
| State, provincial or regional government in the same country as the program | 3 |
| City, county or other local government in the same country as the program | 3 |
| Government not in the same country as the program (all levels) or international quasi-governmental | 0 |
| Nonprofit, domestic-oriented | 9 |
| Nonprofit/NGOs, internationally-oriented | 0 |
| Private sector—research/consulting | 5 |
| Private sector, but not research/consulting | 2 |
| Obtaining further education | 0 |
| Military service | 0 |
| Unemployed (not seeking employment) | 0 |
| Unemployed (seeking employment) | 1 |
| Status unknown | 16 |
| TOTAL | 42 |
| Sector | Number of Students |
| National of central government in the same country as the program | 5 |
| State, provincial or regional government in the same country as the program | 5 |
| City, county or other local government in the same country as the program | 9 |
| Government not in the same country as the program (all levels) or international quasi-governmental | 0 |
| Nonprofit, domestic-oriented | 10 |
| Nonprofit/NGOs, internationally-oriented | 1 |
| Private sector—research/consulting | 1 |
| Private sector, but not research/consulting | 9 |
| Status unknown | 21 |
| TOTAL | 61 |
| Sector | Number of Students |
| National of central government in the same country as the program | 4 |
| State, provincial or regional government in the same country as the program | 6 |
| City, county or other local government in the same country as the program | 10 |
| Government not in the same country as the program (all levels) or international quasi-governmental | 2 |
| Nonprofit, domestic-oriented | 11 |
| Private sector, but not research/consulting | 6 |
| Status unknown | 14 |
| TOTAL | 53 |
Joseph Adler
program director
email: jadler@ubalt.edu | phone: 410.837.4703
view Prof. Adler's faculty profile
Tylis Cooper
program adviser
email: tcooper@ubalt.edu | phone: 410.837.6197
When you graduate, you’ll be prepared to work for businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies that deal in, represent or interact with artists and the arts—perhaps in addition to managing your own freelance artistic career. You’ll also be well prepared for graduate-level study in business and the arts.
You’ll take courses in:
With UBalt’s location between the Station North Arts and Entertainment District and the Mount Vernon Cultural District, the neighborhood is your laboratory, and this program will allow you opportunities to work with the city’s theaters, museums, galleries, musical venues and arts advocacy groups, shadowing and assisting artists, attending exhibits and performances, and interning with an artist or arts-related organization.
