MPA: Master’s in Public Affairs Administration
Public Affairs and Public Administration
Public Affairs Administration is a unique offshoot of Public Administration that focuses on confronting modern policy issues with innovative solutions on the local, state, and federal level. According to the NASPAA, “MPP graduates work with quantitative and qualitative data to develop, assess, and evaluate alternative approaches to current and emerging issues.” A Public Affairs Administration degree includes a wide variety of specializations like education, economic development, and environmental issues. These specializations make public affairs a good way to get into an aspect of government that inspires a passion for change.
What is Public Affairs?
With all these different areas of public affairs administration, it might be helpful to know just what “public affairs” means in this context. Public Affairs are the relationship between an organization and its stakeholders, so for the government, that means working with the public to make sure public policy and public opinion are on common ground. To achieve this, “Public affairs work combines government relations, media communications, issue management, corporate and social responsibility, information dissemination and strategic communications advice.”
