While MBA is a common choice for business professionals looking to upgrade their skills, nowadays those interested in the public sector have been looking for other options. And, the natural choice then becomes getting an online Public Administration degree.
If you have recently discovered the MPA degree and are curious about how exactly it differs from an MBA, this article will help you understand the two a little better.
What Does An Online Public Administration Degree Teach?
To understand the difference between an MBA and an MPA you need to understand what the two courses offer. MBA as we know teaches you the core business topics like HR, finance, operations, and marketing. But an MPA is not necessarily a business focused degree.
An online Master’s degree in Public Administration teaches you principles of governance, common government practices, local government administration, e-governance, personnel management, public enterprise management, and also project and operations management, and financial management.
The focus of an online Public Administration degree is to equip you with the knowledge and skills to become a leader in the public sector. So you gain an indepth understanding of the public service administration and enhance your public management skills.
Career Opportunities After MPA
Some of the most common career paths MPA graduates choose are those that lead them into leadership roles in the government and public sector.
Here are some of the career opportunities you can opt for after graduation:
Community Service Manager
If you are passionate about helping others and developing communities in need then you can work as a Community Service Manager. You will be responsible for developing programs that help communities become better. You can work in non-profit organizations and organize events or work in government organizations and manage finances and improve policies.
Public Affairs Specialist
If you specialize in media and communications you can thrive as a Public Affairs Specialist. You will be responsible for planning and designing public affairs programs and campaigns for the media. These campaigns being media focus will help gain the attention of the people and spread awareness. You can work in the government and help the government with their marketing and media strategies. You can also work for private companies and help them with corporate social responsibility.
Public Relations Manager
PR Managers commonly work for huge private organizations, personnel, and even celebrities. As a Public Relations Manager, you will be responsible for crafting plans to help maintain a good public image for your company. This would include developing PR marketing campaigns and promoting a good image of the company to the public.
Career Opportunities After MBA
While MPA graduates fit into a more public focused role, MBA graduates work usually for a business and it’s well-being.
Common career opportunities for MBA graduates are as follows:
C-Suite Roles
Many MBA graduates either go the entrepreneurial route and get into the C-suite chair or they gain the necessary managerial skills and experience to go along with the MBA and step into the role in their dream company. The skills an MBA teaches you helps you understand a organization’s goals better and makes you better leader to lead the company to success.
An MPA can also help you step into such a role if your organization and the role is more public focused. Then you will have a better understanding of what the role demands and you would be better fit rather than someone with an MBA.
Financial Analyst
Now while you can become a Financial Analyst in the public sector with an MPA degree, an MBA degree is usually what these aspiring professionals opt for. If you want to become a Financial Analyst in the private sector for a multinational company, an MBA would help. But if you want to work in the government sector in finance, an MPA would be a better option.
HR Manager
Human Resources Management is responsible for employee management, hiring, policy management, training and development, and more. An MBA helps you understand what you need to know to become an HR Manager for any organization. But again, if you specifically want to work in the government sector and manage personnel in the public sector then getting an MPA might be the better option.
Get Your Public Administration Master’s Degree Online From UniAthena
The major difference between the two degrees is that one is public sector focused and the other is business oriented. So if you want to work in the public sector or the government, then opt for an online Public Administration degree.
Explore GMU’s Public Administration Master’s degree online on UniAthena and try the 7-day free trial. This course provides you with career oriented lessons in Public Administration that will help you become better equipped to step into a leadership role in the public sector. Explore the course now.
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