Masters in Public Administration?

[deinstein]

Does anyone have any insight on how useful this degree would be once complete? How is the job market looking for it? Does anyone have this degree? Any input is great appreciated.

I'm looking at the program at OU-Tulsa, in particular.

[dsjeffries]

quote:Originally posted by deinstein

Does anyone have any insight on how useful this degree would be once complete? How is the job market looking for it? Does anyone have this degree? Any input is great appreciated.

I'm looking at the program at OU-Tulsa, in particular.

A coworker of mine is actually in the process of earning this degree from OU-Tulsa, so I'll ask them...

[deinstein]

Thanks. I would appreciate any info he/she throws your way.

[deinstein]

Anyone?

[RecycleMichael]

Most of the people I know with that degree are city managers in small towns.

The salaries are good compared to the cost of living in the area. I know of these jobs that run from $50K a year to about three times that.

You have to play politics 24 hours a day, you are the scapegoat whenever something breaks or is over budget, and any three councilors out of five can fire you at any weekly meeting.

The benefits are immense. The city manager of Jenks just retired and he faced a career full of challenges and always kept the city moving forward. Everything that Jenks is today is a result, in part, of his work.

[inteller]

So essentially you are getting a Master's in Sim City.

Can you get a PhD in World of Warcraft yet?

[cannon_fodder]

I can't get the hang of Sim City 4.  I nearly always run my city into the ground when I can built really cool roads and bribe high tech industries to move in.  But if it was Sim City 3000, or 2000, oh yeah... I'd rule.

On a more serious note, I hope you are aware of the politics of a small town if that is the career choice you are interested in.  It is simply not everyones desire to live their life in the public eye for $50K a year.  The mayors of small towns back in Iowa that I knew had serious drama going on constantly.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder
 The mayors of small towns <insert any place in US> that I knew had serious drama going on constantly.

there, fixed it for ya.[]

[deinstein]

How hard is it to get an entry level job out of school?

[MPA Degree]

MPA can be a very useful degree beyond just city management. Can also work in State and Federal but also nonprofit field too. Contracting is another field and lots of international jobs too.

The degree opens up more options and can quicken time to promotion and increase salary.

Check out www.naspaa.org and www.publicservicecareers.org

Scott Talan
NASPAA

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I can't get the hang of Sim City 4.  I nearly always run my city into the ground when I can built really cool roads and bribe high tech industries to move in.  But if it was Sim City 3000, or 2000, oh yeah... I'd rule.

You just had to use the bug that got you a loan with negative interest. Was extremely easy to run the city then.

[cannon_fodder]

quote:Originally posted by MPA Degree


MPA can be a very useful degree beyond just city management. Can also work in State and Federal but also nonprofit field too. Contracting is another field and lots of international jobs too.

The degree opens up more options and can quicken time to promotion and increase salary.

Check out www.naspaa.org and www.publicservicecareers.org

Scott Talan
NASPAA

Thanks for the insight Scott.  I guess I failed to see the variety of areas you can use it in.  Like any degree I suppose...

[deinstein]

Does anyone here attend the program at OU-Tulsa?

[safetyguy]

quote:Originally posted by deinstein

How hard is it to get an entry level job out of school?

Are you saying that you would be fresh out of college with this masters? That may be a little difficult or you aren't going to get the money you deserve or think you think you deserve.

Something that I have learned as I have been searching for a new employer is that if you have a masters (or almost have it completed like me) that it's hard to find a job. You know why? The person you may be reporting to only has a bachelors and so the inferiority complex can kick in for the manager/supervisor.

[deinstein]

Well, it sure beats going into the job market with only a BA in Political Science. You know?