Pace University’s Public Administration Graduate Program Receives NASPAA Accreditation

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The Pace University Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program has received accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the recognized accreditor of master’s degree programs in those fields. Earning the honor for the first time, the Pace MPA program is accredited for seven years, NASPAA’s maximum accreditation length.

“The NASPAA accreditation is a culmination of the efforts and dedication of our faculty and staff who are committed to advance the quality of our MPA program,” said MPA Director and Associate Professor Gina Scutelnicu-Todoran, PhD. “It is a testament to Pace’s MPA program’s substantial conformity with the highest academic and professional standards in the discipline, enabling us to meet our mission of serving students in the New York City metropolitan area, the state of New York, the US and internationally.”

With the accreditation, the Pace MPA program, housed within the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, joins a global network of more than 200 accredited programs across nine countries, creating and strengthening connections among peer institutions. NASPAA accredits programs that meet its seven standards (PDF), which examine the program’s mission, commitment to public values, positive student outcomes through immersive academics, significant scholarly work from faculty, and satisfactory facilities and resources. The accreditation process includes a self-study completed by the program, as well as a site visit from the Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation.

“Receiving NASPAA accreditation is an exciting and well-deserved milestone for our MPA program,” said Tresmaine R. Grimes, dean of the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. “The accreditation elevates the University’s and Dyson College’s commitment to quality public affairs education, providing our students with a rich educational experience that prepares them to be the critical thinkers, change agents, and impactful leaders of the future.”

The Pace MPA program is offered on the New York City and Westchester campuses and online and includes the option to specialize in one of three management tracks: government, healthcare, and nonprofit. Catered to both pre-service and in-service students, the program focuses on immersive academic experiences, while offering complementary experiential and co-curricular opportunities through professional internships, an honor society, an MPA-focused student organization, an ICMA Student Chapter, and a partnership with Pace’s Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship.

About the MPA Program: Established on 1979, Pace MPA program prepares pre-service and in-service students to become value-driven public service leaders, managers and analysts in government, heath care and nonprofit organizations. The Department of Public Administration housed in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences at Pace University currently offers an MPA program with tracks in government, health care, and nonprofit management both in person and online.

About Dyson College of Arts and Sciences: Pace University’s liberal arts college, Dyson College, offers more than 50 programs, spanning the arts and humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and pre-professional programs (including pre-medicine, pre-veterinary, and pre-law), as well as many courses that fulfill core curriculum requirements. The College offers access to numerous opportunities for internships, cooperative education and other hands-on learning experiences that complement in-class learning in preparing graduates for career and graduate/professional education choices.

About Pace University: Pace University has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success because of its unique programs that combine immersive academics and real-world experiences. Pace is ranked the #1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights, evidence of the transformative education the University provides.