Public Policy & Administration
NASPAA-accredited MPPA since 1978 and Ph.D. in Public Administration since 1992 — preparing the next generation of public administrators and policymakers at JSU's downtown Jackson campus.
The historically principal unit for public administration
PPAD is the historically principal unit at Jackson State University which educates persons primarily for careers in the fields of public management and policy analysis and for service in public, non-profit and "quasi-public" organizations.
Concomitantly, it is also the mission of the Department to serve as a resource to the Jackson State community, the State of Mississippi, the nation and developing areas throughout the world.
We offer two graduate degree programs — the Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) and the Ph.D. in Public Administration. Since the inception of our programs, Public Policy and Administration has continually strived to provide the highest level of academic and practitioner training for students preparing for significant professional and managerial positions in a variety of settings.
- Department
- Public Policy & Administration (PPAD)
- College
- College of Public Service
- Degrees
- MPPA · Ph.D. Public Administration
- Accreditation
- NASPAA (since 1978)
- MPPA Founded
- Fall 1975
- Ph.D. Founded
- 1992 academic year
- Phone
- (601) 979-8783
PPAD by the numbers
1975
MPPA Founded
1978
NASPAA Accredited
1992
Ph.D. Founded
2
Graduate Programs
Two graduate degree programs
NASPAA Accredited MPPA
The MPPA degree has been offered at Jackson State University since the fall of 1975 and has been accredited since 1978 by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration — now the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
NASPAA accreditation is the gold-standard credential for MPA/MPPA programs, signaling rigorous curriculum, faculty qualifications, and student outcomes. Reference our NASPAA Public Information document (PDF) for accreditation transparency data.
Preparing professionals: Four mission goals
The MPPA program seeks to prepare students for significant professional and managerial positions in the public and non-profit sectors. Our MPPA program seeks to:
Provide a cadre of highly trained individuals who are committed to the notion of public service in a variety of organizational settings.
Develop advanced educational opportunities for students of public administration in an urban environment where a multiplicity of governmental opportunities, interactions and practices can be observed.
Fill the need for public, quasi-governmental, and non-profit high-level executive management which exists in the State of Mississippi, the nation, and the world — particularly as this need relates to minorities and women.
Serve as a resource to the greater community.
What sets PPAD apart
Educational Excellence
Highest level of academic and practitioner training for students preparing for significant professional and managerial positions.
Public Service
Preparing students for careers in public, non-profit, and quasi-public organizations across Mississippi, the nation, and the world.
Faculty & Research
Faculty with both academic and practitioner experience, national affiliations, scholarly publications, and professional consulting.
Practical, career-oriented training
The Master of Public Policy and Administration Program is designed to provide practical career-oriented training for persons seeking public service careers or for persons already employed in the many branches of public service.
The curriculum is designed to equip students with the necessary skills of contemporary public management as well as to give them a broad understanding of the role of administration in the decision making process.
“Challenging Minds, Changing Lives.”
The future of public administration
The future of public administration is strong and growing. Global, national and local problems require solutions from trained public administrators and policymakers. It is the role of Jackson State University's Public Policy and Administration programs to prepare the next leaders to devise and to manage much-needed solutions!
A plethora of career options
Department of Public Policy and Administration majors have access to a wide range of career paths:
Forecasting Manager
Real Estate Agent
Policy Manager
Policy Analyst
Management Consultant
Economic Analyst
Bank Officer
Urban Planner
Student support & community
Get in touch with our team
Ready to join PPAD?
For more information, please contact us at (601) 979-8783. We look forward to meeting with you and seeing how our program can help you achieve your goals.
Contact PPAD
College of Public Service
Jackson State University
101 W. Capitol Street
Jackson, MS 39201