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Local Government Management

Local Government Management

Leadership at the local level

With a concentration in Local Government Management, you’ll understand the unique challenges facing cities and population centers—and how to address them with creativity, integrity, and professionalism. You’ll be able to make substantive improvements at the local level, bringing solutions to where people live. This comprehensive curriculum is just part of why we're ranked #11 in local government management by U.S. News & World Report.

U.S. News & World Report: Best Grad Schools 2013: Public Affairs

Local Government Management MPA students (Fall 2018)

MPA program

#10

Local Government Management program

Prepared to make meaningful change

You’ll build a broad set of skills, including delivery of urban services, policy issues and analysis, management skills, effective communication, values and ethics. Specific topics include human resources management, planning, labor relations, government finance, and operations management.

A broad base, plus depth and detail

You'll begin by mastering the fundamentals reflected in our MPA program’s core competencies. These five courses (15 credit hours) will give you well-developed analytical skills and a broad understanding of policy issues and government processes. You'll then build on this foundation with three other required courses specific to Local Government Management.

The following is an example of courses. Please work with your advisor as you make your schedule.

Local Government Management required courses

Public Human Resources Management (M 561)
Local Government Management (L 564)
Management of Local Government Services (L 568)

Tailor your degree

The remainder of your course work (9 credit hours) will come from a range of elective courses. These will allow you to tailor your Local Government Management program to your own specific interests. Advanced elective subject areas include:

See course descriptions

Dual concentrations

Combining your Local Government Management concentration with another MPA concentration can offer you unique advantages in pursuing a particular career. As they help you design your program, our faculty will work to accommodate your specialized professional interests.

How to apply

Experiential learning

Our MPA offers far more than traditional lectures and lessons. You’ll also get the benefit of experiential learning—typically through an approved internship. What’s more, your concentration’s course work will culminate in a project-oriented course—a capstone—that lets you apply the knowledge you gained throughout the program.

Learn from faculty with expertise and experience in local government management

See all Local Governance faculty

Ryan O’Connor, MPA’08

Deputy County Manager Ramsey County, Minnesota

“From budgeting to strategic planning to managing people and projects across a large organization, I rely upon the skills and professional relationships developed at O’Neill to drive and sustain progress throughout my work.”

Noor Shaikh, MPA’16

Budget Analyst City of Aurora, Colorado

“I started my fellowship position the summer after graduation and have since been hired on as a financial analyst in the Office of Budget and Financial Planning at the city. I … am constantly reminded of my professors at O’Neill who shaped how I think about public policy—and my cohort who inspired me to pursue a career where I believe I can make the biggest difference.”

Students pose with fire equipment at the Bloomington Public Safety Training Center — Class learning on location at the Bloomington Public Safety Training Center.

Students visit the Plainfield Water Plant — Learning about water quality at the Plainfield Water Plant.