Master of Public Service Leadership (MPSL) | Thomas Edison State University

Degrees & Programs
Master's Degrees
Public Service Leadership

Credits 36

Format Online

Effective leadership for the public sector.

The complex societal issues facing our world today need trained professionals to solve problems and help influence change in their communities. The Master of Public Service Leadership (MPSL) program at Thomas Edison State University (TESU) is designed to develop the next generation of change-oriented leaders who serve our communities through a variety of organizations including:

Nonprofit organizations
Faith-based organizations
Community-based organizations
Local, state and federal governments
Nonprofit and philanthropic organizations
Non-governmental organizations

Why Earn Your MPSL at TESU?

Our versatile Master of Public Service Leadership program is designed to prepare service-minded leaders to take the next step toward innovative leadership. Our fully online MPSL program balances high-quality instruction with maximum flexibility and can put you on the path toward a leadership career in a variety of public and nonprofit sectors.

Our curriculum emphasizes theory, research and practice. Core courses include:

Law, Ethics and Decision Making in the Public Sector
Research Methods in Public Service
Municipal Finance
Public Service Leadership and Governance
Program Analysis and Evaluation

You'll choose an area of study that best fits your interests and career goals. The program culminates in a capstone project where you'll apply what you've learned to your actual work environment.

See Full Curriculum

Areas of Study

In addition to your core courses, you'll take 12 credits in a specific area of study. Choose from one of our four areas of study best suited to your personal and professional goals, or design your own path of study.

Community and Economic Development
This area of study explores how community and government leaders work together to build critical organizations and partnerships. These include community-based services, arts centers, downtown businesses and a variety of urban renewal and redevelopment projects.

Courses include:
- Community and Economic Development and Leadership
- Program Analysis and Evaluation
- Practical Grant Writing
See Curriculum & Learning Outcomes
Nonprofit Management
Nonprofit organizations provide a vital link in addressing the economic and social gaps in society. Often, the government and private sector alone fail to effectively address these issues. If you work in nonprofits — or you'd like to — this area of study will help you increase your organization's capacity and impact.

Courses include:
- Nonprofit Management
- Nonprofit Governance and Board Leadership
- Volunteer Management
See Curriculum & Learning Outcomes
Public Finance
Learn to manage public resources more efficiently. The Public Finance area of study is designed for employees of public agencies, nonprofit groups, community organizations and more. You'll learn to tackle strategic challenges, such as municipal aid reduction and how to cut costs.

Courses include:
- Project Management in Public Service
- Municipal Finance
- Economic Issues for Public Service Managers
See Curriculum & Learning Outcomes
Public Health/Public Policy
In the Public Health/Public Policy area of study, you'll learn how to analyze public health issues. You'll also learn to evaluate potential interventions and implement new approaches.

Courses include:
- Epidemiology
- Advanced Studies in Healthcare
- Volunteer Management
See Curriculum & Learning Outcomes
Learner Designed

If you're in a role or organization that could benefit from a specific mix of coursework not covered by one of our areas of study, you can create your own. An advisor will work with you to plan the set of courses that best fits your professional needs.
See Curriculum & Learning Outcomes

What really piqued my interest was that the program was described as being designed for the next generation of leaders for nonprofit organizations, faith-based and community-based organizations, and local, state and federal governments.

Frances Holly, MPSL ’15

Tuition & Financial Aid

At TESU, we’ve been empowering adults toward brighter futures for more than 50 years. Learning the total cost of attending TESU is an important step in your college search. See our tuition rates and explore financial aid options to plan your future.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Admission Requirements

You must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. For most graduate programs at TESU, students with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 will be admitted without further requirements. Visit Graduate Admissions to learn more and begin your application.

Graduate Admission Requirements

Take the Next Steps

Interested in the Master of Public Service Leadership program?

Start your application today, learn more about us or contact us for more information and we'll be in touch!

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