Public Administration Careers

A Suffolk degree in public administration paves the way for students new to public service to enter our field, and those already in the field to move into higher management and more senior positions of leadership. Our MPA graduates are employed in a wide variety of public service careers and types of jobs. These include positions in state, local, and Federal government, non-profit management, health policy, advocacy, community and government organizations, and human resource management.  They are senior leaders and department heads, middle managers, legislators, policy analysts, and community activists. Professionals’ jobs change during their career. Our curriculum gives students the core competencies needed for any public service area, while our career tracks, electives, class assignments, and networking opportunities build more specialized skills and knowledge in one’s current area of interest.

Career Tracks

Every career is different. Your Suffolk faculty advisor will work with you to tailor your MPA to where you are in your career and your particular needs.  Here are a few examples of career tracks of students in our MPA program:

John is an undergraduate major in Political Science.  He is applying immediately to the MPA program with the goal of getting into state or local government.

Amy has a Masters in Social Work.  She has been working in two community mental health organizations for ten years and is currently a field supervisor.  She wants to be a Department Chair and then an agency director.

Abhi is a physician from India.  He is at Suffolk to get his administrative training and to gain knowledge of the U.S. health system. He plans to run a hospital in New Delhi when he returns.

George has spent twenty years moving up through the ranks to lead a major city of Boston agency. He needs the MPA to solidify his position and gain additional human resource and other skills.  He is a potential future City Council candidate.

Sue has an undergraduate degree in business.  She has spent the past four years working for a Boston area retail store while supporting her sister who has a serious disability. Sue believes that we need better services for her sister and her friends.  She wants to change her career to be a human services policy analyst.

Our Alumni  

Here is a sampling of the positions held by our over 1500 alumni.   

• Mark Andrews, Director of Budget and Finance, City of Lawrence
• Paul Casey, State Representative, Massachusetts House of Representatives 
• Michelle Donaher, Director, Female Offender Services, Massachusetts Department of Corrections 
• Michael Festa, Secretary of Elder Affairs
• Douglas Gutro, President, Quincy City Council 
• Patrick Jordan, Chief Operating Officer, Newton-Wellesley Hospital 
• Elaine Sudanowicz, Deputy Commissioner/Interagency Coordinator, Mayor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness 
• Roger Wellington, Director – F.S. Operations and Abundant Table, Pine Street Inn 
• Stephen White, Division Director, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection 

Career Services 

The Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education provides a variety of services and programs to help meet the career development needs of graduate students, including:

• Individual advising appointments to clarify career goals and develop a strategy for achieving them. Receive feedback about resumes and cover letters or conduct a mock interview.
• Paid Co-Ops and unpaid internships: gain valuable experience through part-time or full-time cooperative education placements. Information on unpaid internships is also available. 
• A variety of career expos, such as: the Graduate Student Career Expo, Fulltime Job Fair, Summer Job Fair, and Government Careers Information Forum 
• Career resources and links:  www.suffolk.edu/careers 
• Job postings: www.suffolk.experience.com 
• Workshops on topics such as resume writing, interview skills, and salary negotiation 
• The Executive Speakers Series: a form that enables students to learn from public and private sector leaders representing a variety of professions and organizations

Useful Links:

Riley Guide to Public Administration
American Society for Public Administration
National Association of Schools of Public Affairs & Administration
Salaries

Government

The US Government’s Official Jobs Site
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Health and Human/Social Services/Nonprofit

Hospital Jobs
Health Care Source
Hospital Jobs
Med/Health Care
ACHE Healthcare Executive Career Resource Center
Allied Health
Health Care and Medical Employment
Massachusetts Hospital Association 

Goodworks
Center for Nonprofit Management
Idealist