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Management Development Centers
Executive MPA

Continuing Professional Development through the Management Development Centers

The MDCs have established a partnership with American University to support our commitment to leadership development. Our partnership is intended to provide our graduates with an enhanced opportunity to join with their colleagues from other public agencies-Federal, state and local-as well as those from the nonprofit sector, in an advanced degree program designed for:

  • Public or nonprofit sector executives who seek the opportunity to engage in structured studies in public management and policy
  • Senior professionals contemplating a career change who can benefit from acquiring an advanced degree
  • Managers on the verge of promotion into senior ranks who wish to enhance their analytic, managerial and leadership skills

American University in Washington, DC

American University's Key Executive Leadership MPA Program is a 36-credit graduate degree program designed for busy professionals at or above the GS-13 level. Key courses cover all ECQs required for Senior Executive Service (SES) consideration.

The Key MPA is the only NASPAA-accredited executive MPA in the nation. U.S. News & World Report ranks the School of Public Affairs at American University 10th in the nation and the Master's of Public Administration program 8th in the nation.

Students who wish to reduce their Key credit load by 6 credits must transfer 9 OPM credits (earned prior to or during the Key program) from the following OPM courses:

  • Crisis Leadership Workshop;
  • Dynamics of Public Policy Seminar;
  • Environmental Policy Issues Seminar;
  • Executive Development Seminar;
  • Federal Budgetary Policies and Processes Seminar;
  • Natural Resources Policy and Issues Seminar;
  • Science, Technology and Public Policy Seminar;
  • Management Development Seminar;
  • FEI, Leadership for a Democratic Society; and
  • FEI, Applied Leadership for a Democratic Society.

For application information, contact Jacqueline McLaughlin Linde, Assistant Dean, Marketing, Admissions & Outreach, School of Public Affairs, American University, at 202-885-6248 or linde@american.edu.