ABSTRACT
Whether you are a faculty member taking on responsibility for an existing graduate program or exploring the creation of a new program, the understanding of the differences and similarities between different types of public affairs programs is fundamental to the clear identity and focus necessary for a sustainable, effective program. The nature of your program will drive faculty and student recruitment, as well as how you brand your program to key stakeholders like employers. This chapter, providing the perspectives of both an experienced MPA director and an MPA student, provides information on two levels. First, the landscape of the array of public affairs programs nationwide is described, with a particular focus on the basic differences between programs titled MPA, MPP, MPAffairs, and MPM. Second, the chapter closes with an articulation of some fundamental issues to consider in differentiating your program, including your market and institutional setting, applied versus theoretical orientation, and a generalist versus specialist approach to the overall structure of your curriculum.
