Management and Leadership Specialization
Lead transformative change with advanced management strategies tailored for public and nonprofit sectors.
Program Overview
An MPA-PNP with a Management and Leadership specialization empowers you to lead organizations that drive positive social change.
Whether you plan to work for nonprofits, public agencies, or socially conscious companies, this program equips you with the management expertise and leadership skills needed to turn strategic visions into impactful actions.
Unlock your Potential with the Management and Leadership Specialization
Graduates from this specialization are well-prepared to step into senior roles where they can shape organizational strategies, drive performance, and create lasting social impact.
Regardless of your chosen career path, the skills and knowledge gained through the Management and Leadership specialization will open doors to a wide range of high-impact careers. Here’s a look at the roles held by our management and leadership grads:
- City Manager
- Director of Public Affairs
- Program Manager at federal or state agencies
- Executive Director
- Chief Operating Officer (COO)
- Director of Programs
- Management Consultant
- Organizational Development Specialist
- Public Policy Analyst
- Policy Advisor
- Program Officer
- Vice President of Human Resources
Skills You'll Gain
Hone your ability to navigate and excel in complex organizational landscapes. You'll cultivate the expertise needed to lead effectively, including skills that empower you to drive success and innovation, such as:
Learn to craft and execute organizational strategies that respond to dynamic challenges and drive meaningful impact.
Assess the effectiveness of initiatives, ensuring accountability and improved outcomes.
Recruit excellent staff, foster talent, and promote professional growth.
Master strategies for securing funding, building stakeholder relationships, and communicating a compelling organizational vision.
Cultivate inclusive environments that promote diversity and ensure equity across organizational operations.
Guide teams through challenges by leveraging conflict resolution techniques and fostering collaborative solutions.
Optimize internal processes and systems to enhance organizational performance and efficiency.
Enhance your self-awareness and leadership presence while empowering others to lead within your organization.
What Our Graduates Say
Quemuel Arroyo (MPA 2020)
Chief Accessibility Officer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
“My favorite part of attending Wagner for my MPA was the diversity of interests and backgrounds from my peers and offerings to learn and engage with. The most unique part of attending Wagner was the quality and caliber of knowledge amongst the faculty, particularly their understanding of local politics and policy. Many of my instructors were current or previous government or not-for-profit employees and had a great handle on the materials covered.”
Curriculum Overview
Our 45-credit program includes a blend of foundational courses, specializations, electives, and a capstone project. This comprehensive curriculum provides you with the critical skills and knowledge needed for leadership in public and nonprofit management and policy.
Learn More About the Curriculum
Program Requirements
Below is an overview of the required coursework. For detailed information, view the program checksheet.
Students must complete the following core courses:
CORE-GP.1011, Statistical Methods
CORE-GP.1018, Microeconomics
CORE-GP.1020, Management and Leadership
CORE-GP.1021, Financial Management
CORE-GP.1022, Introduction to Public Policy
Students complete the following specialization courses:
PADM-GP.2110, Strategic Management and Leadership
PADM-GP.2135, Human Resources: Leading Talent Development
PADM-GP.2170, Performance Measurement and Management
The capstone program, which is a year-long consulting or research project, puts you out in the world to resolve a problem or conduct an analysis for a client organization. All students must complete the following courses in conjunction with their capstone experience.
CAP-GP.3401 & 3402 Capstone: Advanced Projects in Policy, Management, Finance, and Advocacy I & II or CAP-GP 3148 & 3149 Capstone: Advanced Research Projects in Quantitative Analysis I & II
Focus Areas
These are optional clusters of courses designed to guide your elective choices.
Choosing electives within specialized focus areas allows you to deepen your expertise and develop more advanced skills. To gain in-depth knowledge in a focus area, we recommend completing nine credits. Alternatively, you can opt for a broader approach by choosing electives across different focus areas.
Build the skills necessary to navigate social identities, manage partnerships, and foster equitable organizations.
Learn to manage day-to-day operations, measure organizational performance, and report outcomes effectively.
Design strategies that anticipate and respond to dynamic environments, fostering collaboration and leadership.
In addition to the courses in the specialization-related elective focus areas above, to gain a breadth of knowledge and skills, you may also wish to choose electives from across course offerings, including from the school-wide focus areas or a different specialization.
Additional MPA Program Degree Specializations
Why Choose NYU Wagner?
Your chosen MPA program sets the foundation for a successful career in public and nonprofit management and policy. Our interdisciplinary approach, expert faculty, and prime New York City location offer unparalleled learning, growth, and professional development opportunities. Ranked #7 in nonprofit management graduate programs by U.S. News and World Report, NYU Wagner stands out for its commitment to shaping future leaders in public service.
Here’s what sets us apart:
Convenience & Flexibility
Our program offers flexible scheduling for both full-time and part-time students, with start terms available in both the Fall and Spring. Full-time students who begin in the Fall can complete the program in as little as two years. Part-time students typically finish in three to four years.
Distinguished Faculty
Learn from premier scholars in a variety of disciplines, including economics, finance, management, political science, law, planning, and healthcare. These highly-accomplished industry leaders will prepare you to effectively address issues across sectors and policy arenas.
Real-World Experience
A year-long capstone project is the pinnacle of your graduate experience, offering an opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge to real-world challenges. Collaborating with peers and expert faculty mentors, you'll take on pressing issues facing communities both locally and globally.
Tangible Career Outcomes
MPA graduates work in government agencies, nonprofits, international organizations, corporate social responsibility departments, and a multitude of other sectors. This includes organizations such as the American Red Cross, APCO Worldwide, Ernst & Young, Everytown for Gun Safety, NY Green Bank, United Nations, and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Management and Leadership Faculty
How to Apply
Ready to take the next step? Explore the application process, admissions criteria, and deadlines for our MPA-PNP Management and Leadership Specialization.
Submit your online application, including two essays (with an optional video essay), your resume or curriculum vitae, two letters of recommendation from academic or professional settings, transcripts from colleges or universities, and standardized test scores. You’ll also need to submit the $85 application fee and review any requirements specific to international applicants. To make sure you have everything you need, we created a complete application checklist.
We invite students from all majors and backgrounds to apply who demonstrate aptitude in both quantitative and qualitative coursework, along with strong written and verbal communication skills. We value a deep commitment to public service, whether shown through academic studies, work experience, or volunteer efforts, and we encourage career changers to explore our program as well. Our admissions process is focused on identifying candidates with the potential to make a significant impact, regardless of scope, and who appreciate professional experience from all sectors to enrich the learning environment.
While we prefer applicants to have at least two years of relevant professional experience, such as full-time, part-time, internship, or volunteer work, it is not a requirement for admission. Students without two years of full-time, degree-relevant experience will participate in the Professional Experience Requirement (PER) to enhance their understanding of the public service field.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Find out detailed information about the cost of attendance, and access resources to finance your education—including federal loan programs and merit-based fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships.
Tuition is calculated on a per-credit basis. Your tuition costs are customized based on the total number of credits you enroll in each term.
Per-Credit Tuition Costs (2024-2025)
| FALL 2024 | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Tuition per point/credit |
$2,395 |
$2,395 |
$2,395 |
PER-SEMESTER TUITION COSTS (2024-2025)
| Credits | Tuition |
|---|---|
6 credits |
$14,370 |
9 credits |
$21,555 |
12 credits |
$28,740 |
View the tuition and fee calculator at the NYU Bursar's website.
*For Executive Masters students, fees also include a one-time $1,758 EMPA program fee. The program fee will be split across two semesters:
- EXEC-GP 100 = $879 (Fall 2024)
- EXEC-GP 101 = $879 (Spring 2025)
**A typical part-time student enrolls in 6 credits per fall and spring semester each academic year. A typical full-time student enrolls in 12 credits per fall and spring semester each academic year.
|
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
Housing |
$23,588 |
||
Food |
$6,450 |
||
Books |
$1,510 |
||
Transportation |
$2,342 |
||
Personal Expenses |
$3,000 |
||
Student Basic Health Insurance** |
$4,346 |
||
ESTIMATED TOTAL |
$41,236 |
*Please note that these expenses, based on 2024-2025 rates, are discretionary for students and are included here to assist you in planning your budget.
**Based on Basic Plan. For more information on student health insurance options, including premiums, enrollment, and waivers, please visit the NYU Student Health Insurance website.
Most NYU Wagner students fund their studies through a variety of means—private or federal student loans, college work-study, or student employment. You can seek out supplementary funding by applying to external merit-based or need-based scholarship programs that award students pursuing a degree program in public service.
Federal Student Loans
Federal student loan programs offer low-interest student loan options for US Citizens and Permanent Residents. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid. Graduate financial aid programs available to students who study in New York State include:
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Federal Grad/Professional Plus Loans
- Federal Work Study
Compare the different types of federal loan programs.
How to Apply
If you are a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and you wish to be considered for need-based federal financial aid, you must complete the current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). List "New York University" as a recipient and include our federal school code number 002785. Deadline: You should submit the FAFSA no later than October 1 for spring-start students or February 1 for fall-start students. While the FAFSA is accepted after these deadlines, late submission will cause a delay in the determination (and notification) of your aid eligibility (but it does not impact the amount of funding for which you are eligibile).
Private Loan Programs
A variety of additional, private (non-federal) alternative loans are also available from individual lending institutions. Please think carefully about your obligations as a borrower before pursuing any educational loan. Consider your educational investment at NYU, as well as your long-term financial commitments when borrowing.
See a reference list of private lenders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Graduates of the MPA-PNP Management and Leadership specialization pursue a variety of impactful careers across the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. Common roles include executive director, program director, chief operating officer, management consultant, and program officer. These positions focus on driving strategic initiatives, managing teams, and implementing organizational change in government agencies, nonprofits, and non-governmental organizations.
Our specialization is uniquely focused on preparing students for senior leadership positions by blending strategic management, talent development, and performance measurement. Unlike other programs that focus solely on policy or administration, this program offers a comprehensive approach to leading and managing organizations, equipping students with practical tools to address today's organizational challenges.
This specialization provides students with essential skills in strategic decision-making, human resource management, performance measurement, and leadership in diverse environments. You’ll also develop expertise in fundraising, communications, and conflict management, all while learning how to lead inclusively and drive innovation in today's complex organizational settings.