Uniqueness of MPA

The Evergreen State College's Graduate Program in Public Administration, commonly referred to as the MPA program, began in 1980. The program's primary objective is to provide high-quality professional education to students pursuing careers within government agencies, tribal government and nonprofit organizations involved with public issues.

Evergreen's MPA program is unique, thanks to a set of fundamental ideas and beliefs that permeates everything the college does, both inside and outside the classroom. The cornerstones of an Evergreen education, graduate or undergraduate, include collaborative and interdisciplinary teaching and learning, narrative evaluations instead of grades, an emphasis on experiential learning and engaged discussions encompassing diverse views.

Evergreen challenges students' assumptions while helping them develop critical thinking and an ethical orientation that enable graduates to act with professionalism and integrity. Significant public administration and policy questions are approached in a cross-disciplinary fashion so they can be seen in their broadest contexts: historically, culturally, politically, economically, socially and scientifically.