Gendered differences in choice of concentrations in Master of Public Administration programs

Abstract

This study investigates the question of whether there are gender differences in the choice of specializations/concentrations by students enrolled in Master’s Programs in Public Administration (MPA), and considers potential implications for MPA students and the broader field of public administration. We analyzed data provided by NASPAA-accredited MPA programs to identify if gender differences exist in students’ concentration selections. After obtaining information on students’ concentrations, we surveyed MPA directors, asking them if they, in their experience as program directors, noticed any variability in preferences for concentrations across genders. Our expectations, based on the literature, regarding the gendered nature of MPA specializations/concentrations were validated in the case of Budgeting/Finance, and City and State, which our analysis found to be statistically significantly skewed male, and in the case of Health, Nonprofit and Human Resources, which were found, to be overrepresented by women by the same measure of conferred degrees.