Masters
Part-Time or Full-Time
Fall I
Online
About the Public Service Leadership MA at Loyola
The Master of Arts in Public Service Leadership (MAPSL) program at Loyola's School of Continuing and Professional Studies is problem- and solution-focused. This forward-leaning degree program will prepare you to become an agent of change for your community through public service leadership.
Complex societal problems and issues require trained professionals who can serve as justice-sensitive leaders. The public service leadership degree places emphasis on critical roles in governmental, non-profit, and human service organizations. You will move between the disparate yet overlapping health/social sectors to attain values and skills that are adaptable to a variety of organizations, including public-private partnerships.
Program Structure
The MA in Public Service Leadership is a 10-course, 30-credit hour degree.
Complete the program within one year as a full-time student, or move at your own pace and complete the program on a part-time basis. Classes are offered online, with some including synchronous meetings held in the evening and others being fully asynchronous. Additionally, while some elective course options may be offered on-campus, the program can also be completed fully online.
Are you a current Loyola undergrad?
This program is eligible for an Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's degree. Earn a Master’s with only one extra year of study following the completion of your eligible undergraduate degree.
LEARN MOREWhy Choose Loyola for Your MA in Public Service Leadership?
With a mix of knowledge, values, and skills drawn from an inter-professional, transdisciplinary approach, the program will challenge you to become a humanistic leader who can work collaboratively to find solutions to problems. As justice-sensitive leaders, our graduates help communities address entrenched and emerging societal issues.
- An intellectually rich environment with options to focus your skills
- A flexible program for working professionals
- A preparation for challenging “careers of the future”
- A faculty with diverse expertise in public-private sector needs
As you engage with other students and faculty through assignments, discussions, and exercises, your public service leadership studies provide the intellectual challenges and true dialogue necessary to grasp diverse ideas and realities in new and deeper ways. You will discern your unique and particular gifts and find ways to put that into the service of others.
The program is designed for working adults who seek values- and social justice-based education and need the flexibility of an online program to assume leadership roles or advance careers with a graduate degree.
The MA in Public Service Leadership broadens the concept of “public service” to focus on providing action-oriented training and education that applies theory to real-life human services challenges, whether in the public, nonprofit, or for-profit sector. We'll prepare you for leadership with a challenging curriculum and relevant research opportunities, transforming learning into ethical, workable solutions to serve our communities, especially the most vulnerable among us.
Within the full spectrum of changing societal demands, public service leaders must adapt to a variety of settings and challenges that cross sectors. Our instructors are full-time faculty within different schools/disciplines at Loyola, and experts with a wide variety of practice and policy-based interests. Faculty members are working in diverse fields and bring real-world experiences in public service leadership, community engagement, communications, social development, and disaster management to the online learning environment.
Meet the Faculty
Loyola is proud to have talented and nationally-recognized scholar-teachers as part of our diverse community of exceptional faculty, students and staff. Loyola faculty are known for their commitment to teaching, the dissemination of knowledge through innovative and interdisciplinary scholarly research, and a commitment to social justice and cura personalis, or care for the whole person. Visit the School of Continuing and Professional Studies faculty and staff directory to learn more about the teachers and mentors involved with the Public Service Leadership MA program.
Faculty and StaffMA in Public Service Leadership: Career Connections
The MA in Public Service Leadership program offers comprehensive preparation for a diverse array of public service leadership positions in local, state, federal and international agencies. With this degree, you'll be well-prepared for public service positions in government and a broad area of human services, including careers in the public, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors.
Specific job options include:
- Corporate Social Responsibility Officers
- Medical and Health Services Managers
- Community Service/Emergency Management Directors
- Gender Studies Methodologists
- Community Advocacy Agents
- Youth Services Administrators
- Environmental Justice Administrators
- FEMA positions in local government and federal agencies
Because Loyola is a member of the Jesuit network of 27 colleges and universities nationwide, our graduates can access career advising services, resume and interviewing assistance, career fairs and events, and employment listings in our Career Services center, as well as at career centers at other U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good place to start exploring the job outlook and pay potential for specific careers and fields that interest you.
Loyola Stories
Curriculum and Program Outcomes
While courses for the Public Service Leadership MA program may vary from semester to semester, Loyola’s extensive Academic Catalog will always house the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies, degree requirements, and specialization or concentration options.
Additionally, this resource will provide Public Service Leadership MA learning outcomes, showcasing the commitment to specific skills and growth graduates can expect to achieve following completion of the program.
2024-2025 Catalog
Browse Academic CatalogPublic Service Leadership MA Results and Skills
Upon your successful completion of the MA in Public Service Leadership program, you will have proven your ability to:
- Apply ethical reasoning to administrative design and decision-making in the ever-changing context of public service leadership and practice
- Demonstrate critical thinking, research, and oral/written communication skills as applied to the public and human service sectors
- Use technology to interact with various stakeholders
- Articulate the role and value of diversity, inclusion, and equity in providing public service leadership
Costs, Scholarships, and Aid
Loyola University Chicago is committed to making your return to school a reality. Our Cost & Financial Aid page can help better inform you about the costs and potential funding opportunities through scholarships, loans, and aid for graduate and professional education.
If you are a current Loyola undergraduate or alum, you may be eligible for a Returning Rambler discount. Learn more and see if you qualify on our Returning Rambler Scholarship page.
Tuition and Costs
The estimated tuition and fees for the Public Service Leadership MA totals $24750.00, or 30 credit hours at a cost of $825.00 per credit hour. Please note that tuition and fees for all of Loyola's academic programs are subject to change.
For more detailed information about tuition and fees, and a breakdown of how these costs are calculated on a yearly basis, please visit Tuition and Fees from the Office of the Bursar.
Public Service Leadership MA Scholarships
Scholarship award decisions for all graduate degree-seeking students are made at admission. For selected students, SCPS offers scholarships to cover 20 percent of tuition costs. Additionally, we offer the opportunity for graduate students with a demonstrated high financial need to apply for scholarships after admission.
For detailed information about tuition, costs, and aid, please visit the SCPS Tuition & Financial Aid page.
Appointments and Events
Whether you’re just beginning your search, in the midst of the application process, or eager to explore our graduate and professional programs, our admissions staff is here to assist you every step of the way.
Schedule an AppointmentThe School of Continuing and Professional Studies offers open houses, information sessions, individual appointments, open Zoom and text sessions, and a multitude of other ways to get to know us better.
View all EventsVisit and Connect With Us
With our visit opportunities, you can tour our beautiful Chicago campuses and learn more about Loyola's ties to one of the most prestigious cities in the world.
Application Process
Application Deadlines
The available start terms and corresponding application deadlines for the Public Service Leadership MA are listed below. Please keep in mind that both the application and the required materials must be submitted by the specified deadline.
Fall I: June 30
Fall Funding Deadline: February 15
Application Requirements
Application requirements for the Public Service Leadership MA include:
Official transcripts from all institutions attended
2.5 Minimum GPA
Statement of Purpose
Statement of Purpose Details
Please discuss how Loyola's Public Service Leadership master's degree program and our focus on "a reason for being" leadership will prepare you to achieve your career goals. Your statement should be 2-3 pages in length, double-spaced. For applicants who may feel that one or more parts of their application are weak, the personal statement provides the admission committee with more insight on your candidacy.
Official Documents
Applicants must submit official transcripts from all institutions attended. Official transcripts are those that are sent directly by the college/university to Loyola University Chicago. Transcripts (with U.S. educational credentials) sent by the student to Loyola are considered unofficial documents, and while they may be utilized for initial review of your application, official transcripts are still required. Official documents should be sent by the institution to gradapp@luc.edu.
International Applicant Requirements
An official English language proficiency exam is required for international applicants whose native language is not English. If you have non-U.S. educational credentials, you are required to submit an official transcript evaluation. The transcript evaluation cannot be waived, and unofficial transcripts will not be accepted for international applicants.
Please visit our International Applicant Requirements page for specific information regarding the application process for international students.
Start Your Application
Applying online to the Public Service Leadership MA program is a swift, uncomplicated, and cost-free process. After submission, you can proceed to send and upload any additional requirements.
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