Executive MPA-MSW

As someone with experience delivering public services on the front lines, you face complex challenges every day. But you see them as opportunities to make a difference. You’re ready to develop and implement new alternatives to meet the needs of the underserved. And our Executive Master of Public Administration-Master of Social Work dual degree, offered jointly with NYU's Silver School of Social Work, can help you do just that—with broad, lasting impact.

Our dual-degree program helps seasoned professionals like you become strategic leaders by complementing a rigorous course of study in social work with additional expertise in management, finance, and policy. This multi-disciplinary approach means you’ll walk away with the tools to take your compassion and amplify it through strong, sustainable organizations and relevant, life-changing programs.

Advisement

An important aspect of the dual-degree academic experience is the extensive, tailored, and coordinated advisement support from both schools. Students will work with advisors from both schools to carefully choose coursework that takes into consideration their unique academic and professional goals. The many sources of advisement that each school offers include faculty advisors, offices of career services, program administrators, and peer advisors. 

Students leave the dual-degree program well supported and equipped with the frameworks and analytical skills that will serve them in the complex and changing intersection of sectors and roles their careers may span.

EMPA-MSW students can "double count" 6 credits between degrees. Students earn 59 credits toward the MSW (vs. 65 for the single-degree MSW) and 24 toward the MPA (vs. 30 for the single-degree EMPA program), for a total of 83 credits for both degrees.

The 24 MPA credits are comprised of 12 core and 12 elective course credits:

  • 12 Core credits
    • EXEC-GP 4190 Leadership Confronted (1.5 credits)
    • EXEC-GP 2141 Financial Decision Making and Management (3)
    • EXEC-GP 2194 Strategic Leadership (3)
    • EXEC-GP 2201 Institutions, Governance, and Public Sector Reform (3)
    • EXEC-GP 4191 Leadership Reflected (1.5)
  • 12 General Elective credits
    • Wagner courses carry 1.5 or 3 credits based on the course's duration. This means that EMPA-MSW students have room for 4 to 8 elective courses.
    • You can use electives to deepen your learning in management and leadership, explore other areas of the Wagner curriculum, or even take approved coursework outside of Wagner.

First Year

  • Fall Term (18.5 credits, Silver Residency)
    • MSW Coursework  (14 credits)
      • Social Work Practice I (4)
      • Social Welfare Programs & Policies I (3)
      • Diversity, Racism, Oppression, and Privilege (3)
      • Practicum Instruction I (4)
    • MPA Coursework (4.5 credits)
      • Leadership Confronted (1.5)
      • Financial Decision Making and Management (3)
         
  • Spring Term (16 credits, Silver Residency)
    • MSW Coursework (13 credits)
      • Social Work Practice II (3)
      • Social Work Research I (3)
      • Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (3)
      • Practicum Instruction II (4)
    • MPA Coursework (3 credits)
      • Strategic Leadership (3) 
         
  • Summer Term (9 credits, Wagner Residency)
    • MSW Coursework (6 credits)
      • Practice with Groups (3)
      • Human Behavior in the Social Environment II (3)
    • MPA Coursework (3 credits)
      • MPA Elective[s] (3)

 

Second Year

  • Fall Term (16 credits, Silver Residency)
    • MSW Coursework (13 credits)
      • Social Work Practice III (3)
      • Social Work Research II (3)
      • Human Behavior in the Social Environment III (3)
      • Practicum Instruction III (4)
    • MPA Coursework (3 credits)
      • MPA Elective[s]  (3)
         
  • Spring Term (17.5 credits, Wagner Residency)
    • MSW Coursework (13 credits)
      • Social Work Practice IV (3)
      • Advanced Social Policy (3)
      • Practicum Instruction IV (4)
      • Social Work Elective (3)
    • MPA Coursework (4.5 credits)
      • Institutions, Governance, and  Public Sector Reform (3)
      • Leadership Reflected (1.5)
         
  • Summer Term (6 credits, Wagner Residency)
    • MPA Coursework (6 credits)
      • MPA Elective[s]  (3)
      • MPA Elective[s]  (3)
         

Note: In consultation with their program advisors, EMPA-MSW students may choose to move some of their summer term MPA elective credits to the January term in their first or second year of study.

Admissions

Applicants are required to apply separately to NYU Wagner and NYU Silver. Executive MPA applicants should have a minimum of seven years of work experience, with increasingly progressive management and leadership responsibility. Once admitted to both schools, a student will qualify for the dual-degree program.

Students enrolled in dual master’s degree programs with other NYU schools are not eligible for NYU Wagner Named Fellowships. However, applicants will still be considered for one-time, merit-based scholarships. If awarded, the scholarship will only be applied during the student’s period of residency at NYU Wagner.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit NYU Wagner's admissions page for the EMPA application and NYU Silver's admissions page for the MSW application.

If you have any program-related or curricular questions, please contact contact Scott Statland (scott.statland@nyu.edu), Associate Director of Adivsement & Student Services at NYU Wagner, and/or Hannah Levy (hannah.levy@nyu.edu),  Academic Advisor, MSW Program.