Master of Public Administration (MPA)-AI Leadership for Professionals Specialization

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Month Completion

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100% onlineSee state availability

Next Start Date

Sep 28, 2026

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Home / Degrees / Master's Degrees / Public Administration (MPA) / Public Administration-AI Leadership for Professionals Specialization

Lead AI in public administration – no technology background required

Is this AI tool safe to use? Whose data does it touch? What happens if it gets something wrong? Someone in your agency is already fielding these questions. In public service, they carry extra weight. The resources are limited, the trust is public, and the mistakes are visible. Franklin’s online Master of Public Administration with AI Leadership prepares you to answer them with decisions grounded in governance, ethics and accountability.

Program Availability

Online

In , this program is offered through select employer partnerships. Please contact your employer to learn if you qualify.

In , this program may be offered through select employer partnerships. Please contact your employer to learn if you qualify.

On Site

Take One Class at a Time

Balance your education with your life and finish in 14 months.

100% Online

Balance learning with your life.

Expert Faculty

Learn from in-field practitioners.

Lead With Confidence, Not Code

Evaluate AI without becoming a programmer or data scientist.

Applied Learning

Scenario-based learning brings curriculum to life.

Protect Public Trust

Build the guardrails public data and public accountability requires.

AI Leadership MPA Program Overview

Make smarter AI decisions with confidence

You don't need to build the AI system your agency is considering, but you need to know what to ask before you approve it. Through Franklin's Master of Public Administration with AI leadership, you'll learn to evaluate risk, challenge vendor claims and understand what happens when a tool gets something wrong. That's what gives you the confidence to shape the decision, instead of relying entirely on technical teams to make it for you.

Protect your organization – and the public it serves

Public organizations hold sensitive data and public trust in the same hand. In Franklin's AI leadership specialization, you'll learn how to set privacy boundaries, define accountability, establish risk thresholds, and document decisions clearly. Those skills protect your organization from preventable failures and give you decisions you can defend when someone asks you to explain them.

Improve service without wasting limited resources

Artificial intelligence in public administration may help reduce delays, simplify intake, support documentation, and strengthen workflows. But not every use case is worth the investment or risk. At Franklin, you’ll learn how to identify where AI can improve service delivery, where human review still matters, and how to use limited staff, time and funding more responsibly.

Lead your team through AI-driven change

AI adoption can affect roles, training, vendors, approvals and what the public expects from your organization. In this AI leadership MPA specialization, you’ll learn how to guide change with clear responsibilities, practical guardrails and measurable goals. You'll carry this work into your capstone, applying what you've learned to a real policy analysis project. The result is a more confident team, stronger service standards and a more deliberate path forward.

Future Start Dates

Fall 2026

September

Recommended Register By:

Sep 18

Spring 2027

January

Recommended Register By:

Dec 25

Spring 2027

February

Recommended Register By:

Feb 5

Summer 2027

May

Recommended Register By:

May 7

Fall 2027

August

Recommended Register By:

Aug 6

Fall 2027

September

Recommended Register By:

Sep 17

Spring 2028

January

Recommended Register By:

Dec 24

Spring 2028

February

Recommended Register By:

Feb 4

Your Best Value Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Take One Class at a Time

Balance your education with your life and finish in 14 months.

Finish Fast

MONTHS TO COMPLETE

Realize your career goals sooner and reap the benefits.

Affordable Tuition

$690

PER CREDIT HOUR

Affordable tuition rates for the Master of Public Administration provide value and quality.

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$24,840

Total Tuition
(After Partner Discount)

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Highly Recommended

98%

STUDENT SATISFACTION

98% of graduating students would recommend Franklin to their family, friends and/or colleagues

Source: Franklin University, Office of Career Development Student Satisfaction Survey (Spring 2025)

AI Leadership MPA Courses & Curriculum

33 Semester Hours

Major Area Required

PUAD 701 - Foundations of Public Service and Administration (4)

This foundational course provides an introduction to the social, economic, political, and ethical context of public administration in the United States. Students examine how public sector values differentiate government from the private sector and develop skills for critically evaluating issues faced by public administrators.

PUAD 725 - Ethical Decision Making (4)

This course explores ethical decision-making, public sector values, codes of ethics, and legal responsibilities that shape moral reasoning and judgment in public service. Students apply ethical frameworks and normative theories to analyze real-world ethical dilemmas faced by public administrators.

CJAD 620 - Advanced Evidence Based Practice and Research Methods (4)

This innovative approach to research describes best practices and data-driven solutions in criminal justice research including quantitative, qualitative, and program evaluation research. Students will be good consumers of research and will have the fundamental knowledge necessary to evaluate research studies, evaluate their value toward their field of interest, and evaluate their usefulness for making sound decisions in the field.

PUAD 730 - Public Policy (4)

This course explores the processes through which public demands are communicated, converted into public policy, and implemented in the American democratic system. Emphasis is on policy analysis and policy formulation through both theoretical and applied lenses. Students will develop skills to critically assess policy issues and policy alternatives in order to craft informed policy recommendations.

PUAD 740 - Financial Management & Budgeting (4)

Students learn to use fundamental budgeting and financial management concepts and tools necessary for leading and managing government organizations. Students learn to use analytical techniques for making administrative and policy decisions with significant financial implications. Students also examine the competing values and politics that underlie and impact financial decisions in government. Finally, students develop skills for effectively communicating financial analysis methods and conclusions with colleagues, elected officials, the media, and the public.

PUAD 790 - Public Administration Capstone (4)

In this culminating course, students demonstrate mastery of discipline-specific theories and practice by applying the knowledge and skills gained throughout their graduate program to an individualized policy analysis project.

MPA or MPA with Specialization

MPA:

PUAD 710 - Managing Personnel Systems (4)

Students learn fundamental concepts and tools for managing one of the most important organizational resources in government: people. The course emphasizes the application of human resources concepts and tools for attracting, retaining, and developing employees and improving organizational performance in government organizations.

PUAD 750 - Leading Government & Nonprofit Organizations (4)

Students learn to think and act as ethical leaders within a public service context. The course focuses on putting administrative decisions and organizational plans into action. Students learn to use leadership concepts and tools and interpersonal skills for working with individuals and groups to effectively execute administrative plans and make decisions. Students also develop knowledge and skills for communicating and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders; particularly elected officials, the media, interest groups, and the public.

PUAD 745 - Strategy, Collaboration, & Communication (4)

Students learn to think strategically about leading organizations operating in a public environment where collaboration is required to achieve organizational goals. The course focuses on using strategic and network management concepts and tools to improve organizational performance and advance the public interest. The importance of strategically managing organizational communication is also examined. Finally, students develop skills for effectively communicating strategic planning methods, approaches, and decisions with colleagues, elected officials, the media, and the public.

Criminal Justice Specialization:

CJAD 700 - Effective Administration of Justice (4)

Within the scope of the foundations of justice and administration and social, financial, legal and political opportunities and challenges, students will apply strategic decision making strategies to analyze the communicative structures, practices, and performance of organizations in the administration of justice. Specific goals, challenges, and leadership theories will be holistically summarized and synthesized to develop solutions within the courts, law enforcement, and corrections, in both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. Applied perspectives in ethical leadership functions that respond to organizational problems and objectives through best-practices will also be addressed. As future leaders, students will, moreover, demonstrate fluency in employee rights and issues and apply budgeting strategies to maximize agency goals. Additional outcomes will address program planning, implementation, and evaluation, as well as appraisal of new technological advancements utilizing articulated and relevant criteria.

CJAD 710 - Adult & Juvenile Systems of Justice (4)

As a student in this course, you will analyze complex and multi-systemic adult and juvenile systems of justice and social control mechanisms on both a micro and macro level. Attention will be given to innovative initiatives and best-practices from across the nation with a view toward positive social change. Technology for effective cross-system collaboration will also be addressed, as will the role of constitutional protections and constraints on arrest, prosecution, conviction, and incarceration.

CJAD 720 - Criminology Theory & Solutions to Crime (4)

Students will evaluate contemporary criminology theories and apply them to formulate prevention, treatment, and crime control models, within a framework of cultural diversity. Crime data relationships and patterns will also be integrated with biological, psychological, and sociological theories of criminal behavior in a critical evaluation of contemporary criminological theories. Policy formation and implementation will also be addressed.

Healthcare Specialization:

HCM 735 - Healthcare Delivery Systems (4)

The course provides an extensive overview of leadership in the U.S. health services system. The focus of the course will be on the role health services leadership plays in the delivery of healthcare services, to include managing with professionals, financial management, services utilization, and other aspects of the U.S. healthcare system. The student will explore the key theoretical and practical elements of leadership as well as current issues clarifying how the U.S. health services system is organized, managed, and financed.

HCM 742 - Healthcare Laws and Ethics (4)

In this course students will develop a strong foundation in health law, enabling them to deal with the common legal, practical, moral, and ethical issues that healthcare organizations face on a daily basis. Topics will include statutory law, rules and regulations, tort law, criminal law, contract law, civil procedures, and trial procedure.

HCM 752 - Health Policy (4)

This course will explore the essential conceptual and analytical understanding of health policymaking and politics, including their impact on health administration and leadership. Selected policy issues will be explored through the application of political concepts and behavioral models, including a system model of policymaking. The emphasis will be on understanding the health leader?s approach to the policymaking system, become involved in it, and work through it to attain their objectives and those of their organization.

Organizational Leadership Specialization:

PUAD 750 - Leading Government & Nonprofit Organizations (4)

MGMT 780 - Organizational Leadership Theories (4)

This course provides an overview of the historical and current leadership concepts, theories and constructs. Application and assessment of the individual leadership style will enable the student to develop their leadership voice. This course will provide a construct that will enable the student to identify transferrable skills that align with the organization that they are serving in. This course will challenge students to assess their own leadership strengths and weaknesses and produce an in-depth plan of action to develop and refine leadership competencies. Students will conduct substantive scholarly research to address and capture relevant and cutting-edge leadership theoretical work for application in course assignments.

PSYC 603 - Managerial Psychology (4)

This course will explore the psychological influences on the development and behavior of managers and organizational leaders. Topics include: follower influences, nature vs. nurture in the development of leaders, relationship of personality to leadership style, behavioral decision- making biases, tactical, operational, and strategic decision-making , group think, and scenario planning.

Human Resources Specialization:

HRM 713 - Human Resource Management (4)

This course examines the strategic role of Human Resources (HR) in driving organizational success through effective policies, practices, and human capital initiatives. Students will explore how HR contributes to enterprise-wide strategy, workforce planning, and talent management. Emphasis is placed on HR's collaboration with all types of managers in areas such as hiring, training, and compensation. The course also addresses the evolving responsibilities of HR in a global workplace and the challenges of a changing workforce, equipping students with strategies to enhance organizational performance and productivity.

HRM 706 - Organizational Development/Intervention (4)

This course addresses the need for planned change focused on an organization's ability to compete strategically. The framework of consultation as helping organizations reach a level of optimum performance will be applied. Topics addressed include individual, team, and organization-wide interventions that can raise productivity/quality, improve competitiveness, increase skills, morale, and commitment.

HRM 708 - Strategic Human Resource Planning (4)

The course will introduce students to the field of strategic human resource management (SHRM). Current topics in SHRM that have resulted from environmental and organizational challenges, e.g., technology, globalization, legislation, restructuring, work/life balance, changing labor markets, are discussed Emphasis will be placed on problem solving issues, policies, and practices affecting HR specialists, practitioners, and managers.

AI Leadership for Professionals Specialization:

AI 701 - Foundations of AI Leadership (4)

This foundational course equips non-technical professionals with the practical skills to use leading-edge AI reliably in real work?spanning predictive insights, generative capabilities, and automation-oriented workflows?without programming or deep technical implementation. It builds a clear mental model of what AI can and cannot do, then develops repeatable, auditable workflows that produce professional-grade deliverables through explicit constraints, structured formatting, verification steps, and quality controls. The course broadens from individual workflow competence to organizational leadership considerations?governance and risk, AI-enabled operating models and adoption, and controlled approaches to agentic automation?so foundational practice can be applied within team and organizational constraints. This is an AI-enabled course. AI is used extensively to draft, analyze, and iterate on deliverables, while human critical judgment, domain expertise, and structured review remain central to ensuring accuracy, appropriateness, and responsible use.

AND

At least 2 of the following courses:

AI 702 - AI Governance, Risk, and Ethical Leadership (4)

Organizations are adopting generative and automation-oriented AI quickly; the most consequential failures are typically governance failures?unclear accountability, unmanaged information exposure, weak evaluation discipline, and unrecognized bias. This course builds operational leadership capability to govern AI-enabled work in professional settings (business, healthcare, government, non-profit, etc.) through practical, defensible guardrails. Work centers on risk framing tied to measurable harm and impact; decision rights and oversight; enterprise risk assessment (including compliance/legal exposure) with owners and escalation thresholds; information boundaries for privacy, sensitive data, retention, and intellectual property; evidence-based evaluation and auditability; vendor due diligence; and incident readiness. Ethical leadership is treated as an explicit thread across these practices?clarifying who is affected, what tradeoffs are acceptable, what safeguards are required, and what recourse exists when failures occur?so decisions remain defensible under real-world delivery pressure. This is an AI-enabled course. AI is used extensively to draft, analyze, and iterate on deliverables, while human critical judgment, domain expertise, and structured review remain central to ensuring accuracy, appropriateness, and responsible use.

OR AI 703 - Leading the AI-Native Organization (4)

This course equips organizational leaders to guide the strategic and human realities of AI adoption across operations. The focus is operating-model redesign: selecting high-value use cases, defining accountability where human judgment and automated execution intersect, and managing change without degrading trust, quality, or compliance. Emphasis is placed on measurable outcomes?cycle time, quality, cost, risk, and stakeholder confidence?using disciplined evaluation, workflow design, and adoption practices suitable for real departments and functions. The course also addresses AI-enabled innovation by using AI outputs to generate options quickly, then applying practical verification steps and decision documentation so actions are evidence-based and defensible. This is an AI-enabled course. AI is used extensively to draft, analyze, and iterate on deliverables, while human critical judgment, domain expertise, and structured review remain central to ensuring accuracy, appropriateness, and responsible use.

OR AI 704 - Leading Agentic Automation (4)

This course prepares non-technical professionals to design, build, and operationalize AI-enabled workflows using no-code automation platforms. Work is hands-on and production-minded: each week advances a functioning workflow agent that executes a defined operational process through triggers, structured inputs, decisions, actions, exceptions, escalation paths, and explicit human review gates. The course emphasizes operational credibility in business and healthcare contexts?intake and triage, case routing, documentation support, approvals, and controlled downstream actions?where reliability, auditability, privacy, and safe failure behavior matter. The culminating deliverable is an operator-ready pilot package: a working workflow plus the minimum documentation and evidence required to run it responsibly in a controlled pilot (data boundaries, integration requirements, test evidence, operating procedures, monitoring signals, and an improvement backlog). This is an AI-enabled course. AI is used extensively to draft, analyze, and iterate on deliverables, while human critical judgment, domain expertise, and structured review remain central to ensuring accuracy, appropriateness, and responsible use.

Microcredentials Align with Job Essentials

In today's dynamic work environments, adaptive professionals thrive. A microcredential - either as a stand-alone course or integrated into your degree program - is a short, skill-specific recognition that enables you to demonstrate your competency in a distinct area. Like Franklin's degree programs, microcredentials are aligned with market and industry demand to ensure what you learn can be put to use right away. Microcredentials are easily shared via digital badges and can be stacked to create a unique portfolio of in-demand skills.

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Master of Public Administration (MPA)-AI Leadership for Professionals Specialization Program Details

Tuition Costs

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Program Learning Outcomes

A learning outcome map functions as a roadmap to help guide students' progress through their program of study. Click HERE to view the Master of Public Administration matrix.

Degree Requirements

To be awarded a graduate degree, students must:

Successfully complete all required curriculum courses.
Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00.
Complete the residency requirement:
1. Master of Public Administration students must earn at least 20 of the 36 required credits at Franklin University.
Complete the payment of all requisite tuition and fees.
Not to be under disciplinary dismissal due to academic dishonesty or violation of Student Code of Conduct.

Transfer credit awarded based on experiential learning shall not count toward the residence requirement at Franklin University.

Admission Requirements

The admission process reflects Franklin University’s efforts to clearly identify the performance standards that can help predict student success in graduate level study. The selection criterion for Franklin’s graduate programs, as determined by faculty, emphasizes academic ability, contributory work experience, and personal qualities and characteristics.

Requirements for admission include having earned a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from an institution accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC), Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), or a Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)-recognized accrediting organization with a GPA of at least a 2.50 on a 4.0 scale.*

Submission of an official transcript from the educational institution where the bachelor’s, master's, or doctoral degree was earned is required. A student will not be permitted to register for courses in their initial term of registration until unofficial domestic transcripts or official transcripts are received. Official transcripts must be received before registering for the second term.

Master's Conditional Admission - GPA

Domestic applicants seeking enrollment into a Franklin University Master’s Program who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements may be considered for conditional admission into a program. An applicant must meet Franklin University’s other admission requirements to be eligible for conditional admission.
Applicants who earned a GPA between 2.250-2.499 on a 4.0 scale in their earned degree will automatically be granted conditional enrollment status. Applicants who earned lower than a 2.250 GPA on a 4.0 scale in their earned degree can petition for conditional enrollment status to the program chair by submitting a professional resume and an essay detailing other criteria that the applicant believes should be considered to demonstrate their ability to be successful in a graduate program. This petition could include details on the applicant’s work experience, work ethic, level of professionalism, personality characteristics, level of difficulty of program of study previously completed, etc.
Conditionally admitted students are required to achieve a final grade of “B” (3.0 GPA) or better in the first graduate-level course of their program, and are restricted to taking one graduate course at a time until this requirement is met. Students admitted to the programs listed below may take two 12-week classes concurrently, and would be required to earn a final grade of “B” in each course. If the terms of the conditional enrollment are not met, the student will not be allowed to advance in their program and will be unable to earn this graduate degree from Franklin University. Programs that allow for concurrent enrollment include: Business Analytics, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Health Informatics, Data Analytics, Information Technology, and Information Systems.

Master’s Conditional Admission – Degree Conferral

Domestic applicants seeking enrollment into a Franklin University Master’s Program who have not yet completed their qualifying degree program may be considered for conditional admission into a program. Conditional admission may be offered up to two semesters prior to an applicant’s anticipated graduation.
Conditionally admitted applicants may register for classes prior to completing their qualifying degree, but may not begin master’s program coursework until the semester after their degree is conferred.
It is the responsibility of the student to provide an official transcript confirming successful completion of their qualifying degree program prior to the end of their first semester. If the terms of the conditional enrollment are not met, the student will not be allowed to advance in their current program.

Master’s applicants may be offered conditional admission for both low GPA and pending degree conferral.

For the following programs, transcripts are evaluated for co-requisite requirements during the admission process:
M.S. in Accounting
M.S. in Accounting-STEM
M.S. in Computer Science
M.S. in Cybersecurity
M.S. in Information Technology

English Language Testing & TOEFL IELTS

Prospective graduate students must demonstrate English language proficiency. A student who meets at least one of the following criteria is eligible for admission as a degree-seeking student:

The applicant is a citizen of a country where English is the primary language for education. A list of these countries can be found below.*
The applicant has provided official documentation that meets Franklin graduate admission requirements from an institution in which English is the medium of instruction.
Has submitted an official score report meeting the minimum requirements for admission (see Minimum Scores below) from one of the following exams approved by Franklin University: Accuplacer ESL, Cambridge English Qualifications, Duolingo English Test (DET), International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS), Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Other officially recognized exams may also be considered. English proficiency scores must be less than two years old.

*For more information about English proficiency, including a list of English-speaking nations, please visit our International Students section.

Program Advisory Board

The University employs a team approach to planning, developing and maintaining its academic curriculum. An essential element of this process – and a key to the institution’s quality assurance practices – is the Program Advisory Board (and the associated Alumni Advisory Board). A diverse array of business and industry leaders make up these discipline-specific boards that provide guidance on theory-to-practice ideas, global business perspectives, and emerging topics in the field. Each academic year, Program Advisory Boards meet with Division Chairs and faculty for lively and engaged conversations, thus bringing members’ substantial professional experience and expertise into the classroom. In addition, some Division Chairs elect to engage Program Advisory Board members in the assessment of academic program outcomes.

Name	Organization	Title
Robert Brandau	Career Confidence	Founding Director
Fred Church	Ohio Dept. of Higher Education	Vice Chancellor of Finance and Data
David Dorton	City of Auburn, Alabama	Dir. of Comms + Legislative Affairs
Ed Gardner, Jr.	Entergy Corporation	Dir. Of Bus. + Econ. Dev., MS
Denise Hendrix	Nyc Hr Administration Ocss	Director
Kimberly Miller	Buckeye Ranch	Exec. VP of Strategy + Bus. Devel.
Keena Smith	Women's Center for Economic Opportunity	CEO
Scena Webb	Scena Solutions Llc	Chief Executive Officer
Michael Williams	Stearns County, MN.	Administrator
Adonna Wilson-Baney	Ab Consulting	Executive Director

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Careers & Salary Outlook

10%

From 2023-2033, jobs in Public & Social Sciences are expected to increase by 10%

Occupation

Median Salary (2023)

Job Postings (2023)

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

Occupation

Chief Executives

$206,690

56,511

-4%

Chief Executives

Median Salary: $206,690
Job Postings: 56,511
Projected Growth: -4%

Occupation

Job Titles

Skills

Industry

Description

Chief Executives determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

Projected Growth

Job Title	Job Postings	% of Job Postings
Chiefs of Staff	8,100	14%
Chief Executive Officers	4,647	8%
Chief Operating Officers	5,054	9%
Assistant Managers	7,662	14%
Equipment Associates	3,861	7%
Public Affairs Specialists	2,125	4%
Relationship Bankers	3,223	6%
Directors of Finance	1,919	3%
Executive Directors	1,896	3%
City Managers	1,286	2%
Member Specialists	1,379	2%
General Managers	1,571	3%
Public Information Officers	1,678	3%
Sales and Service Associates	2,733	5%
Public Works Directors	1,257	2%
Presidents	1,317	2%
Franchise Owners	893	2%
Operations Managers	1,373	2%
Presidents/Chief Executive Officers	1,570	3%
Retail Warehouse Associates	2,967	5%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings
Finance	11,966	14%
Marketing	10,182	12%
Project Management	10,178	12%
Accounting	7,391	9%
Auditing	7,086	8%
Public Administration	5,462	7%
Merchandising	5,151	6%
Financial Statements	4,701	6%
Fundraising	4,546	5%
Financial Management	4,096	5%
Public Relations	4,047	5%
Process Improvement	3,784	5%
Purchasing	3,716	4%
Selling Techniques	3,541	4%
Risk Management	3,475	4%
Data Analysis	3,430	4%
Cash Register	3,426	4%
Effective Communication	3,412	4%
Operational Excellence	3,401	4%
Cash Handling	3,386	4%

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		8%
	Management of Companies and Enterprises		7%
	Computer Systems Design and Related Services		5%
	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services		5%
	Education and Hospitals (Local Government)		5%
	State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		4%
	Other		67%

Political Scientists

$132,350

8,724

Political Scientists

Median Salary: $132,350
Job Postings: 8,724
Projected Growth: 4%

Occupation

Job Titles

Skills

Industry

Description

Political Scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.

Projected Growth

Job Title	Job Postings	% of Job Postings
Policy Analysts	2,240	26%
Policy Advisors	738	9%
Cybersecurity Analysts	1,062	12%
Policy Specialists	577	7%
Health Policy Analysts	512	6%
Legislative Analysts	358	4%
Project Policy Analysts	641	7%
Policy Associates	341	4%
Legislative Policy Analysts	250	3%
Medical Economics Analysts	251	3%
Program and Policy Analysts	242	3%
Policy Coordinators	189	2%
Policy Managers	176	2%
Medical Policy Analysts	182	2%
Cybersecurity Policy Analysts	187	2%
Directors of Policy and Advocacy	105	1%
Policy Fellows	305	4%
Policy Administrators	137	2%
Policy and Advocacy Interns	74	1%
Policy Researchers	157	2%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings
Policy Analysis	3,125	32%
Public Policies	2,892	30%
Economics	1,975	20%
Project Management	1,698	18%
Policy Development	1,672	17%
Data Analysis	1,417	15%
Political Sciences	1,132	12%
Finance	1,021	11%
Policy Research	988	10%
Public Administration	912	9%
Auditing	880	9%
Public Health	729	8%
Statistics	714	7%
Cyber Security	704	7%
Legal Hearings	701	7%
Medicaid	649	7%
Health Policies	635	7%
Lobbying	623	6%
Legislation	607	6%
Data Collection	539	6%

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	Federal Government, Civilian		67%
	Scientific Research and Development Services		13%
	Education and Hospitals (State Government)		5%
	Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		4%
	State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		3%
	Federal Government, Military		3%
	Other		5%

General and Operations Managers

$101,275

553,579

10%

General and Operations Managers

Median Salary: $101,275
Job Postings: 553,579
Projected Growth: 10%

Occupation

Job Titles

Skills

Industry

Description

General and Operations Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

Projected Growth

Job Title	Job Postings	% of Job Postings
Operations Managers	98,411	18%
Management Trainees	60,828	11%
General Managers	51,955	9%
Shift Supervisors	39,750	7%
Operations Supervisors	53,859	10%
Assistant General Managers	33,691	6%
Directors of Operations	33,626	6%
Assistant Managers	45,745	8%
Managers-in-Training	27,652	5%
District Managers	21,125	4%
Executive Directors	16,724	3%
Vice Presidents of Operations	11,685	2%
Hourly Managers	7,877	1%
Area Managers	8,502	2%
General Managers In Training	8,168	2%
Studio Managers	5,507	1%
Store Management Trainees	12,158	2%
Business Managers	6,707	1%
Regional Directors of Operations	5,521	1%
Dispensary Managers	4,088	1%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings
Operations Management	76,411	14%
Marketing	72,619	14%
Merchandising	68,902	13%
Finance	51,574	10%
Project Management	47,423	9%
Auditing	46,149	9%
Retail Operations	44,396	8%
Profit And Loss (P&L) Management	42,159	8%
Inventory Management	41,295	8%
Continuous Improvement Process	39,400	7%
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)	35,468	7%
Accounting	32,848	6%
Process Improvement	31,098	6%
Selling Techniques	30,720	6%
Restaurant Operation	28,020	5%
Customer Relationship Management	26,285	5%
Warehousing	23,942	4%
Business Development	23,449	4%
Loss Prevention	23,432	4%
Product Knowledge	22,918	4%

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	Restaurants and Other Eating Places		4%
	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services		4%
	Management of Companies and Enterprises		3%
	Computer Systems Design and Related Services		3%
	Building Equipment Contractors		2%
	Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities		2%
	Other		83%

Management Analysts

$99,424

157,111

15%

Management Analysts

Median Salary: $99,424
Job Postings: 157,111
Projected Growth: 15%

Occupation

Job Titles

Skills

Industry

Description

Management Analysts conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.

Projected Growth

Job Title	Job Postings	% of Job Postings
Business Analysts	82,043	52%
IT Business Analysts	10,129	6%
Program Analysts	9,487	6%
Business Data Analysts	6,186	4%
Business Process Analysts	5,236	3%
Business Operations Analysts	5,214	3%
Analytics Managers	4,995	3%
Lead Business Analysts	3,615	2%
Business Consultants	4,033	3%
Salesforce Business Analysts	3,327	2%
Management Analysts	3,501	2%
Business Information Consultants	2,575	2%
Management and Program Analysts	2,737	2%
Servicenow Business Analysts	2,281	2%
Business Services Analysts	2,038	1%
Solutions Consultants	1,751	1%
Independent Operators	2,785	2%
Business Process Consultants	1,704	1%
Business Solutions Analysts	1,741	1%
Business Information Analysts	1,733	1%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings
Project Management	61,840	29%
Business Process	46,162	22%
Data Analysis	45,850	22%
Business Requirements	37,223	18%
SQL (Programming Language)	34,894	17%
Finance	32,022	15%
Agile Methodology	31,069	15%
Business Analysis	30,362	14%
Process Improvement	28,825	14%
Workflow Management	26,854	13%
Computer Science	25,286	12%
Accounting	21,253	10%
Marketing	19,514	9%
Change Management	18,677	9%
Tableau (Business Intelligence Software)	17,461	8%
Auditing	17,392	8%
Dashboard	16,849	8%
Scrum (Software Development)	16,006	8%
Management Consulting	15,911	8%
User Story	15,704	7%

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services		26%
	Federal Government, Civilian		9%
	Computer Systems Design and Related Services		7%
	State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		5%
	Management of Companies and Enterprises		5%
	Insurance Carriers		5%
	Other		42%

Emergency Management Directors

$83,970

12,489

Emergency Management Directors

Median Salary: $83,970
Job Postings: 12,489
Projected Growth: 7%

Occupation

Job Titles

Skills

Industry

Description

Emergency Management Directors plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

Projected Growth

Job Title	Job Postings	% of Job Postings
Directors of Emergency Services	3,618	29%
Emergency Management Specialists	1,757	14%
Emergency Managers	833	7%
Emergency Management Coordinators	653	5%
Emergency Services Managers	576	5%
Emergency Response Managers	856	7%
Emergency Preparedness Managers	570	5%
Emergency Preparedness Coordinators	440	4%
Emergency Management Directors	300	2%
Emergency Preparedness Specialists	356	3%
Emergency Response Teams	422	3%
Emergency Response Specialists	314	3%
Emergency Management Planners	340	3%
Emergency Management Analysts	196	2%
Supervisory Emergency Management Specialists	294	2%
Emergency Response Coordinators	243	2%
Emergency Coordinators	199	2%
Emergency Management Program Managers	211	2%
Management Coordinators	103	1%
Crisis Managers	208	2%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings
Emergency Management	4,117	45%
Emergency Response	3,190	35%
Emergency Preparedness	2,506	27%
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)	1,497	16%
Incident Command Systems	1,439	16%
Project Management	1,434	16%
National Incident Management Systems	1,274	14%
Nursing	1,167	13%
Emergency Departments	907	10%
Public Administration	852	9%
Law Enforcement	751	8%
Crisis Management	676	7%
Disaster Response	665	7%
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)	624	7%
Disaster Recovery	615	7%
Emergency Medical Services	608	7%
Disaster Preparedness	561	6%
Risk Analysis	559	6%
Mental Health	558	6%
Emergency Response Planning	553	6%

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		52%
	State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		15%
	Federal Government, Military		12%
	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals		3%
	Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services		2%
	Education and Hospitals (State Government)		2%
	Other		13%

Occupation

Job Titles

Skills

Industry

Description

Social and Community Service Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization’s budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.

Projected Growth

Job Title	Job Postings	% of Job Postings
Directors of Social Services	13,098	39%
Program Managers	3,097	9%
Group Home Managers	2,555	8%
Life Enrichment Managers	1,789	5%
Hourly Managers	1,557	5%
Assistant Managers	1,062	3%
Plumbing Installers	1,823	5%
Outreach Managers	824	2%
Directors of Residential Services	836	3%
Services Program Managers	545	2%
Social Services Case Managers	805	2%
Housing Case Managers	760	2%
Outreach Educators	905	3%
Program Directors	712	2%
Social Services Managers	548	2%
Resident Directors	624	2%
Directors of Women's Services	532	2%
Disaster Program Managers	633	2%
Youth Leaders	521	2%
Case Managers	540	2%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings
Social Work	13,904	26%
Human Services	6,428	12%
Marketing	6,302	12%
Psychology	5,324	10%
Case Management	5,316	10%
Mental Health	4,517	8%
Project Management	4,412	8%
Auditing	2,737	5%
Community Outreach	2,600	5%
Disabilities	2,434	5%
Finance	2,384	4%
Fundraising	2,383	4%
Discharge Planning	2,360	4%
Nursing	2,214	4%
Performance Appraisal	2,150	4%
Crisis Intervention	2,123	4%
Medicaid	2,080	4%
Behavioral Health	2,037	4%
Program Development	1,998	4%
Data Collection	1,887	4%

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	Individual and Family Services		31%
	Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		10%
	State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		7%
	Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities		7%
	Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services		7%
	Social Advocacy Organizations		5%
	Other		35%

Occupation

Job Titles

Skills

Industry

Description

Compliance Officers examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

Projected Growth

Job Title	Job Postings	% of Job Postings
Compliance Analysts	9,227	15%
Compliance Officers	8,387	13%
Compliance Specialists	7,563	12%
Regulatory Affairs Specialists	7,211	12%
Compliance Coordinators	5,427	9%
Customs and Border Patrol Agents	2,115	3%
Regulatory Specialists	3,581	6%
Environmental Compliance Specialists	2,437	4%
Compliance Professionals	1,718	3%
Regulatory Analysts	1,605	3%
Cargo Agents	2,088	3%
Risk and Compliance Analysts	1,410	2%
Compliance Associates	1,796	3%
Regulatory Affairs Associates	1,452	2%
IT Compliance Analysts	1,232	2%
Regulatory Compliance Analysts	1,542	2%
Compliance Consultants	1,062	2%
Trade Compliance Specialists	770	1%
Security Compliance Analysts	1,067	2%
Regulatory Compliance Specialists	1,269	2%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings
Auditing	23,732	30%
Regulatory Compliance	14,782	19%
Project Management	11,870	15%
Regulatory Affairs	8,455	11%
Finance	7,250	9%
Accounting	7,206	9%
Risk Management	6,620	8%
Data Analysis	6,301	8%
Risk Analysis	6,152	8%
Marketing	5,804	7%
Process Improvement	5,591	7%
Internal Auditing	4,912	6%
Financial Services	4,410	6%
Compliance Risk	4,393	6%
External Auditing	4,093	5%
New Product Development	3,760	5%
Compliance Management	3,614	5%
Internal Controls	3,471	4%
Pharmaceuticals	3,428	4%
Workflow Management	3,403	4%

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	Federal Government, Civilian		18%
	State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		11%
	Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		9%
	Management of Companies and Enterprises		5%
	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services		3%
	Depository Credit Intermediation		3%
	Other		51%

Employment outlook data is provided by Lightcast and represents labor market trends in the United States. It is not specific to Franklin University graduates or any particular degree level. Franklin University cannot guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.

AI Leadership MPA Knowledge & Skillsets

Gain in-demand skills sought by employers with curriculum that teaches you:

Management

Manage day-to-day government agency operations by providing administrative oversight, implementing strategic plans, developing and overseeing budgets, and leading strategic planning and change efforts
Lead and manage strategic and operational projects and personnel
Facilitate collaboration and coordination of intergovernmental relationships
Drive operational efficiency and continuous improvement

Political Advocacy & Legislative Analysis

Research and analyze public policies to inform evidence-based decision-making
Conduct legislative and policy research to support legislative goals
Monitor legislation and policy agendas to plan for organizational impact
Engage government agencies, elected officials and other stakeholders to advance organizational goals and public interests
Influence the legislative process through advocacy and recommendations
Participate in policy meetings with officials, advocates and experts
Collaborate with public and private organizations to further policy goals
Advocate for ethical and equitable policies that serve the public good

Budgeting & Financial Management

Spearhead organizational financial planning and management
Apply budget and financial acumen for fiscally responsible decision-making
Lead efforts to secure adequate revenues to implement public policy and programs
Provide financial oversight, accountability and analysis through budget recommendations, reviews and documents
Ensure legal and ethical compliance in spending activities
Develop systems that promote financial transparency and accountability
Foster public-private partnerships to leverage resources and advance public interests

Personnel Administration

Motivate and lead high-performing management teams
Drive best practices in talent management and succession planning
Foster accountable, success-driven work environments
Collaborate on work plans and employee performance reviews
Promote positive employee relations and professional development
Lead efforts to attract, recruit and inspire highly qualified and ethical employees
Cultivate an organizational culture that values and creates workforce diversity
Manage personnel issues and provide employee coaching
Model ethical, community-focused leadership
Champion policies and practices supporting employee well-being, work-life balance and positive workplace climate

Leadership

Ensure transparency and accountability in government operations and decision-making processes
Promote ethical conduct, integrity and professionalism among government employees and officials
Provide visionary leadership by setting goals and strategies aligned with the agency's priorities
Build and maintain positive relationships with elected officials, community leaders and key stakeholders
Ensure compliance with laws, regulations and policies governing government operations
Encourage citizen participation, community engagement and responsiveness
Leverage data and evidence-based practices to drive decision-making
Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and adaptability
Demonstrate a commitment to social equity, sustainability and the broader public good in all organizational decision-making and actions

AI Strategy & Organizational Transformation

Identify and prioritize AI opportunities based on organizational needs, feasibility and risk
Evaluate how AI technologies can improve operational effectiveness, service delivery and decision-making
Design workflows that effectively balance human judgment and AI-enabled processes
Develop AI adoption plans that address organizational changes, workforce readiness, value and stakeholder trust
Measure AI-driven performance improvements using outcomes such as quality, efficiency, cost and risk reduction
Create transformation roadmaps with key performance indicators that support long-term AI integration and innovation

AI Governance, Risk & Ethical Leadership

Diagnose governance-relevant AI failure modes using harm-and-impact framing
Construct lightweight governance models that define decision rights, oversight controls and monitoring signals
Assess risk in using AI in communication processes, including compliance and legal exposure
Establish safeguards for privacy, sensitive data handling, retention and intellectual property risk
Balance innovation with ethical leadership and public accountability
Justify AI approval recommendations by documenting safeguards, residual risk and ethical tradeoffs

AI-Enabled Decision-Making & Performance Analysis

Analyze complex organizational and policy issues using research, evidence and predictive insights
Evaluate AI-generated outputs using verification methods, quality standards and structured review processes
Apply analytical, statistical and computational techniques to support decision-making
Differentiate between reliable and unreliable information when using AI-assisted tools
Translate research findings and data insights into actionable recommendations
Use measurable performance indicators to assess organizational effectiveness and program outcomes

Intelligent Automation & AI Workflow Management

Design AI-assisted workflows that improve efficiency, consistency and service delivery
Define process requirements, success criteria and operational controls for AI-enabled initiatives
Design, build, and operationalize AI-enabled workflows using no-code automation platforms
Establish approval checkpoints, review processes and escalation procedures for automated workflows
Integrate AI-enabled processes with organizational systems while maintaining transparency and accountability
Monitor, evaluate, and continuously improve AI-powered operations through testing, performance measurement and governance controls

AI Leadership MPA FAQs

What is a Master of Public Administration with AI leadership specialization?

Franklin’s online Master of Public Administration with an AI Leadership for Professionals Specialization is a 36-credit graduate degree for professionals who want to lead responsible AI-related decisions in government, nonprofit, agency and community settings. This program combines a public administration core with nontechnical AI leadership coursework focused on governance, risk, ethics, organizational change and workflow design.

What can you do with a Master of Public Administration with AI leadership specialization?

Graduates can prepare for roles such as management analyst, policy director, program analyst and program manager.The MPA degree can also support work in procurement, vendor management, digital governance, compliance, program performance, service delivery, budgeting and organizational change.

Why get a Master of Public Administration with AI leadership specialization?

Public organizations need leaders who can evaluate AI opportunities without losing sight of privacy, accountability, transparency, limited resources and public trust. This specialization helps you ask sharper questions, assess risks and tradeoffs, participate confidently in technology decisions, and guide responsible adoption – without becoming a programmer or data scientist.

What makes Franklin's Master of Public Administration with an AI Leadership for Professionals specialization unique?

Franklin pairs a broad public administration foundation with nontechnical AI leadership coursework viewed through a public-service lens. Instead of focusing on coding or model development, our specialization centers on governance, ethics, privacy, risk, transparency, organizational change, service delivery, resource stewardship and public accountability.

When can I start Franklin's Master of Public Administration with AI leadership specialization online?

Choose from three start dates each year – fall (August/September) or spring (February) or summer (May).

How much will my Master of Public Administration with AI Leadership specialization cost?

Franklin University offers a quality education at a competitive cost so you can afford to invest in your future. Our per credit hour tuition rates (vs. per year or per term rates) enable you to get a realistic estimate of exactly how much your degree will cost. Our 2026-2027 tuition rate is $690 per credit hour. Use Franklin’s free MyCost Estimator to get a personalized estimate of your total degree cost. If you have any questions, ask our helpful staff about available financing options and financial aid programs.

How long does it take to get a Master of Public Administration with AI leadership specialization?

Franklin's online Master of Public Administration with an AI Leadership specialization can be completed in as few as 14 months. That covers all nine courses: six in the MPA core plus three in the AI Leadership specialization. Courses run one at a time in focused terms, so you're moving steadily through the program without juggling multiple classes at once.

See All >

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Franklin University Founded in 1902, Franklin is an accredited nonprofit university offering flexible college degrees online and at locations in Ohio and the Midwest.

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Columbus, OH 43215

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Toll Free: (877) 341-6300
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Franklin University is committed to being an inclusive community free from all forms of discrimination and harassment.

2026 - 2027 Tuition	Cost Per Credit
Standard tuition per credit hour	$690
RN-MSN Pathway (NURS 500)	$298
Current service members	$536
Master's Prerequisite Courses (500 level)	$398
Master's Prerequisite Courses (500 level) - International Students	$526
2026 - 2027 Tuition	Cost Per Credit
Standard tuition per credit hour	$690

Other Fees and Charges	Cost
Resource fee (each semester)	$100

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Spring 2027

Summer 2027

Fall 2027

Spring 2028

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Lead AI in public administration – no technology background required

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Lead With Confidence, Not Code

Applied Learning

Protect Public Trust

Make smarter AI decisions with confidence

Protect your organization – and the public it serves

Improve service without wasting limited resources

Lead your team through AI-driven change

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Program Prerequisites

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From 2023-2033, jobs in Public & Social Sciences are expected to increase by 10%

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