Augusta University
Milledge AustinStarting fall 2024, Augusta University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies (MAISS) degrees will be added to the curriculum of Augusta University Online.
“We have always been intentional with what programs we add to our portfolio, and MAISS and the MPA program were the next two logical choices for us,” said Marc Austin, PhD, dean of Augusta University Online. “The MPA program has recently been ranked by U.S. News and World Report in the top five in the state of Georgia. The MAISS program has been built on the basis of our strong relationship with the Fort Eisenhower Cyber Central command, and this will only further support our service members whose global service requires access to online learning.”
“Coming recently from an online university environment that really emphasized a high degree of student engagement, these two programs offer a way for us to use a wide array of tools to help ensure faculty and students connect,” said Heidi Blair, PhD, director of instructional design for AU Online.
The MPA degree at AU is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). It prepares socially conscious public service leaders with the skills and principles to cultivate more equitable and resilient communities. Graduates of the program will be positioned to advance their career in government or nonprofit roles.
The online MPA program is an applied degree that balances scholarship and practice with the aim to enhance the performance of public and nonprofit professionals by providing students with an interdisciplinary skill set that they can immediately apply in their roles.
“The Master of Public Administration faculty are looking forward to partnering with Augusta University Online,” said Wesley Meares, PhD, graduate program director of the MPA program and associate professor in Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. “This partnership will allow us to expand the impact of our nationally-ranked MPA program and help prepare future leaders in the public and nonprofit sectors.”
AU’s MAISS degree, which is offered through Pamplin College, prepares students with the future-ready skills to lead cyber defense strategy. Students learn to create intelligence and security policies that address war, terrorism, propaganda and misinformation. They also gain the skills to enhance, bolster and critique current U.S. strategy based on academic research, leading to better outcomes that protect people and infrastructure.
AU students who have completed the MAISS degree have gone on to enjoy careers in the DOD, NSA and U.S. Army Cyber Command, as well as private intelligence organizations and research institutions.
“Our faculty are really excited about adding our program to Augusta University Online. We hope bringing a new concentration of technical intelligence analysis, as well as our traditional offerings, will help the program to be more inclusive and will help attract new students,” said Craig Albert, PhD, graduate program director of MAISS and professor in Pamplin College.
Both programs are currently accepting applications through July 15 for the fall semester.
Last fall, Augusta University Online launched with 166 students enrolled in three graduate level programs: the Master of Science in Information Security Management, Master of Education in Instruction and Master of Public Health. Since then, AU Online has added a Certificate in Public Health.
On top of the current academic offerings, AU Online entered into partnership with U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE) last fall, offering United States servicemembers stationed at Fort Eisenhower and around the world the opportunity to further their education at their own pace and from wherever they are located.
The agreement established the terms for awarding course credit from AU to military personnel who have completed training/education courses at the CCoE and expands graduate education opportunities by enabling servicemembers to complete their master’s degree 100% online.
Haley Crain