The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at the University of South Alabama was established in 1977. It is one of the largest graduate programs both in the College of Arts and Sciences and in the University overall. Students who enter the program have a wide variety of career interests and come from a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences. As a result, the MPA is interdisciplinary in nature, and because of its broad applicability, it is a program that prepares graduates for a variety of careers in multiple fields. Public service today focuses on any number of positions over many different industries: criminal justice and law, education, emergency management, environmental protection, fish and wildlife management, healthcare, non-profit and non governmental organizations, and urban development/management to name a few.