[jaredo155]

I recently accepted a position to start as an accountant at a large state university. I have spent the last 7 years in a mixture of retail banking, corporate tax, and corporate accounting, and know that I never intend to return to the private sector. The school I will be working at offers both an MPA (public admin) or an MBA, and both programs I would say have a decent reputation (not Ivy League but probably top 50). My long term goal has always been to work in federal government, either with the IRS, Census, DCAA, or wherever I can get my foot in the door honestly. My question is if this is my long term goal and both degrees are free, which would those working in government suggest? Also I am not too concerned about how quickly I move up, this will mostly be to get my foot in the door and actually learn skill sets that will be applicable to my job.

AUD - 2/2013 - Passed!
BEC - 5/2013 - Passed!
FAR - 8/2013 - Passed!
REG - 11/2013 - Passed!
"Do or do not, there is no try." - Yoda

[Sandra]

I'm partial to an MBA, maybe because its what I have. I do think the MBA has a wider recognition so may be more useful. Can you do both just for shits and giggles?

[jaredo155]

I am able to do both and have considered it, but where I would be working full time and going to school part time it would take me roughly 6 years to finish both (for whatever reason both programs are 42 hours as opposed to the more traditional 36 and the MPA program doesn't offer any summer courses). Most threads I have read on this say the MBA is more widely recognized both in the private and public sectors, I just wanted to make sure I was getting the best skill sets for what I want to do. I have no knowledge of what the day to day activities are like in a federal agency, and I guess that is why I don't really know which one of these would achieve that. Also my undergraduate degree was in business administration with an emphasis in economics, so I worry if the MBA will be a lot of overlap from that.

AUD - 2/2013 - Passed!
BEC - 5/2013 - Passed!
FAR - 8/2013 - Passed!
REG - 11/2013 - Passed!
"Do or do not, there is no try." - Yoda

[Anonymous]

MPA. Do an MPA.

[Anonymous]

You'll start out with a Grade bump for a masters degree so it doesn't really matter which one you pick. DCAA is a little easier to get into than IRS. No idea about Census. Also if you can get in there without the masters the gov't will pay for you to get your masters. I know you said you're getting it free anyway but just an FYI. Also, you should be able to get into any of those places without too much trouble IF you're flexible about where you want to work.

[Author]

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