What is the use of an MPA / MPP?

[unigenitus]

I posted some time ago asking a slightly different question, on whether a lack of public sector experience would be detrimental to successfully applying for an MPA / MPP programme.

However several months down the line and I have a slightly different query - does an MPA offer material help for an aspiring politician? If you aim is to go either into front-line party politics, or at least into think tanks, lobbying and the like, do such programmes actually contribute practically to such a career? The general impression I get is that they are more orientated towards those wanting to work in government from a civil service perspective. Is this correct?

[PeterQuince]

Regarding your inquiry, I don't know.

This is an off-the-cuff (and totally non-exhaustive) list of elected officials with MPA/MPP education:

Jim Langevin (MPA, Harvard), US Representative (D-RI)

Jack Reed (MPP, Harvard), US Senator (D-RI)

Kathleen Sebelius (MPA, University of Kansas), Secretary of Health and Human Services, former Governor of Kansas

Political (non-civil service) appointments:

Andy Card (Harvard), Secretary of Transportation, White House Chief of Staff

If your'e talking strategists, etc:

David Whilhelm (MPP, Harvard), Democratic Party Campaign Manager (Pres. Clinton, Sen. Simon, Sen. Biden, etc.)

[Cornell07]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Ke ... ram_alumni

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fletch ... ent_alumni

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrow_Wi ... ble_alumni

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_H._Ni ... ent_Alumni

Etc...