What is the difference between the MPIA in Northern Virginia and the MPIA in Blacksburg?
Most students at the Blacksburg campus are pursuing the MPIA degree full-time, while most Northern Virginia students are working professionals who are attending graduate school on a part-time basis, taking only one or two courses a semester. Some students begin the MPIA full-time in Blacksburg and then transfer up to Washington in their second year to work full-time or hold an internship while finishing up their classes. It should be noted that the Northern Virginia Center is generally not able to offer as broad a range of courses as those available to students in Blacksburg.
