M.A. in Government

Lead the Way Through Government Service

Are you passionate to serve and ready to lead change? Regent’s online and on-campus Master of Arts in Government equips you to sharpen your skills for greater impact in your community, the U.S. and the world. Choose from several concentrated areas of study in your government degree to prepare you to advance in your career and your purpose.

Locations: On Campus, Online

Total Credit Hours: 33

Next Session Start: June 23, 2025

Careers | Concentrations | Courses | Admissions | Tuition

Grow as a Problem Solver

Apply your understanding of history and ethics to strengthen governments, shape policy and affect the future.

Access Faculty Experts

Be mentored by renowned scholars and practitioners committed to national service – and to your success.

Increase Your Influence

Complete your M.A. in Government and join our global alumni network of government officials, consultants, policymakers, public servants and administrators in making a difference in the U.S. and around the world.

ALIGN YOURSELF WITH EXCELLENCE

Regent has been ranked among the Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report (2025). We have also been recognized as a Military Friendly Top 5 School by Military Friendly®, 2024-25, and among the Top 10 Best for Vets Colleges: Online & Nontraditional by Military Times, 2020.

Presented from a Christian perspective, this degree is supported by our respected faculty in Virginia Beach.

Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.

M.A. in Government Career Opportunities

On completing the master’s in government, you can:

Develop sound policies to strengthen communities and the nation.
Provide in-depth analysis on new and existing regulations affecting various industries.
Apply a moral and ethical mindset when addressing and influencing policy.

Career Opportunities:

Public Servant at the local, state, or national level
Non-Governmental Organization Staff
Political Consultant
Public Policy Advocate
PR Specialist/Media Spokesperson/News Analyst

20%

Higher median usual weekly earnings for workers with a master's versus a bachelor's degree

Top 25 Best Master's Programs in Virginia, 2025, UniversityHQ.

Concentrations

American Government

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Government – American Government can give you the history, context, and insight to analyze political issues and systems from a constitutional foundation and promote healthy governance.

International Relations

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Government – International Relations can equip you to aid in the creation and analysis of international policy to foster strategic relationships around the world.

Law & Public Policy

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Government – Law & Public Policy can expand your knowledge of policy, competitive politics, and the law, as well as your understanding of the history and inner-workings of government.

Featured Courses

Table listing featured courses with course code, name, and credit hours.
Code	Name	Credits
GOV 603	Research Methods	3	Qualitative and quantitative reasoning, the basic principles of the philosophy of science, and positivist and reflexivist approaches to knowledge creation. Cross listed with GOV 703.
GOV 604	Christian Foundations of Government	3	Offers a biblical perspective of the religious, philosophical, and cultural foundations of Western civilization. Cross-listed with GOV 704.
GOV 614	American Politics	3	Foundational seminar for graduate work in American politics. Introduces behavioral, reflexivist and institutional approaches to study of key concepts in American politics – including the presidency, Congress, voting and the judiciary. Cross-listed with GOV 714.
GOV 623	Public Policy Initiatives	3	Provides comprehensive overview of the public policy process and policy analysis. Examines contexts and actors of public policy, the principles and techniques for analyzing policy alternatives, and the methods for evaluating the effectiveness of governmental policy initiatives. Cross-listed with GOV 723.
GOV 658	American Political Traditions	3	Examination of philosophical, historical and religious roots of the American political tradition. Explores the roots of constitutional government, Judeo-Christian contributions to American political thought, and the development of and contestation over contemporary ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism and progressivism. Cross-listed with GOV 758.

Students should refer to their catalog or audited degree plan (ADP) for required courses to complete their degree.

Admissions Requirements

2024-25 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

Session	Semester Check-In	Session Start Date
Session A	Friday, August 9	Monday, August 19
Session B	Friday, October 11	Monday, October 21
Session C	Wednesday, January 8	Monday, January 13
Session D	Friday, March 7	Monday, March 17
Session E	Friday, May 2	Monday, May 12
Session F	Friday, June 13	Monday, June 23

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.

Step 3: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.

Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

Tuition & Fees

2025-26 Tuition Rates

Part-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$695	6	$4,170
Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA)	$695	6	$4,170
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)	$930	6	$5,580

Full-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per t2-atpsSemester
Master of Arts (MA)	$695	9	$6,255
Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA)	$695	9	$6,255
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)	$930	9	$8,370

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)	$900 (Fall & Spring) $750 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)	$750

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

2024-25 Tuition Rates

PART-TIME STUDENTS

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$695	6	$4,170
Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA)	$695	6	$4,170
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)	$900	6	$5,400

Full-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per t2-atpsSemester
Master of Arts (MA)	$695	9	$6,255
Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA)	$695	9	$6,255
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)	$900	9	$8,100

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)	$850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)	$700

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

FAQ

Whether you are a prospective student or a current student, your questions matter. Please take a few moments to skim our Frequently Asked Questions. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact us.

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“What stuck out to me at Regent was the character and ethics — the commitment to glorifying God in all that we do. I am grateful to be part of a place impacting this world for eternity. By getting past our fallibilities, we can see what the power of God can do.”

Bill Dudley, MPA, 2014 Logistics Manager, U.S. Navy; Worship Pastor, Beach Beacon Baptist Church

“The Robertson School of Government was the perfect fit in obtaining a master's degree while serving active-duty. The online program gave me the flexibility I needed. This track of study will truly prepare and position you at the forefront of a rapidly expanding skillset within the federal government.”

Jonathan Tillman, M.A., 2010

“All the time, when people hear I am studying public administration, they say, ‘Oh, we need more Christian leaders in government!’ It’s a perfect fit for Regent’s mission. And if you’re a Christian, you have something anchoring you to the decisions you make that affect an entire country.”

Sonya Mills, MPA, 2018 Human Resources Administrative Specialist, U.S. Department of Justice, Hawaii

“Regent’s online model provided an unparalleled combination of high-quality instruction, flexibility and specialization.”

Kassie Dulin, M.A., 2014 American Government