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Home > Degree Programs > Master's Degrees > Master in Public Policy > Curriculum
Curriculum
MPP Requirements
The MPP program requires two years (four semesters) of full-time study in residence at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). MPP candidates complete 18 units of academic credit, 7.5 of which are required core courses (see below). Students are further required to choose a Policy Area of Concentration (PAC)/Concentration. In order to satisfy the requirements of their PAC/Concentration, students must take an additional 3-7 credits.
Our required course work builds a broad perspective and sharpens specific skills. First-year required courses develop the following core skills to prepare our students for public service:
- Economics
- Quantitative analysis
- Politics and advocacy
- Financial management
- Strategic management
- Ethics
- Leadership
Additional requirements of the program include Spring Exercise and the Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE)/PAE seminar.
See the Office of the Registrar's website for detailed information on the degree requirements.
Selecting a PAC/Concentration
MPP students are encouraged to explore different policy areas that interest them. While the first year of the MPP program focuses on the fundamentals of policy analysis, by their second year, MPP candidates must each choose one Policy Area of Concentration (PAC)/Concentration from the following list:
- Business and Government Policy (BGP)
- Democracy, Politics and Institutions (DPI)
- International and Global Affairs (IGA)
- International Trade and Finance (ITF)
- Political and Economic Development (PED)
- Social and Urban Policy (SUP)
Each PAC/Concentration has a distinct list of fulfillment requirements ranging from 3-7 additional credits. Please review the PACs and Concentrations page for detailed information.
Joint and Concurrent Degrees
Students in the MPP program frequently pursue joint or concurrent degrees, allowing them to work toward two degrees simultaneously.
Please review Joint and Concurrent Degrees for further information.
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