• Master in Public Policy
• Master in Public Administration/International Development
• Master in Public Administration
• Mid-Career Master in Public Administration
• PhD in Public Policy
• PhD in Political Economy and Government
• PhD in Social Policy
• PhD in Health Policy

Master in Public Policy

MPP Curriculum

First year Master in Public Policy (MPP) students (without any exemptions) generally take four core courses in the fall semester plus one elective credit, and 3.5 core courses in the spring semester (including the Spring Exercise) plus 1.5 additional elective credits. The recommended total number of credits taken during the first year is 10. Students who earn exemptions from core requirements are encouraged to replace those courses with an equal number of electives during the first year.

Core Required Courses (First Year)

API-101: Markets and Market Failure (1 credit)
API-102: Economic Analysis of Public Policy (1 credit)
API-201: Quantitative Analysis and Empirical Methods (1 credit)
API-202: Empirical Methods II (1 credit)
API-500: Spring Exercise (0.5 credit)
DPI-101: Mobilizing for Political Action - American Politics & Comparative Politics (1 credit)
DPI-201: The Responsibilities of Public Action (1 credit)
MLD-101: The Strategic Management of Public Organizations (1 credit)

Core Required Courses (Second Year)

Policy Analysis Exercise and year long seminar (1 credit)

Policy Area of Concentration electives (at least 2 credits dependent on PAC)

Additional electives as needed

Financial Management Required Course

During their two years at HKS, MPP students will need to take a minimum of one module (0.5 credit) to satisfy the MPP Financial Management distribution requirement.

Minimum Credits Required for Graduation

18 credits to graduate

Grade Requirements

B- or better in all required core courses, including Policy Area of Concentration (PAC) courses and the Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE) for that PAC.

B average or better for 18 HKS credits. The 18 must include the required courses, the courses in the student’s policy area of concentration (PAC), and electives.

Requirements for Joint/Concurrent MPP Students

Joint Harvard Business School MBA Students

• First Year: Follow the MPP core curriculum required courses, plus one elective and the joint degree seminar 
• Second Year: Follow the MBA core curriculum required courses, plus the joint degree seminar 
• Third Year: Students will take elective courses at both HKS and HBS, including a required integrative Business-Government course, and undertake a significant Capstone Exercise in their final term.

Joint Harvard Law School JD Students

HKS/HLS students complete a minimum of 12 credits at HKS. They complete one full year at HKS and finish their remaining HKS credits (minimum of 3 credits) during their last two years at HLS.

Concurrent Harvard Medical School MD Students

Concurrent HMS students spend one year as a full-time HKS student and the remaining years of their program at HMS, cross-registering to complete their HKS requirements. Concurrent students are required to be in full-time residence at HKS for three semesters.

Concurrent Harvard Divinity School Students

HKS/HDS program students spend one year at each school and split the third year. Concurrent students are required to be in full-time residence at HKS for three semesters.

Concurrent Harvard Graduate School of Design Students

HKS/GSD program students spend one year at each school and split the third year. Concurrent students are required to be in full-time residence at HKS for three semesters.

Other Concurrent Business School Students

Students enrolled in a concurrent program with an approved business school will be required to complete three semesters at HKS and three semesters at their business school. Concurrent students are required to be in full-time residence at HKS for three semesters.

Please note requirements for MIT's Sloan School of Management.

Other Concurrent Law School Students

Students enrolled in a concurrent program with an approved law school will be required to complete three semesters at HKS and two and a half years at their law school. The duration of the program is four years. Concurrent students are required to be in full-time residence at HKS for three semesters.

Other Concurrent Medical School Students

Students enrolled in a concurrent program with an approved medical school will be required to complete three semesters at HKS.