I firmly believe that every public servant should be polished in a basic toolset: economics, ethics, statistics, policy analysis, negotiations, leadership. The MPP core offers that and more.
Hiram Ríos Hernández MPP 2017
The Master in Public Policy (MPP) curriculum is designed to broaden your perspective and sharpen specific skills to prepare you for a successful career in public service.
During your first year, you will take courses to develop professional competencies in:
- Economics
- Ethics
- Financial management
- Leadership
- Negotiation
- Politics
- Policy design and delivery
- Quantitative analysis
Your first year culminates in Spring Exercise, a two-week simulation that has you integrate and apply the tools and concepts you learned from the first-year core. Then, during the summer after your first year, you will most likely take on a policy-oriented internship. The Policy Analysis Exercise, an applied thesis, caps the second-year curriculum.
One of the benefits of being in an academic environment is the chance to discover and investigate new interests. That's why we encourage you to explore different policy areas.
The first year of the MPP Program focuses on the cross-disciplinary fundamentals of policy analysis. By your second year, you will choose a Policy Area of Concentration (PAC)/Concentration from the following:
- Business and Government Policy
- Democracy, Politics and Institutions
- International and Global Affairs
- Political and Economic Development
- Social and Urban Policy
Each PAC/Concentration has a distinct list of fulfillment requirements ranging from 12 to 24 additional credits. Learn more about them.