You can also pursue a second degree with the MPP. Learn about our programs and partnerships.
As a first-year Master in Public Policy student, you generally take 18 core course credits in the fall and 16 core course credits plus four elective credits in the spring semester. We recommend you take a total of 38 credits during your first year out of the minimum of 72 credits required to graduate.
While you might earn exemptions from certain core requirements, we encourage you to replace those courses with an equal number of electives during your first year.
Core Required Courses (First Year)
- Resources, Incentives, and Choices I: Markets and Market Failures (API-101, 4 credits)
- Resources, Incentives, and Choices II: Analysis of Public Policy (API-102, 4 credits)
- Quantitative Analysis and Empirical Methods (API-201, 4 credits)
- Empirical Methods II (API-202M, 2 credits & API-203M, 2 credits)
- Spring Exercise (API-500M, 0 credits)
- Policy Design and Delivery I (API-501, 4 credits)
- Policy Design and Delivery II (API-502, 4 credits)
- Politics and Ethics in Unstable Times (DPI-200, 4 credits)
- Race and Racism in the Making of the United States as a Global Power (DPI-385M, 2 credits)
- Race and Racism in Public Policies, Practices, and Perspectives (DPI-386M, 2 credits)
- Fundamentals of Negotiation Analysis and Practice (MLD-220M, 2 credits)
Core Required Courses (Second Year)
- Policy Area of Concentration (PAC) year-long seminar, including completion of the Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE) (4 credits)
- PAC electives (8-20 credits dependent on PAC/Concentration)
You must earn a B- or better in all of your required MPP core courses, including PAC requirements, and a passing grade for the PAE and PAC year-long seminar.
Overall, you must have a B average or better for your 72 credits to graduate with an MPP degree. These total credits must include the required courses, your PAC courses, and electives.
Earn a second professional degree