PDF version of this chapterMaster of Public Policy
The Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) program is designed to prepare students for careers as professional policy analysts. Through an interdisciplinary curriculum and real world experience, students gain an understanding of the policy process, and develop the capacity to formulate, analyze and implement public policy.
The M.P.P. degree is offered at the University Park campus only.
Requirements for Admission
Candidates for admission must have maintained a minimum B (3.0) average during their undergraduate degree work and attain a score of at least 500 on the verbal and at least 500 on the quantitative sections of the GRE. Exceptions to these requirements are allowed if justified by outstanding work experience, letters of recommendation, or demonstrated improvement in academic performance during undergraduate studies.Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and have a basic competence in descriptive and inferential statistics. This prerequisite may be fulfilled by successfully completing the M.P.P. lab, the school's Statistics Competence Examination or by successfully completing PPD 404x with a grade of C or higher (A = 4.0), which may not be used for graduate credit.
Degree Requirements
Students are required to complete 48 units of graduate work. The following 32 units constitute the M.P.P. core and must be completed by students.| Required core courses | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| PPD 500 | Cross-Sectoral Governance | 4 |
| PPD 501 | Public Sector Economics | 4 |
| PPD 554 | Public Policy Formulation | 4 |
| PPD 557 | Quantitative Analysis I | 4 |
| PPD 558 | Quantitative Analysis II | 4 |
| PPD 559 | Policy Implementation and Evaluation | 4 |
| PPD 560 | Methods for Policy Analysis | 4 |
| PPD 561 | Policy Analysis Practicum | 4 |
Students are also required to complete one management course from the following list:
| Management course (choose one) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| PPD 516x | Financial Accounting in the Public and NonProfit Sectors | 4 |
| PPD 541 | Public Financial Management and Budgeting | 4 |
| PPD 545 | Human Behavior in Public Organizations | 4 |
| PPD 654 | Information Technology Management in the Public Sector | 4 |
| PPD 661 | Intergovernmental Management: Local Perspective | 4 |
| PPD 675 | Nonprofit Management and Leadership | 4 |
| PPD 690 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 4 |
In addition to these 36 required units, students are required to take 12 units of electives. Elective courses typically will be taken in an area of concentration and will be selected by the students with the advice and written consent of the director of the M.P.P. program. The following are examples of policy areas of concentration: Community Economic Development, Education Policy, Environmental Policy, Health Policy, Media and Communications Policy, Philanthropy and Nonprofit, and Transportation Policy.
During a student's final semester of the program the Policy Analysis Practicum is required as a component of the program's 48 units of course work. The practicum is an opportunity for students to apply their analytic skills to a current problem for an actual client. Admission to the practicum is granted on the approval of the M.P.P. director, and normally requires prior completion of most required courses.