Master of Science in Public Policy

About the Program

The Master of Science in Public Policy has a required core curriculum of nine courses, specifically designed for students to:

• develop an understanding of the social, political and ethical context of policy research, and how this understanding can be applied to an applied practice of policy analysis;
  
• conceptionalize, design and conduct social research for policy purposes, as well as comprehensively analyze existing social research data;
• recognize the history of public policy institutions in America and the management and governance of nonprofit organizations; and
• understand the concept of sustainability as it relates to policy planning, design, and implementation.

In addition to the core courses, the program has a focus on case study research as a unifying element of the curriculum. The curriculum reinforces coursework with a series of accompanying 1-credit, online, Case Study Research co-requisites. Students are required to choose a specific case that they will work on for the duration of the core curriculum. In each subsequent Case Study Research course, students apply the content of each accompanying core course to further research and writing on their case studies. Thus by the end of the program students will have produced a polished, in-depth analysis of a specific case that they can use to demonstrate expertise in a given policy area.

With the approval and support of the program director, students can craft a specialized course of study with their three electives, or they can take courses in one of three tracks:

1. Environmental Policy
2. Science and Technology Policy
3. Urban Systems Management

The degree can be completed part-time in two years. Select students will also be able to apply for an intensive full-time track in which they complete the degree in a single year.

For additional information, view the Center for Public Policy page on the College of Arts and Sciences' website.