Program Overview

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Program Overview

The university offers various programs, including the Master of Public Policy, Master of Public Affairs, Master of Development Practice, Doctoral Program, Global and Executive Programs, and Undergraduate Programs.

Master of Public Affairs (MPA) Program

The MPA program is designed to be flexible, allowing students to choose from a 12-month or 14-month structure. All students begin the program either in-person in mid-May or remotely in June. The program consists of four academic sessions: an initial summer session, Summer D, Fall semester, and Spring semester.

Program Schedule

Students may choose to structure their MPA experience as a 12-month or 14-month program. The program schedule includes:

• Core Courses
• Elective Courses
• A minimum of 30 units over four terms, including approximately 13 units of core courses and at least 16 units of electives

Flexible Format

The program allows students to customize their schedule to meet their needs. Students can split the summer requirements over two summers and opt for online coursework in the Fall and Spring terms.

Experience Berkeley In The Summer

The summer core emphasizes leadership skills, strategic thinking, and multidisciplinary analysis. Students attend in-person courses with their cohort, building connections to the UC Berkeley campus and developing a strong sense of community among students and faculty.

Fall and Spring Semesters

In the Fall and Spring semesters, students take elective courses and the required Capstone course. MPA students also complete a minimum of six units of electives over the course of the program, taken either online or in-person.

Minimum Unit Requirements

MPA students are required to complete a minimum of 30 units over four terms, including approximately 13 units of core courses and at least 16 units of electives.

International Student Requirements

International students enrolled at UC Berkeley (F-1 or J-1 visa holders) must generally be enrolled in at least 6 units, with 5 of those units being in-person.

Other Programs

The university also offers other programs, including:

• Master of Public Policy
• Master of Development Practice
• Doctoral Program
• Undergraduate Programs
• Global and Executive Programs

Research and Impact

The university's research and impact initiatives include:

• Centers
• Faculty
• News Center
• Publications
• Working Papers

Career Services

The university's career services include:

• For Students
• For Employers
• Employment Statistics
• Client-Based Projects
• Career Events

About GSPP

The Richard & Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley, is committed to accessibility, nondiscrimination, and privacy.