Program Overview

Program Overview

The Accelerated Master's in Public Policy and Administration program is an immersive one-year program that allows students to earn their master's degree from Northwestern University. The program begins in the fall term each year and ends with the completion of the following summer term. Students move through the program in a cohort model, immersing themselves in a strong network of their peers while completing a curriculum based in both theory and application.

Graduate Programs

The Accelerated Public Policy and Administration program is a graduate program that offers a unique and comprehensive opportunity to delve into both the administrative and analytical sides of policy. This holistic approach is grounded in the perspective that policy challenges are fluid, interconnected, and global.

The Accelerated Master's in Public Policy and Administration Program

The program is designed to help students develop the analytical, administrative, and leadership skills needed to make an impact in a variety of fields — public and private. The curriculum is one of the only curricula that focuses on both policy and administration. Students build the leadership, administrative, and analytical expertise needed to drive change at the local, national, and international levels.

A Versatile Degree in Policy and Administration

The program offers a versatile degree in policy and administration, allowing students to develop the skills needed to drive change in government, education, and nonprofit organizations. Students study under world-class faculty, including Fulbright Fellows, DHS Fellows, Congressional advisors, Civitas Scholar recipients, and National Institute on Aging grant recipients, among others.

A Global Perspective

The MPPA program helps students put their analytic skills and administrative knowledge together into a new, synergistic perspective and understand how these connect to achieve global solutions in an increasingly interdependent world. The program prepares students to compare the methods international governments use to make policy decisions with the U.S. policy-making milieu, examine the effects of international organizations on world politics, develop a theoretical and technical understanding of demographic, economic, and sociological tools, and discuss the current debates surrounding topics such as world economic systems, international trade, monetary policy, and global resource allocation.

Accelerated Public Policy and Administration Program Goals

After successful completion of this interdisciplinary professional program, graduates will possess the knowledge, skills, and aptitude to:

• Evaluate the collaborative inter-organizational, inter-governmental, and international public policy and administrative environment
• Apply a standard of ethics to policy and administrative context
• Design public policies and programs
• Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of public policies and programs
• Communicate relevant policy or program information to diverse stakeholders
• Lead public organizations to implement policy decisions with respect and understanding for the broader institutional, societal, economic, and political environment
• Manage public resources to achieve organizational goals

Accelerated Public Policy and Administration Curriculum

The Accelerated Public Policy and Administration program requires the successful completion of 13 courses: nine core courses, three specialization courses, and one final capstone project. The nine core courses taken within the accelerated cohort are:

• MPPA 401 Research Methods
• MPPA 402 Public Finance and Budgeting
• MPPA 403 Fundamentals of Public Administration
• MPPA 404 Microeconomics for Public Policy and Administration
• MPPA 405 Statistics for Research
• MPPA 406 Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis
• MPPA 407 Scope and Theory of Public Policy
• MPPA 408 Public Organization Theory and Management
• MPPA 418 Ethics and Leadership
• MPPA 498 Capstone Project

Accelerated Public Policy and Administration Areas of Specialization

Students in the accelerated program choose one of three available specializations: Public Administration, Public Policy, or Global Policy. Specialization courses are usually completed online in the accelerated program.

Accelerated Public Policy and Administration Admission

A variety of factors are considered when reviewing applicants to the accelerated program. Background and experience vary from student to student. For a complete list of requirements, see the Admission page for the Accelerated Public Policy and Administration program.

Accelerated Public Policy and Administration Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition for the Accelerated Public Policy and Administration program is paid every quarter, along with the associated service and quarterly fees. Financial aid opportunities through federal and private loans exist for accelerated students.

Public Policy and Administration Careers

Professional opportunities for graduates of Northwestern's Public Policy and Administration program are as broad and varied as the field of public policy and administration itself. With five concentrations to choose from, graduates set their sights on leadership roles in government at the local, regional, and federal levels, in nonprofit organizations, or in private enterprise.

Public Policy and Administration Faculty

Instructors in the Public Policy and Administration program at Northwestern University are leading scholars and practitioners in their field. They bring real-world experiences to the classroom and engage with students on a personal level.

Public Policy and Administration Student Leadership Council

The Student Leadership Council for the Public Policy and Administration program creates and hosts network events for the program.