Program Overview

Master of Public Policy Program

The Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) program is a two-year professional degree program administered by the School of Social Ecology. The program provides training for highly motivated and talented individuals to become leaders at the local, state, national, and international level in the development and implementation of policies that lead to a more effective public sector, a more productive private sector, and more vibrant communities.

Admission Criteria

The GRE is recommended, but not required, for any student international or domestic that has completed all the requirements for their high school diploma, bachelor's degree, or an advanced degree in an educational institution where the primary and/or dominant language of instruction is English.

Program Requirements

Students are required to complete 72 units of graduate courses. In the first year, students will attend an introductory conference and take seven core courses and two elective courses. In the summer after the first year, students will participate in a policy-relevant internship in an appropriate government, business, or nonprofit setting. In the second year, students take three core courses (including a two-quarter capstone research project) and five elective courses.

Course Requirements

• Complete the following core courses:
  • UPPP 216 | Statistics and Methods for Public Policy
  • UPPP 219 | Information and Public Policy
  • UPPP 221 | Public Policy
  • UPPP 225 | Qualitative Methods for Public Policy
  • UPPP 227 | Economics of Government
  • UPPP 240 | Microeconomics and Public Policy
  • UPPP 260 | Policy and Ethics
  • UPPP 283 | Collaborative Governance and Public Management
  • SOCIOL 249 | Special Topics: Political Sociology and Social Movements
• Select seven elective courses (200-level courses) from within and outside the Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy.
• Complete two quarters of UPPP 274A.

Part-Time Option

A part-time option is available for students. Part-time students take two courses per quarter over the span of three years. These students have the choice of completing the required summer internship in the summer after year one, or the summer after year two. The required capstone project takes place during the winter and spring quarters of year three.