Program Overview

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University of Michigan Programs

The University of Michigan offers a range of programs through the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. These programs are designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in public policy, preparing them for careers in this field.

Graduate Programs

The Ford School offers several graduate programs, including:

• Master of Public Policy (MPP)
• Master of Public Affairs (MPA)
• Online Master of Public Affairs (MPA)
• Dual degrees and certificates
• Joint PhDs in public policy

Master of Public Policy (MPP)

The MPP program is designed to provide students with a rigorous education in public policy, including coursework in policy analysis, economics, and political science.

• Application requirements
• Policy concentrations
• Funding

Master of Public Affairs (MPA)

The MPA program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in public affairs, including coursework in policy analysis, management, and leadership.

• Application requirements
• Curriculum
• Funding

Online Master of Public Affairs (MPA)

The online MPA program is designed to provide students with a flexible and comprehensive education in public affairs, including coursework in policy analysis, management, and leadership.

• Application requirements
• Curriculum
• In-person residencies
• Tuition and financial aid
• Frequently asked questions

Joint PhDs in Public Policy

The joint PhD programs are designed to provide students with a rigorous education in public policy and a related discipline, such as economics, political science, or sociology.

• Public Policy and Economics
• Public Policy and Political Science
• Public Policy and Sociology
• Joint PhD application process
• Dissertation archive
• Job placements database
• PhD funding

Undergraduate Programs

The Ford School also offers undergraduate programs, including:

• Major in public policy
• Minor in public policy
• PPIA summer program

Prepared for Success

The Ford School offers a range of resources to help students succeed, including:

• Academic and career supports
• Leadership Initiative
• Military and veteran support
• Writing Center
• Policy Analysis Learning Lab
• Engaged learning

Academic and Career Supports

The Ford School offers a range of academic and career supports, including advising, mentoring, and career counseling.

Leadership Initiative

The Leadership Initiative is a program designed to provide students with leadership skills and experience, including coursework, coaching, and extracurricular programming.

Military and Veteran Support

The Ford School offers a range of resources to support military and veteran students, including advising, mentoring, and career counseling.

Writing Center

The Writing Center is a resource available to all Ford School students, providing support with writing and communication skills.

Policy Analysis Learning Lab

The Policy Analysis Learning Lab is a resource available to all Ford School students, providing support with policy analysis and research skills.

Engaged Learning

The Ford School offers a range of engaged learning opportunities, including internships, research projects, and community engagement.

Research and Impact

The Ford School is committed to research and impact, with a range of research centers and initiatives focused on public policy issues.

• Ford School impact
• Press and policymakers
• Research centers
• Policy topics

Ford School Impact

The Ford School has a range of research initiatives and centers focused on public policy issues, including education policy, energy and environment, and diplomacy and international policy.

Press and Policymakers

The Ford School has a range of resources and initiatives focused on engaging with press and policymakers, including media relations, policy briefs, and testimony.

Research Centers

The Ford School has a range of research centers focused on public policy issues, including the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy and the Center for Public Policy in Diverse Societies.

Policy Topics

The Ford School has a range of research initiatives and centers focused on specific policy topics, including education policy, health policy, and economic policy.

Faculty Expertise

The Ford School has a range of faculty with expertise in public policy, including:

• Faculty expertise
• Podcasts
• Visiting policymakers
• Faculty awards

Faculty Expertise

The Ford School faculty have a range of expertise in public policy, including policy analysis, economics, and political science.

Podcasts

The Ford School has a range of podcasts focused on public policy issues, including the "Policy Talks" podcast.

Visiting Policymakers

The Ford School has a range of visiting policymakers and practitioners who teach and conduct research at the school.

Faculty Awards

The Ford School faculty have received a range of awards and recognition for their research and teaching, including the prestigious Harold Lasswell Award.

News and Events

The Ford School has a range of news and events, including:

• Latest news
• Stay connected
• Upcoming events
• Video

Latest News

The Ford School has a range of news and announcements, including updates on research, events, and faculty and student achievements.

Stay Connected

The Ford School has a range of ways to stay connected, including social media, email newsletters, and events.

Upcoming Events

The Ford School has a range of upcoming events, including lectures, conferences, and workshops.

Video

The Ford School has a range of video resources, including lectures, interviews, and documentaries.

PhD Program

The Ford School offers a PhD program in public policy, designed to provide students with a rigorous education in public policy and a related discipline.

• Generous support
• Disciplinary orientation
• Empirical methods
• Research training opportunities
• Interdisciplinary policy analysis

Generous Support

The PhD program offers generous support to students, including five years of funding and a stipend.

Disciplinary Orientation

The PhD program is designed to provide students with a disciplinary orientation, including coursework and research in a related discipline such as economics, political science, or sociology.

Empirical Methods

The PhD program emphasizes empirical methods, including statistics, economic analysis, and qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection and analysis.

Research Training Opportunities

The PhD program provides students with research training opportunities, including working as a research assistant to a faculty member and attending a biweekly research seminar.

Interdisciplinary Policy Analysis

The PhD program emphasizes interdisciplinary policy analysis, including coursework and research that brings together multiple disciplines to address public policy issues.

PhD Program Requirements

The PhD program has a range of requirements, including:

• Public policy and economics
• Public policy and political science
• Public policy and sociology
• Joint PhD application process
• Dissertation archive
• Job placements database
• PhD funding

Public Policy and Economics

The PhD program in public policy and economics is designed to provide students with a rigorous education in public policy and economics.

Public Policy and Political Science

The PhD program in public policy and political science is designed to provide students with a rigorous education in public policy and political science.

Public Policy and Sociology

The PhD program in public policy and sociology is designed to provide students with a rigorous education in public policy and sociology.

Joint PhD Application Process

The joint PhD application process is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in public policy and a related discipline.

Dissertation Archive

The dissertation archive is a resource available to all PhD students, providing access to completed dissertations and research papers.

Job Placements Database

The job placements database is a resource available to all PhD students, providing information on job placements and career outcomes.

PhD Funding

The PhD program offers generous funding to students, including five years of support and a stipend.

Meet Our Graduates

The Ford School has a range of successful graduates, including:

• Angel Harris (PhD '05), professor of sociology, Duke University
• Christina Cross (PhD '19), associate professor of sociology, Harvard University
• Alexandra Resch (PhD '08), senior researcher, Mathematica Policy Research

Angel Harris

Angel Harris is a professor of sociology at Duke University, and a graduate of the Ford School PhD program.

Christina Cross

Christina Cross is an associate professor of sociology at Harvard University, and a graduate of the Ford School PhD program.

Alexandra Resch

Alexandra Resch is a senior researcher at Mathematica Policy Research, and a graduate of the Ford School PhD program.