The Public Policy and Management specialization of the Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) program provides a mixture of academic and applied education in areas such as public and nonprofit leadership, public policy, public and nonprofit administration, and program evaluation within the U.S. All curriculum of the program is geared towards providing students with the necessary skills and knowledge to become successful public service leaders within public and nonprofit organizations within the United States.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion, students will be able to:
- Understand, articulate, and exemplify the ethics, values, responsibilities, obligations, and social roles of a member of the public service profession within the US.
- Identify and apply economic, legal, political, social, and ethical theories and frameworks to the practice of public service leadership, management, and policy within the US.
- Identify and apply organizational theories and frameworks to the practice of public service leadership, management, and policy in the US.
- Respond to and engage collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and communities to address challenges in the public interest within the US.
- Understand the complexities of US public policy design, implementation, and assessment.
- Employ appropriate methodologies and techniques to investigate, monitor, and manage human, fiscal, technological, information, physical, and other resource use within the US.
- Conceptualize, analyze, and develop creative and collaborative solutions to challenges in public policy, leadership, and management within the US.
- Assess challenges and explore solutions to advance cross-sectoral and inter-jurisdictional cooperation in public programs and services within the US.
- Develop and demonstrate verbal and written communication skills as a professional and through interpersonal interactions in groups and in society within the US.
- Reflect critically about emerging issues concerning US public service management and policy.
Effective Fall 2025
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses: | ||
| PPA 500 | Research Methods for Public Policy and Admin | 3 |
| PPA 501 | Program Evaluation and Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| PPA 530 | Civic Engagement | 3 |
| PPA 551 | Public Human Resources Management | 3 |
| PPA 552 | Public Budgeting and Finance | 3 |
| PPA 553 | Public Organizational Management and Behavior | 3 |
| PPA 587 | Internship | 3 |
| PPA 665/POLS 665 | Public Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PPA 670 | Capstone in Public Policy and Administration | 3 |
| Public Policy and Management Specialization Electives (see list below) | 12 | |
| Program Total Credits: | 39 | |
Public Policy and Management Specialization Electives (12 credits total)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 6-12 credits from the following: | ||
| PPA 543 | Evidence-Based Decision Making | 3 |
| PPA 559 | Nonprofit Management | 3 |
| PPA 561 | State and Local Government Finance | 3 |
| PPA 575 | Public Service Administration | 3 |
| PPA 576 | Social Equity in Public Service | 3 |
| PPA 577 | Intersectional Advocacy and Public Policy | 3 |
| PPA 578 | Health and Justice | 3 |
| PPA 592 | Special Topics in Public Policy and Admin | 3 |
| Select 0-6 credits from the following: | ||
| PPA 540 | International Policy Toolkit | 3 |
| PPA 541 | Principles & Processes of International Mgmt | 3 |
| PPA 542 | Policy Accountability--Non-Democratic Regimes | 3 |
| PPA 544 | Ethics and Efficacy--Global Policymaking | 3 |
A minimum of 39 credits are required to complete this program.
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |