With a concentration in Policy Analysis, you’ll be prepared to tackle tough problems and improve the decision-making needed to address them. You’ll learn which research methods are appropriate for various situations, how to design applied studies, and how to develop action-oriented plans and guidelines. We’re ranked #2 in the nation in this area by U.S. News & World Report.
In addition to qualitative and quantitative skills, you’ll gain the contextual knowledge needed for effective analysis. This concentration will prepare you to properly conduct, communicate, and consume accurate and actionable research.
53MPA Policy Analysis Students (Spring 2021)
1:6Faculty:Student ratio (2021)
89%All O’Neill MPA Placement Rate (2020)
You’ll begin by mastering the fundamentals reflected in our MPA program’s core competencies. These five courses (15 credit hours) will give you well-developed analytical skills and a broad understanding of policy issues and government processes. In addition to these highly transferable core skills, the Policy Analysis concentration includes a required course, Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs (P 507), and two of the following three skills courses:
The remainder of the coursework comes in a wide range of elective courses. These will allow you to tailor your Policy Analysis program to your own specific interests. Working with your advisor, you'll be able to select from many elective options related to the policy field.
This is not an exhaustive list. To see all options, go to course descriptions, below.
Combining your Policy Analysis concentration with another MPA concentration—such as Economic Development or Information Systems—may offer you unique advantages in pursuing a particular career. As they help you design your program, our faculty will work to accommodate your specialized professional interests.
The above are examples of your course options. For a complete listing, see the official Indiana University Graduate Bulletin and work with your advisor as you make your schedule.
Our MPA program offers far more than traditional lectures and lessons. You'll also get the benefit of experiential learning—typically through an approved internship. What's more, your concentrations course work will culminate in a project-oriented course—a Capstone—that lets you apply the knowledge you gained throughout the program.
Executive Associate Dean, Professor
Associate Professor
Rudy Professor Emeritus of Policy Analysis
Professor; Director, Ph.D. Programs in Public Affairs and Public Policy
Distinguished Professor; Herman B Wells Endowed Professor; Paul O’Neill Chair; Associate Vice Provost for Health Sciences; Elected member, National Academy of Medicine; Editor, Journal of Health Economics
Analyst, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Washington, D.C.
“The wide breadth of quantitative and qualitative skills I gained studying Policy Analysis prepared me to meet the ever-changing demands of my position conducting evaluations for Congress.”
Director of Quality Improvement and Enterprise Risk Management, U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of the Inspector General, Washington, D.C.
“The MPA program provided me with the specialized analytical skills and tools needed to start my career in public policy.”
Founding Partner, Speire Healthcare Strategies, LLC
“The entire curriculum helped build critical thinking skills, which I still use every day.”
