Master of Public Policy (MPP)

Improve policy at the local, national, or worldwide level

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a rigorous, skills-oriented program focusing on the evaluation and design of public policy. You will refine your skills to be able to analyze, evaluate, and solve a host of policy puzzles. 

Upon completion of this degree, you will be equipped to work with quantitative data and microeconomic tools to develop, assess, and evaluate alternative approaches to current and emerging issues and to inform evidence-based policymaking.  

The Master of Public Policy provides a quantitative-focused pathway and concentrates on the evaluation and design of public policy. This focus complements our Master of Public Affairs (consistently ranked as one of the top public affairs programs in the nation), which instead concentrates on implementation and management of public programs and organizations. 

Take the first step

Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

An additional 9 credit hours will focus on one of six anticipated concentrations:

Explore the ways in which government actions at the federal, state and local levels affect health and healthcare

Sample courses:

  • Health Policy  
  • Health Industry Regulation  
  • Health Economics  
  • International Healthcare Systems  
  • Public Health Policy and Politics in the U.S.  

Combine environmental knowledge and science with policy know-how to impact crucial issues.   

Sample courses: 

  • Domestic Environmental Policy (E 555 / V 550) 
  • Environmental Economics and Policy (R 625) 
  • Sustainable Development (S 596) 
  • Environmental Risk Analysis (E 560) 
  • Environmental and Natural Resource Policy Design and Implementation (V 550) 
  • Water Policy and Economics (V550) 
  • Natural Resource Management and Policy (R 643) 

Work to meet the energy challenges dominating the global landscape.   

Sample courses: 

  • Energy Economics and Policy  
  • Energy Analysis and Markets  
  • Climate Law and Policy  
  • Natural Resource Management and Policy  
  • Energy Law and Policy  

Explore how health, food and social policies intersect and gain expertise into the theory and evidence behind public programs. 

Sample courses: 

  • Social Policy 
  • Food Systems and Community Resilience  
  • Food Policy in a Changing World  
  • Health Policy  
  • Public Programs Theory and Evidence  

Discover how social justice policy and justice converge, learn how to manage workforce diversity, and become an expert in advocacy, justice, and race policies.

Sample courses: 

  • Social Justice  
  • Social Policy 
  • Managing Workforce Diversity  
  • Race and Policing  
  • Civil Society and Public Policy  
  • Justice, Advocacy and Policy 

Understand and apply the theory and practice of generating revenue and allocating resources through the budgeting process, as well as managing public assets and other fiscal resources.  

Sample courses: 

  • Seminar in Revenue Theory and Administration  
  • Seminar in Government Budget and Program Analysis  
  • Seminar in Public Capital and Debt Theory  
  • Governmental Financial Accounting and Reporting  
  • Seminar in in Public Revenue 
  • Seminar in Public Budgeting  
  • Seminar in Public Debt  

Remaining degree requirements include 3 credits of elective coursework and an internship - gaining real-world experience and the opportunity to put what you are learning into action, in real time.

Fall Term

Classes begin in August

  • Priority deadline: January 15
  • International deadline: March 1
  • Final deadline: May 1

 
100% of O'Neill master's students are considered for funding.

Competitive funding packages are available to assist in making our top-ranked school affordable. Email us about funding your degree. 

Learn more

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This program equips you with the knowledge to identify the data sources needed—and the skills to extract, analyze, and interpret the data to inform policy insights.

—Jill Nicholson-Crotty, Director, Master of Public Policy Program