Master of Public Policy

The Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.), one of several public policy degrees, is a master's level professional degree that provides training in policy analysis and program evaluation at public policy schools. The MPP program places a focus on the systematic analysis of issues related to public policy and the decision processes associated with them. This includes training in the role of economic and political factors in public decision-making and policy formulation; microeconomic analysis of policy options and issues; resource allocation and decision modeling; cost/benefit analysis; statistical methods; and various applications to specific public policy topics. MPP recipients serve or have served in the public sector, at the international, national, subnational, and local levels.

MPP and MPA

Over time, the curriculum of Master of Public Policy and the Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degrees have tended to overlap in many areas, due to the realization that policy analysis and program evaluation could benefit from an understanding of public administration, and vice versa.

Today, the core course offerings of many M.P.A. and M.P.P. programs are similar, with M.P.P. programs providing training in policy analysis, and M.P.A. programs providing coursework in program implementation. However, MPP programs still place more emphasis in policy analysis, research and evaluation, while MPA programs place more emphasis on implementation of public policies and the design of effective programs and projects to achieve public policy goals. Some universities have begun offering a combined M.P.P.A. degree, Master of Public Policy and Administration. Several institutions use Public Policy as an umbrella term, which may house several programs such as an M.P.A. and degrees related to highly specific areas focusing on fields such as Survey Research or Nonprofit Studies.

Interdisciplinary Approach

Over the years MPP programs have become more interdisciplinary drawing from economics, sociology, anthropology, politics, and regional planning. In general a core curriculum of an MPP program includes courses on Microeconomics, Public Finance, Research Methods, Statistics and Advanced Data Analysis, Qualitative Research, Population Methods, Politics of Policy Process, Policy Analysis, Ethics, Public Management, Urban Policy & GIS, Program Evaluation, and more. All these courses are designed to equip MPP graduates with skills and knowledge in advanced economic analysis, political analysis, ethical analysis, data analysis, management and leadership. Depending on the interest, MPP students can concentrate in many policy areas including but not limited to urban policy, global policy, social policy, health policy, non-profit management, transportation, economic development, education, information technology, population research, etc.

Schools Offering the Master's of Public Policy

A Master's of Public Policy can be acquired at various institutions. Below is a list of some of these institutions:

• In Canada, an M.P.P. can be acquired at the University of Saskatchewan, Simon Fraser University, the University of Calgary, and the University of Toronto.
• In the United States, an M.P.P. can be acquired at numerous institutions including Georgetown University, Stanford University, Harvard University, University of California-Berkeley, American University, Oregon State University, Arizona State University, the University of Southern California, the University of Chicago, Brown University, University of Michigan, George Washington University, Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University, Pepperdine University, California Polytechnic State University, University of California, Riverside and the University of Maryland - College Park. Through institutions' Departments of Public Policy, M.P.A. degrees are offered at Rutgers University and University at Albany (SUNY); the University of Connecticut's Department of Public Policy offers an M.P.A. with close ties to a Master of Arts in Survey Research.
• List of Public Policy Schools

See also

• Master of Public Affairs
• Master of Public Administration
• Master of Nonprofit Organizations
• Public policy schools
• Master of Business Administration
• Doctor of Public Administration

External links

• (USA) National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
• (USA) Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
• GlobalMPA web portal Website for international students and programs outside the US.
• "MPA/MPP Information for Prospective Students," a YouTube video produced by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs & Administration in Washington DC.
• Public Sector Job Site Nonprofit website for those seeking jobs in public sector.
• MPA/MPP Student Website For prospective students interested in acquiring an MPA/MPP Degree in the United States of America.
• Simon Fraser University M.P.P. Website Information regarding the Simon Fraser University school of Public Policy.
• University of Calgary M.P.P. Website Information regarding the University of Calgary school of Public Policy.
• University of Toronto M.P.P. Website Information regarding the University of Toronto school of Public Policy.
• UConn D.P.P. Website Information regarding the University of Connecticut Department of Public Policy.
• School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland - College Park Information regarding the University of Maryland School of Public Policy.