MPP Degree Requirements
The curriculum consists of 36 hours of graduate coursework, which must include 18 credit hours of required core courses, 3 hours in an internship, practicum, or thesis, and 15 hours of coursework in the concentration selected.
1. Required Core Courses (21 hours):
PAUS 8011 Politics and Policy
PAUS 8121 Applied Research Methods and Statistics I
PAUS 8131 Applied Research Methods and Statistics II
PAUS 8141 Micro-Economics for Public Policy
PAUS 8521 Evaluation Research
PAUS 8531 Policy Analysis
PAUS 8941, PAUS 8981, or PAUS 8991 Internship, Practicum, or Thesis
2. Concentration (15 hours)
MPP students take 15 hours of coursework in a targeted policy concentration. Students may choose the policy concentration in one of two ways. First, students may choose to specialize in one of the policy areas detailed below. As a second approach, students may design a concentration that is focused on one or more policy areas to create a unique program of study. This might include a combination of courses on related issues such as social and economic policy. Students seeking to design their own area of policy study may take courses within the AYSPS or from other departments within the University, but are required to request approval from the coordinator of the MPP program. Students should be aware that only the approved concentrations detailed below will appear on their transcripts.
Disaster Policy. This concentration focuses on local, state, national, and international policies to manage risks related to natural, technological, and other man-made hazards and on the linkages among disaster, environmental, public health, sustainable development, and related policies. The Disaster Policy concentration of the MPP takes advantage of the courses available in the School as well as the university’s Public Health program. The concentration in Disaster Policy would provide preparation for a career in a variety of public agencies at all levels of government that deal with disaster mitigation planning and policy. This concentration complements our existing certificate program in Disaster Management.
Required Courses:
PAUS 8271 Disaster Policy and Emergency Management
PAUS 8281 Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Assistance
Elective Courses (Select three):
PAUS 8201 International NGOs
PAUS 8021 Scope and Theory of Planning
PAUS 8311 Urban Demography and Analysis
ECON 8320 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics and Theory
PH 7011 Epidemiology
PH 7150 Environmental Health
MPP in Disaster Policy Degree Sheet MPP Disaster Policy Course Sequencing Guide (2009-2010)
Nonprofit Policy. The mission of the concentration in Nonprofit Policy is to educate talented and motivated individuals with knowledge of the nonprofit sector as well as the skills and values to become visionary leaders. Many graduates will become researchers, policymakers, and advocates in their communities by enhancing their understanding of relationships between nonprofit organizations, government and the policymaking process.
Required Courses:
PAUS 8210 Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector
PAUS 8203 Nonprofit Advocacy, Law, and Policy
Elective Courses (Select Three):
PAUS 8010 Social Policy
PAUS 8201 International NGOs
PAUS 8213 Nonprofit Financial Resources
PAUS 8223 Nonprofit Human Resources
ENG 6510 Grant and Proposal Writing
MPP in Nonprofit Policy Degree Sheet MPP Nonprofit Policy Course Sequencing Guide (2009-2010)
Planning and Economic Development. This concentration prepares students to be better decision makers on planning and economic development issues for public, private, and nonprofit employers and to be more informed and effective as citizens. It provides appropriate academic background for jobs responsible for selecting locations, planning services and facility investments, providing analysis of policy alternatives, and advocating change and improvement within organizations and society. The concentration relies on theory drawn from planning, economics, and other social science literature and provides a critical view of current practice. It introduces students to the history and professional culture of the planning profession and to the planning process as a systematic, yet creative approach, to problem solving. The required courses are also designed to acquaint students with common planning and economic development data sources and methods and how to use them appropriately.
Required Courses
PAUS 8021 Scope and Theory of Planning
PAUS 8311 Urban Demography and Analysis
PAUS 8321 Economic Development Policy
Elective Courses (Select two)
PAUS 8331 Urban Development and Growth Management
PAUS 8031 Urban Political Economy
PAUS 8351 Local Government and Management
PAUS 8561 GIS Applications to Planning and Policy Analysis
PAUS 8010 Social Policy
MPP in Planning & Economic Development Policy Degree Sheet MPP Planning & Economic Development Policy Course Sequencing Guide (2009-2010)
Public Finance Policy. The mission of the Public Finance Policy concentration is to prepare students who are able to analyze public budget and finance policy. These analysts are in demand by a variety of public agencies. The Public Finance Policy concentration takes advantage of the top ten US News & World Report ranking of the School in the area of Public Finance. The program should be ideal preparation for a variety of positions in the fields of budget analysis and finance policy.
Required Courses:
PAUS 8161 Public Budgeting and Finance
ECON 8080 Economics of the Public Sector
Elective Courses (Select three):
ECON 8110 Macroeconomic Analysis
ECON 8460 Economics of the State and Local Public Sector
ECON 8470 International Public Economics
PAUS 8501 Managing Public Money
HA 8250 Health Economics and Financing
MPP in Public Finance Policy Degree Sheet MPP in Public Finance Policy Course Sequencing Guide (2009-2010)
Social Policy. A concentration in social policy is designed to give the student an understanding of policies addressing issues such as poverty, crime, and education—including how these policies develop, what effects they have, and how they can be assessed. This concentration provides a good preparation for students interested in careers in the analysis of social policies and for students intending to pursue doctoral work in public policy or a related field.
Required Course:
PAUS 8010 Social Policy
Elective Courses (Select four):
PAUS 8311 Urban Demography and Analysis
PAUS 8461 Ethics in Public Administration
PAUS 8651 Education Policy (or EPS 8360 Educational Policy Making and Analysis)
AAS 6029 African American Political Participation
WST 8002 Globalization and Gender
SOCI 8226 Urban Sociology
MPP in Social Policy Degree Sheet MPP in Social Policy Course Sequencing Guide (2009-2010)
*Note: Concentration with an asterick is currently still pending university approval
3. Internship (3 hours)
Internships are required for all MPP students. Internship experiences provide students the opportunity to apply concepts and skills associated with their graduate curriculum. This opportunity for professional growth and development requires enrollment in 3 hours of PAUS 8941.
The department's internship coordinators assist in the search for an appropriate internship opportunity. Students are expected to take the lead in this search. Internship credit requires the completion of 300 hours of work. Students are free to work full-time or part-time, according to their needs and those of their internship sponsor. Many students find paid internships, but there are some unpaid internships available that are very desirable. Students should consider the value of the experience that an internship provides, in addition to the pay. Students with substantial prior administrative experience may petition to waive the internship requirement. Petition forms are available from the Office of Academic Assistance.
MPP students also have the option to conduct a practicum-an applied research project, in lieu of the internship. The practicum represents an excellent option for students who are interested in additional research experience, especially students who intend to pursue doctoral studies subsequent to their master's work. It also represents an excellent option for working students who do not qualify for an internship waiver, but who could pursue a practicum research project in their employing agency. Any student who might be interested in registering for a practicum should talk with a possible practicum advisor (such as the student's faculty advisor) during the semester prior to the intended registration.