Public Policy & Administration
Most graduate programs in public policy require students to choose between the analytical and the administrative sides of the discipline. Northwestern’s part-time Master's in Public Policy and Administration degree program encompasses both. While instilling leadership skills, this on-campus or online program develops students’ administrative as well as analytical competence to enable them to rise in the field and drive change at the local, national and international levels. This public policy master's degree program encompasses a range of MPPA specializations — public administration, public policy, global policy — all grounded in the perspective that policy challenges are fluid, interconnected and global. Students learn to think across diverse groups and boundaries.
The MA in Public Policy and Administration is a versatile degree that applies to a variety of areas across all career sectors, private as well as public. MPPA graduates achieve leadership roles in government at the local, state and federal levels, in nonprofit organizations, and in the private sector. Public Policy and Administration graduate students pursue rewarding careers in health service, community service, in management consulting jobs, with financial institutions, in social entrepreneurial organizations, urban and regional planning, political science research and foreign affairs.
All courses are fully accredited. SPS online courses marry the best aspects of online technology with the interactivity of the classroom. Students can take any combination of online and on-campus courses, or all online or all on-campus, to complete their degree. Find out more about online learning at SPS.
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Not only was [behavioral economics] interesting to me academically, but those ideas have helped inform my professional work. In the world of politics, a lot of the questions are about how people are going to react to situations.”
— JC Kibbey (MPPA '14), Outreach and Policy Advocate at Union of Concerned Scientists
An interdisciplinary professional program, MPPA graduates will possess the knowledge, skills and aptitude to:
Students can focus on a particular area of interest by selecting one of the MA in Public Policy and Administration Specializations as part of the application process. Students can also choose the "generalist" designation, which allows them to take their electives from different specializations.
Review curriculum details and elective choices while you consider applying to this program. Current students should refer to the curriculum requirements in place at time of entry into the program.
The MPPA program requires the successful completion of 13 courses. The curriculum covers nine core courses, three elective courses corresponding to a declared specialization, and a capstone (498) or thesis (590) project.
MPPA 401 Research Methods
MPPA 402 Public Finance and Budgeting
MPPA 403 Fundamentals of Public Administration
MPPA 404 Microeconomics for Public Policy and Administration
MPPA 405 Statistics for Research
MPPA 406 Analytic Methods for Public Policy
MPPA 407 Scope and Theory of Public Policy
MPPA 408 Public Organization Theory and Management
MPPA 409 Strategies for Effective Writing
Three Specialization courses
MPPA 498 Capstone Project or MPPA 590 Thesis Research
Explore Public Policy and Administration Courses. You can narrow your course search by day, location or instructor.
A variety of factors are considered when your application is reviewed. Background and experience vary from student to student. For a complete list of requirements, see the Master's in Public Policy & Administration Admission page.
Tuition for the Master's in Public Policy and Administration program at Northwestern is comparable to similar US programs. Financial aid opportunities exist for students at Northwestern. Complete details can be found on the MPPA Tuition and Financial Aid pages.
Already accepted into the Master's in Public Policy and Administration program? Get ahead and register for your classes as soon as possible.
Professional opportunities for graduates of Northwestern's MPPA program are as broad and varied as the field of public policy and administration itself. With five concentrations to choose from, MPPA graduates set their sights on leadership roles in government at the local, regional and federal levels, in nonprofit organizations or in private enterprise. For details visit the Public Policy and Administration Career Options page.
Instructors in the Master's in Public Policy and Administration program at Northwestern are leading scholars and practitioners in their field. They bring real-world experiences to the classroom and engage with students on a personal level. Get to know the instructors on our Public Policy and Administration Faculty page.
Learn about the MPPA Student Leadership Council and their efforts to create and host network events for the program.
