Master's in Public Policy & Administration | Northwestern SPS
Master's in Public Policy & Administration
Thanks for your interest
Let us help you discover if the MA in Public Policy and Administration is right for you.
We appreciate your interest in the MA in Public Policy and Administration program — one of the few graduate programs to focus on both policy and administration. As an MPPA student you can build the diverse skills needed to drive change in government, education, nonprofit organizations, and more. You’ll learn from a faculty of professionals — experts in their fields — and choose from a range of specializations to develop expertise that precisely aligns with your career goals. You can earn your degree online or on campus and in as little as one year in the accelerated option.
If you would like to schedule a one-on-one appointment with an admission adviser, either over the phone or via Zoom, please email us with two dates and times that work best for you between Monday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (CT).
The MPPA program is offered in part-time and accelerated full-time formats. The part-time option offers a choice of five specializations and a wide range of electives that enable you to create the course of study you need to meet your career goals. You can complete your degree through part-time, nonresidential study or the one-year accelerated option. Whatever you choose, you will learn from experienced, engaged faculty who are thought leaders in their fields. We welcome international students from around the world to apply for our accelerated MPPA option. If admitted to the accelerated option, international students are eligible to apply and receive a student visa.
� .
EARN YOUR DEGREE IN ONE YEAR
STUDY AT YOUR OWN PACE
Earn your degree by taking mostly on-campus courses full-time in a residential cohort.
Earn your degree by taking classes part-time in a nonresidential program.
The AMPPA program has a full-time schedule — students complete the program in one year on an accelerated timeline.
The MPPA program has a part-time, flexible schedule — students complete the program in two to five years.
The AMPPA course load is three to four courses every quarter for one year.
The MPPA course load is up to two courses per quarter for two to five years.
Students take two on-campus courses and one to two online courses each term.
Students choose either on-campus or online courses based on their specialization.
Students choose from three specializations: Public Policy, Public Administration, or Global Policy.
Students choose from five specializations: Public Policy, Public Administration, Global Policy, Global Health, or Data Analytics.
Students interact with faculty and a dedicated cohort of classmates multiple times a week.
Faculty members are accessible as needed; students meet and network with diverse classmates in person and online.
The AMPPA program can be used to satisfy residential and visa requirements for U.S. study.
The MPPA program cannot satisfy any visa or residential requirements, but it can be completed entirely online.
The AMPPA program starts in the fall quarter and ends with the summer quarter each year.
The MPPA program starts in any quarter and ends with the completion of the degree.
Applicants must submit their applications by the December 1 deadline. Applicants should apply early to ensure enough time for document and visa processing.
The MPPA program is designed to help you advance and transform your career, with a flexible curriculum that supports your unique professional goals. On-campus and online course options help you balance your studies with your other commitments.
Specializations
{title}
Most policy professionals work in fast-paced environments where the creation of policy and the administration of that same policy often overlaps. We designed the MPPA program to encompass that intersection. Learn more about the program’s optional specializations for students who are interested in a deeper dive in a specific area.
Students in Northwestern’s MPPA program gain valuable knowledge from a network of instructors within the field. Our program faculty are industry leaders with real world experience from top organizations around the world. A few of our faculty members are featured below. To view the full list, take a look at our faculty page.
Currently teaching: Capstone Project, Public Organization Theory & Management, Public Human Resources, Ethics and Leadership
Angela Fontes
DIRECTOR OF THE BEHAVIORAL AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND DECISION-MAKING (BEAD) PROGRAM AT NORC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Currently teaching: Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Behavioral Economics
Rodrigo Garcia
DEPUTY TREASURER, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE ILLINOIS STATE TREASURER; ALUM OF THE MPPA PROGRAM AT NORTHWESTERN
Currently teaching: Elements of Public Finance and Budgeting
Maryjane Osa
CEO OF LAKE MOUNTAIN, A RESEARCH AND BUSINESS CONSULTING FIRM
Currently teaching: Public Organization Theory & Management, Ethics and Leadership
� .
What do alumni say?
{title}
The part-time MPPA program at Northwestern is designed to be flexible to support our students who have professional and personal commitments throughout the week. Once admitted to our program, you will join a network of like-minded classmates and alumni. Meet some of our alumni below. To learn even more, explore our collection of SPS Stories.
I wanted to stay in the field, but I missed school. I needed to stretch my brain and develop deeper skills in policy and administration. The MPPA program was one of the few that offered both and didn’t ask me to sacrifice my career. Add in Northwestern’s reputation, and there was no reason to apply anywhere else.
”
Kaitlin Fahey, Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth
The really unique thing about SPS’s MPPA program is that the faculty are not only great academics, but also real-world practitioners with a variety of experience that they can apply and teach in class.
”
Bryant Jackson-Green, J.D. Candidate at UC Irvine; Former Strategic Policy Advisor at Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
Northwestern’s MPPA program is one of the only programs that cover both the administrative and analytical sides. There’s a great lineup of professors who are active in the field—and they inspire students to reach for their goals.
”
Navdeep Dhaliwal, Former Community Outreach Specialist for Keadjian Associates & Former McCarthy Fellow at the Office of State Senator Jerry Hill
Admission
{title}
� .
As you begin your MPPA application, be sure to keep the following information in mind.
Completed applications received by the next deadline will get reviewed regardless of intended start date, so applicants for future quarters may submit early and receive their admission decisions sooner.
You will receive a decision on your application within four to six weeks after the application deadline.
You can defer your admission up to one year past your intended start time.
Your statement of purpose should address why you are a good fit for the program. Tell us about who you are, what you want to achieve, and how the MPPA program will get you there.
For strong letters of recommendation, reach out to professional or academic references who have directly supervised your work.
If you have a lower GPA, you can strengthen your application with an academic addendum.
Quarterly Application Deadlines
Fall: July 15 | Winter: October 15 | Spring: January 15 | Summer: April 15
At Northwestern University School of Professional Studies, we understand that earning a master’s degree is a significant investment of time and resources. As you continue researching our MPPA program, please be sure to review our tuition rates and remember that there are a number of resources at Northwestern to help you finance your education.
Citizens and permanent residents of the United States may be able to use federal financial aid to fund tuition, fees, and other applicable costs. Students can apply for their aid package once admitted into the program. Recipients must be enrolled in at least two courses for each quarter during which aid applies.
Northwestern University’s Employer Reimbursement Plan program allows students to defer payment of tuition that is covered by their employer until the end of each term of study. The Office of Student Accounts can help facilitate the billing and payment processes.
Veteran students may use benefits offered through the Department of Veteran Affairs toward their degree. Our Office of Financial Aid can help students determine which benefits may be used at Northwestern. To help students determine which educational benefit is best for their course of study, students can contact VA counselors at the GI Bill hotline at 1-888-442-4451 and at the VA website.
Once you begin the MPPA program at Northwestern University, you will have access to valuable resources to support your academic, professional, and personal growth. We are here every step of the way to ensure your success. Click the icons below to explore the wealth of resources you will have access to as a student at Northwestern:
