Master of Public Policy

Learn the art of policy and governance, and gain the analytical skills and practical experience to launch a career solving pressing policy challenges.

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a two-year professional degree designed to provide you with the skills, expertise and networks to identify problems and create solutions.

Ranked in the nation's best

Through your coursework, you'll develop the critical thinking and analytical skills that form the foundation of effective decision-making. Outside of the classroom, our location in the Washington D.C. region will provide you with expansive opportunities to engage directly in local, national and international policymaking.

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Highlights

Gain a strong foundation in the perspectives, tools and skills that will serve you throughout your policy career with a core set of governance, quantitative and practice-oriented courses.
Take a deeper dive into areas of interest with our optional specializations, or develop your own specialization to explore a particular policy area.
Learn from faculty who are both scholars and practitioners, bringing their real-world experiences and connections into the classroom.

Sarah Edelman MPP ’13 leads HUD's push for more inclusive single family housing policies

Latanya Mapp Frett ’91, MPM ’95 is on a mission to create positive global impact

Kahlil Kettering MPM ’15 leads climate adaptation and Chesapeake Bay conservation efforts

Curriculum

The MPP curriculum consists of two components - a core set of courses (27 credits total) that provide a foundation in governance, quantitative skills and the practice of public policy and elective courses that allow a deeper dive into a particular area of interest. Students must complete 48 credits to earn the MPP degree.

Core Courses (27 credits total)

Governance Sequence

PLCY630 (formerly PLCY688E) Normative and Political Dimensions of Public Policy (3 credits)
PLCY631 (formerly PLCY688G) Governance: Leadership, Management & Accountability (3 credits)
PLCY680 (formerly PLCY699D) Examining Social Identity and Pluralism in Public Policy (3 credits) (For students matriculating in or after summer 2021)

Quantitative Skills Sequence

PLCY640 Microeconomic and Policy Analysis (3 credits)
PLCY610 Quantitative Aspects of Public Policy (3 credits)
PLCY641 Macroeconomics and Policy Analysis (3 Credits)
PLCY670 Public Budgeting and Financial Management (3 Credits)

Practice Sequence

PLCY690 (formerly PLCY699X) Policy Engagement Project (3 Credits)
PLCY790 Project Course (3 credits)

Elective Courses (21 credits total)

Students may use 21 elective credits to complete one or two specializations, and/or pursue general policy interests.

Explore the specializations

Sample Plan of Study

PLCY630 (formerly PLCY688E) (Governance Sequence) Normative and Political Dimensions of Public Policy (3 credits)
PLCY610 (Quantitative Skills Sequence) Quantitative Aspects of Public Policy (3 credits)
PLCY640 (Quantitative Skills Sequence) Microeconomics and Policy Analysis (3 credits)
General elective (3 credits)

View sample plans & course requirements for each of the specializations

Our Faculty

Michael Woldemariam

Associate Professor; Senior Fellow, CISSM

Michael Woldemariam is an associate professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Senior Fellow at the Center for International & Security Studies at Maryland.

Areas of Interest

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Catherine Z. Worsnop

Assistant Professor; Research Fellow, CISSM

Catherine Z. Worsnop is an assistant professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland-College Park and a research fellow at the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM).

Areas of Interest

Global governance; international relations; international organizations; security studies; global health

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John Ronquillo

Associate Professor; Director, IPL

John C. Ronquillo is the inaugural director of the Institute for Public Leadership and associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy.

Areas of Interest

Leadership and ethics; public and nonprofit management; social equity; indigenous governance and leadership

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Cullen Merritt

Associate Professor; Research Director, IPL

Cullen C. Merritt, an award-winning researcher and teacher, is an associate professor of public management and research director of the Institute for Public Leadership in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Areas of Interest

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Rosina Bierbaum

Research Professor; Roy F. Weston Chair in Natural Economics; Senior Fellow, CGS

Former Acting Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, White House
Chair, Scientific and Advisory Panel of the Global Environment Facility
Science Advisor, Global Commission on Adaptation

Rosina Bierbaum is the

Areas of Interest

Climate change: mitigation & adaptation; science policy; development & environment

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Michael Woldemariam

Associate Professor; Senior Fellow, CISSM

Areas of Interest

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Tuition & Fees

We are committed to making higher education accessible and affordable. Learn more.

Aid & Scholarships

See the financial aid and scholarships that are available to help fund your education.

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Accreditation

Mission Statement

The MPP program recruits potential policy leaders from across the country and world into public service, and prepares them for careers fostering more effective and cross-sector global, national, and local policies and governance processes, through:

Careful analysis of evidence using sophisticated interdisciplinary lenses;
Practical experience leveraging our unique location;
Exposure to best practices and top policy leaders;
Development of professional, leadership, and innovation skills; and
Appreciation for democratic and inclusive ideals in a multicultural world.

We aim for all graduates to be capable generalists and, when desired, to have a grounding in specific topic areas, especially environmental and energy policy; international development policy; international security and economic policy; social policy; public/nonprofit management, leadership and finance; and science & technology policy.

Class Profile

Completion Rate

Students commencing MPP studies in Fall 2018 or Spring 2019:

Total # of students in cohort: 67
Graduated within 2 years: 44 (66%)
Graduated within 3 years: 57 (85%)
Graduated within 4 years: 59 (88%)
Total students graduated and persisting to graduation: 61 (91%)

The MPP program includes both full-time and part-time students. Typically, full-time students will finish within two years and part-time students will take up to four years. Dual degree students take from 3-4 years to complete the program and some students take a year or two off in the middle of their studies and thus take a little longer to complete the program.

Career Outcomes