MPP

MPP Program (48 credit hours)

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a rigorous, skills-oriented program focusing on the evaluation and design of public policy. You will refine your skills to be able to analyze, evaluate, and solve a host of policy puzzles. 

Upon completion of this degree, you will be equipped to work with quantitative data and microeconomic tools to develop, assess, and evaluate alternative approaches to current and emerging issues and to inform evidence-based policymaking.  

The Master of Public Policy provides a quantitative-focused pathway and concentrates on the evaluation and design of public policy. This focus complements our Master of Public Affairs (consistently ranked as one of the top public affairs programs in the nation), which instead concentrates on implementation and management of public programs and organizations. 

MPP Requirement I: Core (24 credit hours)

SPEA-V 506Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making
SPEA-P 507Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs

SPEA-V 512

SPEA-V 538 

Public Policy Process OR

Comparative and International Policy Process

SPEA-V 517Public Management Economics
SPEA-P 710Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy
SPEA-P 541Benefit Cost Analysis *Prerequisite: V517 or instructor permission
SPEA-P 562Public Program Evaluation *Prerequisite: V506 or equivalent coursework
SPEA-V 600Capstone in Public Affairs

MPP Requirement II: Public Finance and Management (6 credit hours)

SPEA-V 535Managing and Leading in Public Affairs
SPEA-F 560Public Finance and Budgeting

MPP Requirement III: Advanced Tools Courses (6 credit hours)

Choose two of the following:

SPEA-E 518

SPEA-E 529 

Vector-based Geographic Information Systems OR

Application of Geographic Information Systems

SPEA-V 706Statistics for Research in Public Affairs I
SPEA-V 707Statistics for Research in Public Affairs II
SPEA-P 539Management Science for Public Affairs
SPEA-P 762Public Program Evaluation
SPEA-P 764Seminar in Policy Analysis

MPP Requirement IV: Concentration (9 credit hours)

MPP students select one of the concentrations below. Students should ensure their course selections below total nine credit hours. Contact your advisor with any concentration-specific questions. 

SPEA-H 549Health Policy
SPEA-H 524Health Industry Regulation
SPEA-H 525Health Economics
SPEA-H 527International Healthcare Systems
SPH-X 685Public Health Policy and Politics in the U.S.

SPEA-R 521Domestic Environmental Policy
SPEA-R 625Environmental Economics and Policy
SPEA-S 596Sustainable Development *Prerequisite: V517 or equivalent coursework
SPEA-E 560Environmental Risk Analysis
SPEA-V 550Environmental and Natural Resource Policy Design and Implementation
SPEA-R 532Water Policy and Economics
SPEA-R 643Natural Resource Management and Policy

SPEA-R 674Energy Economics and Policy
SPEA-E 574Energy Analysis and Markets
SPEA-V 550Climate Law and Policy
SPEA-R 643Natural Resouce Management and Policy
LAW-B 644 / SPEA-V 550Energy Law and Policy

SPEA-V 550Social Policy
SPEA-R 519Food Systems and Community Resilience
SPEA-R 511 / V 550Food Policy in a Changing World
SPEA-H 549Health Policy
SPEA-P 723Public Programs Theory and Evidence

SPEA-V 550Social Justice 
SPEA-V 550Social Policy
SPEA-M 652Managing Workforce Diversity
SPEA-V 550Race and Policing
SPEA-N 523Civil Society and Public Policy
SPEA-V 550Justice, Advocacy, and Policy

SPEA-F 609Seminar in Revenue Theory and Administration
SPEA-F 610Seminar in Government Budget and Program Analysis
SPEA-F 542Governmental Financial Accounting and Reporting
SPEA-F 766Seminar in Public Revenue
SPEA-F 768Seminar in Public Budgeting
SPEA-F 767Seminar in Public Capital and Debt Theory

MPP Requirement V: Experiential (0-3 credit hours)

Each candidate for the MPP degree must obtain professionally relevant experience through one of three options. See the Policies & Procedures page for more details.

SPEA-V 585Practicum in Public Affairs

MPP Requirement VI: Elective (0-3 credit hours)

Students will take general elective credits to reach the required 48 credit hours. All master’s-level O’Neill IUB courses are eligible to count towards general elective credits. If a student enrolls in an internship for credit or receives a Prior Experience credit reduction, they may not need to enroll in general elective credits. Students should confer with their advisor(s) before registration each term to ensure they are making progress toward completing all degree requirements.