https://publicadministrationdegrees.smu.edu/mpp-d/
Lead Faculty and Academic Coordinator: Eva Chiang
General Information
The online Master of Public Policy (M.P.P) degree is designed to prepare students for successful careers as policy analysts, policy evaluators, and thought leaders in a variety of fields who can use policy tools to lead real change. The MPP curriculum equips students with a strong foundation in policymaking, statistics, critical analysis, and effective policy design and implementation. The online program uses a combination of asynchronous assignments for self-paced, flexible learning and synchronous evening classes held on Zoom, where students can connect with classmates, instructors and guest speakers. There are two required, on-campus immersion experiences.
Students will:
- Build the quantitative and qualitative analytical skills necessary for policy analysis, especially to support decision making
- Design, implement and evaluate public policy and understand potential unintended consequences of policymaking
- Communicate analysis and recommendations effectively to relevant stakeholders
- Identify policy solutions and the political and economic institutions that influence the policy process
- Develop a basic understanding of the economics of the public sector, and
- Develop and refine an approach to ethical leadership.
Admissions Requirements
A prospective student must submit undergraduate transcripts, resume, two letters of recommendation, and personal statement with his/her application. If English is not the applicant’s native language, they must submit English language proficiency test scores. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Degree Requirements
Students must complete 36 credit hours to earn their online Master of Public Policy.
Core courses make up 24 credit hours. The remaining 12 credit hours are fulfilled by electives. Students can earn their degree on a part-time schedule in two years, or six terms, by taking two courses per term. Full-time students can complete their degree faster by taking more than two courses each term.