We live in an extraordinary period characterized by acute concerns about the economy, migration, public health, climate change, national security, and many other issues. Addressing these complex public problems requires a deep understanding of the ecosystems in which these problems unfold, the myriad stakeholders operating within these systems, and the economic, cultural, historical, and political factors that shape these problems and their potential solutions around the world. It also requires the ability to analyze data rigorously, communicate compelling messages to different audiences using modern tools, maintain constructive relationships with stakeholders, manage public financial resources responsibly, and lead large-scale change initiatives. The online Master’s in Public Policy is designed to help experienced professionals strengthen their knowledge of how politics, economics, and policy intersect, and hone practical skills in areas like data analysis, communication, and leadership that are necessary to ensure effective solutions to pressing societal challenges.
An outline of the standard program is described below.
Semester I
Introduction to Public Policy
This class examines foundational concepts, theories, and analytical frameworks in public policy and the politics of policymaking. Students will also explore how different actors shape the adoption, implementation, and evolution of public policies and programs; how the structural, political, social, and economic characteristics of a policy environment shape public policies; and how public policies themselves can progress from ideation to termination—and back again. Along the way, students will hone their data analysis, oral communication, and persuasive writing skills.
Economics for Policy Professionals
When is government intervention in the economy desirable? Why is it desirable? What are the consequences of government intervention? This course considers the cases for and implications of government intervention in the economy. The course also examines issues in government spending and tax policy, including the normative assignment of responsibility within federal systems and the equitable distribution of income.
Semester II
Data Analysis for Policy Professionals
This course provides a broad overview of quantitative methods and techniques of policy analysis and program evaluation with emphasis on methodological issues involved in the analysis and assessment of government programs. Topics include descriptive and inferential statistics, measurement, sampling, and multivariate regression. The course also covers various social and economic statistics and their role in public policy research.
Policy Analysis and Problem Solving
This course introduces students to concepts and tools relevant to making public decisions informed by social values. It equips students to define policy problems and to systematically develop and compare policy options available to public actors. In short, the course teaches students to “think like a policy analyst” and reason in the public interest. In addition, the course is attentive to the political and institutional context in which policy decisions are made.
Semester III
Dimensions of Social and Economic Policy
This course examines the complex factors that shape social and macroeconomic conditions and influence social and economic policy, and then the ways in which governments attempt to use policy to address problems of social inequality, growth, and cost-effectiveness. The course will also survey concepts, tools, and frameworks for analyzing, designing, and implementing social and economic policies, using examples from a range of policy domains (such as education, environment, health, immigration, and taxation). The examples primarily come from the United States, but students will draw comparisons with different parts of the world to illuminate how the United States is similar or different. Students will also explore how policies can ameliorate or exacerbate inequalities along lines such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
Stakeholder Engagement for Policy Professionals
This course explores the various types of policy stakeholders that make things happen in the world of public policy. Students will examine how the different authorities, powers, interests, and constraints these stakeholders possess shape their actions in real-world policy situations. By presenting a comprehensive typology of policy stakeholders and a framework for analyzing their motives and behaviors, the course will prepare students to navigate the public policy ecosystem from any stakeholder’s perspective and to engage more effectively with other policy actors throughout the policy process.
Semester IV
Social and Economic Policy: Application and Practice
Building upon Dimensions of Social and Economic Policy, this course develops students' experience deploying their tools of policy analysis. With a variety of applied learning exercises and case studies from around the world, students will sharpen their abilities to use quantitative data to identify social and economic policy problems and to analyze viable policy alternatives. The course prepares students to be policy leaders who make sound, evidence-based decisions that improve social and economic conditions domestically and globally.
Leadership and Management for Policy Professionals
Leadership is fundamentally about change, but leaders do not change who they are. Instead, they need to understand and tap into their own strengths and motivations, expand their range of competencies, drive toward positive change, and create the conditions for people to flourish. In this course, students will transition from understanding leadership to building leadership competency. Students will also learn about building and nurturing relationships with partners and collaborators in service to a shared vision. This course will help students strengthen the skills and competencies they will need to build relationships, communicate, and lead across differences as a future policy leader, including recognizing and challenging systemic inequities and interpersonal biases.