Master of Arts in Public Policy & Administration

Areas of specialization:

• Health Services Policy
• Public Policy
• Public Safety and Security
• Technology and Information Management
• Urban Policy and Administration

The MPPA program explores public policy issues, applications, and analysis and the administrative systems necessary to implement policy. The program is designed to be of particular benefit to early and midcareer managers and executives working in local and state government agencies, though much of the curriculum is applicable to careers in federal government, foundations, and associations. The program draws on the strengths of departments across Northwestern, including political science, sociology, economics, public health, and computer information systems. The MPPA faculty brings a dynamic combination of academic and public sector leadership experience into the classroom.

Graduates of the MPPA program are prepared to fill positions in either public policy advocacy, policy development, or the implementation of policy. Students amass the skills and knowledge necessary to serve in a variety of administrative roles in governmental agencies that often lead to positions at the highest professional levels. Other students take their skills into the policy advocacy realm, working with industry associations, public interest groups, community advocacy organizations, lobbyists, or in legislative staff roles. Lastly, some students follow a path that leads toward the analytical and evaluative sides of the field, serving in oversight agencies, think tanks, or other research institutions. The professional opportunities are as broad and varied as the field itself.

MPPA students develop an understanding of theoretical concepts and hands-on applications through a curriculum composed of seven core courses, a four-course specialization, a leadership course, and a capstone project. Courses are offered on the Chicago Lakefront, Loop, and Evanston campuses.

Please be sure to review the important dates pertaining to this program.

Curriculum

Core Courses (7 courses)

• MPPA 402 Elements of Public Finance and Budgeting
• MPPA 403 Fundamentals of Public Administration
• MPPA 405 Elementary Statistics for Political Research
• MPPA 406 Analytic Methods for Public Policy Analysis
• MPPA 407 Scope and Dynamics of Public Policy
• MPPA 408 Sociology of Organizations
• MPPA 409 Applied Research and Writing

Areas of Specialization(4 courses)

When applying to the program, students select an area of specialization in which they take four courses. The following specializations are available, with examples of electives offered in each; other courses may be available:

Health Services Policy

• PUB HLTH 301 Behavior, Society, and Health
• PUB HLTH 304 Introduction to Epidemiology
• PUB HLTH 310-315 Topics in Public Health
• PUB HLTH 392 International Perspectives on Violence: Public Health and Law
• PUB HLTH 412 Control and Prevention of Infectious Disease in the Community
• PUB HLTH 431 Basic Decision Analysis
• PUB HLTH 433 Health Economics: Principles and Applications for Public Health

Public Policy

• MPPA 410 American Political Institutions and Behavior
• MPPA 411 The Legislative Process
• MPPA 412 Economics of State and Local Government
• MPPA 416 Interest Groups
• MPPA 513 Urbanization and Social Science Structure

Public Safety and Security

• MPPA 420 Terrorism and Public Policy
• MPPA 423 Homeland Defense and Security I: Theory
• MPPA 425 Homeland Defense and Security II: Practice
• MPPA 427 Biodefense Security
• MPPA 430 Politics of Local Justice
• MPPA 445 National Security

Technology and Information Management

Students select four courses from the SCS computer information systems curriculum that best suit their professional needs. Topics include network security, information systems and telecommunications management, strategic information systems, and many others. Course prerequisites apply; see individual course descriptions. Students are encouraged to complete prerequisites before starting graduate study in order to avoid additional tuition charges.

Urban Policy and Administration

• MPPA 412 Economics of State and Local Government
• MPPA 415 History of Urban Planning and Development
• MPPA 471 Transportation Policy
• MPPA 490 Special Topics: New Patterns in Metropolitan Policy
• MPPA 513 Urbanization and Social Science Structure

Leadership Class (1 course)

SCS strives to equip its students with fundamental skills in effective leadership, communication, innovation, and change management. In order to gain exposure to theories and best practices in these administrative areas, MPPA students join other SCS graduate students in a ten week leadership class. With these skills complementing the core curriculum, graduates are better prepared to face the challenges of the modern workplace.

Internships

Internships taken in conjunction with an Independent Study course are available to students who have completed four courses in the MPPA program. Students may find their own internships. Once a student accepts an internship they must formulate a project with an MPPA instructor and sign up for an MPPA 499 Independent Study by submitting the 499/590 Intent to Register form (PDF Format) and registering on CAESAR. The course will count as an elective. Only one Independent Study/Internship per student is allowed. Instead of an internship with an outside organization, students may use their current job for the Independent Study/Internship on the condition that a research project and data, specifically developed at your job, are used and the appropriate faculty guidance is secured.

An organization hosting a student internship must submit guidelines for SCS to review. The intern's supervisor must contact the student's independent study instructor three times during the term to report on the intern's progress. Before the end of the 10-week independent study term, the intern's supervisor must submit a written evaluation, via email, of the student's performance to the instructor teaching the independent study, based on clearly defined tasks and research goals. This evaluation will factor into the 499 Independent Study grade the student receives from the instructor. The student must also maintain regular contact with the independent study instructor, and follow the terms of the independent study project.

Capstone Project (1 course)

The MPPA capstone project is a research project of at least 50 double-spaced pages with appropriate supporting materials written under the supervision of a faculty member. This project should be viewed as an opportunity to engage in sustained independent study on a topic that addresses a contemporary policy or management problem. The project draws on and integrates a number of different perspectives that students have been introduced to in various courses and may be an extension of work done for a previous course.