Master of Public Policy (MPP) – The MPP Curriculum instills four distinctive elements into the traditional study of policy analysis:
- A focus on leadership skills.
- A multidisciplinary perspective on the evolving context of public policy.
- Attention to the role of psychological and non-rational factors in decision-making and group behavior.
- A fully realized commitment to experiential learning through hands–on projects, policy simulations, and field experiences.
The core curriculum consists of twelve required Batten School courses:
- Four courses on the concepts and tools of problem solving and policy analysis
- PPOL 6100: Economics of Public Policy I
- PPOL 7110: Economics of Public Policy II
- PPOL 6150:Research Methods and Data Analysis I
- POL 7160: Research Methods and Data Analysis II
- Two courses on leadership
- PPOL 6050: Leadership in the Public Arena
- PPOL 7410: Psychology for Leadership
- Three courses on the context of public policy
- PPOL 6000: Political Institutions and Processes
- PPOL 7010: The Changing Context of Public Policy
- PPOL 7400: Legal and Moral Dimensions of Policymaking
- Three courses centered on applied, experiential learning
- PPOL 6250: Policy Analysis
- PPOL 7600: Thesis Project
- PPOL 7610: Applied Policy Project
The core curriculum provides students with a solid foundation in the concepts, methods and strategies of policy analysis and effective leadership. The program emphasizes teamwork and close interaction among students and faculty.
In addition to core courses, students are required to take four electives. Electives give students an opportunity to gain substantive expertise in their areas of policy interest. Students may enroll in electives offered by the Batten School and by other graduate and professional schools across the University. Batten students regularly enroll in courses at the Law School, the Darden Graduate School of Business, the Curry School of Education, the School of Architecture, and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Students are required to complete an internship in the summer between the first and second years. Students may intern in international, federal, state, or local government agencies; non-profit organizations; or private sector corporations and consulting firms; in the United States or abroad. Students select their internships based on their interests and in consultation with program faculty.
The capstone of the program is an Applied Policy Project in which students perform a professional-quality study for a real-world client under faculty supervision. For some students, the project is an outgrowth of the summer internship, and in some cases it may lead to a post-graduation position with the client organization. Upon graduation students are prepared for public service careers in government, non-profit organizations, and private firms engaged in public-private partnerships.
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