The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a 48-credit degree program, divided into eight core courses, a two-semester capstone project, and six elective courses. Additionally, students complete the non-credit McCourt Foundations and Introduction to Data Management courses.
| Type of Degree | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | On-Campus, Full-time | 2 years |
| Master’s Degree | On-Campus, Part-time | 3 years |
A typical course sequence for MPP full-time program students is as follows. Please note that all MPP students are also required to fulfill an internship requirement.
| Semester | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | McCourt Foundations | 0 |
| – | PPOL 5004 — Intermediate Microeconomics I | 3 |
| – | PPOL 5000 — Statistical Methods for Policy Analysis | 3 |
| – | PPOL 5006 / PPOL 5007 — The Politics of Policy-Making/Comparative Politics of Policy-Making | 3 |
| – | Elective | 3 |
| – | PPOL 1800 — Intro to Data Management | 0 |
| Spring | PPOL 5001 — Regression Methods for Policy Analysis | 3 |
| – | PPOL 5005 — Intermediate Microeconomics II | 3 |
| – | PPOL 5008 / PPOL 5009 — Public Management/Management & Implementation in Developing Countries | 3 |
| – | Elective | 3 |
| – | PPOL 1800 — Intro to Data Management | 0 |
| Semester | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | PPOL 5002 — Advanced Regression and Program Evaluation Methods | 3 |
| – | PPOL 5011 / PPOL 5013 — Policy Analysis Capstone I/Thesis Workshop I | 3 |
| – | Elective | 3 |
| – | Elective | 3 |
| Spring | PPOL 5012 / PPOL 5014 — Policy Analysis Capstone II/Thesis Workshop II | 3 |
| – | PPOL 5010 — Ethics, Values and Public Policy | 3 |
| – | Elective | 3 |
| – | Elective | 3 |
A typical course sequence for MPP part-time evening program students is as follows. Please note that all MPP students are also required to fulfill an internship requirement.
| Semester | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | McCourt Foundations | 0 |
| – | PPOL 5004 — Intermediate Microeconomics I | 3 |
| – | PPOL 5000 — Statistical Methods for Policy Analysis | 3 |
| – | PPOL 1800 — Intro to Data Management | 0 |
| Spring | PPOL 5001 — Regression Methods for Policy Analysis | 3 |
| – | PPOL 5005 — Intermediate Microeconomics II | 3 |
| – | PPOL 1800 — Intro to Data Management | 0 |
| Summer* | PPOL 5006 – The Politics of Policy-Making | 3 |
| – | PPOL 5008 – Public Management | 3 |
| Semester | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Elective | 3 |
| – | Elective | 3 |
| Spring | Elective | 3 |
| – | Elective | 3 |
| Summer | PPOL 5002 — Advanced Regression and Program Evaluation Methods | 3 |
| – | PPOL 5010 — Ethics, Values and Public Policy | 3 |
| Semester | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | PPOL 5011 / PPOL 5013 — Policy Analysis Capstone I/Thesis Workshop I | 3 |
| – | Elective | 3 |
| Spring | PPOL 5012 / PPOL 5014 — Policy Analysis Capstone II/Thesis Workshop II | 3 |
| – | Elective | 3 |
The core courses emphasize analytical skills and core knowledge for designing and managing sound public policy.
Economics (6 credits)
Quantitative Methods (9 credits)
Political Institutions and Process (9 credits)
For each of the first two required courses, students may choose either a U.S. domestic focus or a comparative international focus.
McCourt Foundations is a mandatory course for all full-time and part-time evening MPP students that occurs prior to the start of their first fall semester. The course is designed to facilitate the transition to graduate school for incoming students by developing core leadership and communication skills and fostering equity-centered policy work. Led by McCourt faculty, staff, and Leadership Fellows, the course builds the foundational skills and confidence necessary to design, implement, and measure the effectiveness of policy, while introducing them to their new community. Students must attend all five days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with optional evening activities, and any student missing sessions will need to make up the course the following year.
A formal internship experience is required for the MPP program. The internship requirement is integral to the student’s academic training. The learning objectives of the internship are:
Students can intern at any time during their time at McCourt and are required to have a minimum of 120 hours of work. Students can waive the internship requirement based on prior work or internship experience. For more questions, please contact Assistant Director of Academic Affairs, Alora Hasson.
The MPP program aims to educate students to think critically about public policy and to demonstrate a mastery of the various skills embodied in the curriculum.
Students choose between two capstone experiences: completing a client-based consulting project, or completing a thesis. Both options span two semesters, and involve answering a policy question in an analytically rigorous manner, drawing on the knowledge and skills of the MPP curriculum.
Students who choose the client-based capstone option will work with a small group of fellow students to study a real policy problem for an actual organization.
Students who choose the thesis capstone option will develop a research question and work with their advisor to formulate and implement a research plan.
MPP students expand on the analytical skills they attain in their core coursework with 18 credits of elective courses. Students have an array of elective course options taught by our expert faculty with the opportunity to align their electives with their interests and career goals. Students can also take electives across other Georgetown graduate programs as well as through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area . Please contact Director of Academic Affairs, Nirmala Fernandes, for more information.
Please note that this is just a sample of recent elective offerings. This list is not exhaustive and availability of courses varies.
U.S. Domestic Economic Policy including courses such as:
International Economic Policy including courses such as:
Development Policy including courses such as:
Political Strategy and Governance including courses such as:
Racial Equity and Social Justice including courses such as:
Education Policy including courses such as:
Environmental & Regulatory Policy including courses such as:
Health Policy including courses such as:
Homeland Security Policy including courses such as:
Methods including courses such as:
Public Management including courses such as:
Social Policy including courses such as:
Technology Policy including courses such as:
McCourt’s Curriculum Innovation Committee has developed a set of core competencies based on extensive research and outreach for all of our degree programs. By integrating these core competencies across our academic offerings, all McCourt students graduate with these foundational skills:
Full-time MPP students have the opportunity to participate in study abroad programs as an element of experiential education. At McCourt, we believe that the best way for you to understand and contribute to our globalized world is to experience other places, cultures, and ideas firsthand.
Full-time MPP students can choose to pursue a dual degree option as part of their graduate studies. Our MPP degree can be completed as part of the following dual degree paths.