Location:

Amherst, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Public Administration

Program Overview

Program Description:

The Master's Degree in Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) is awarded for completion of a two-year, 48-credit degree program and a full-time summer internship. Seven core courses are required. Elective courses comprise the remaining credits of the curriculum. At least three electives must be selected from the pool of CPPA Program Electives, while others may be chosen from a larger pool of Free Electives, which are UMass courses that meet the approval of the student's advisor. Students specialize to develop knowledge and skills in accordance with their interests and career goals. Specializations are developed to help students build a body of knowledge in a particular area, guide students as they design their program, and connect students with faculty involved in their chosen area of research and teaching. Although not a formal requirement of the program, some students choose to focus on a particular specialization. Specializations generally require taking three or more courses related to a particular field of interest. CPPA students can develop their own specializations, or select one of the following areas: * Education Policy * Environmental Policy * Food Science Policy * Health Policy * International/Comparative Policy * Public and Nonprofit Management * Science, Technology and Society * Social Policy There are also substantial resources on campus to develop specializations in information technology, conflict resolution, macroeconomic policy, advanced quantitative methods, labor policy, and media and public policy. Students have the flexibility to design specializations in their own areas of interest by taking electives from among the wide array of courses offered at the University of Massachusetts. Program faculty and staff work individually with students to design specializations that meet their specific interests and needs.