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Master of Public Policy (STEM)

Ben Schumann SPA/MPP '23
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Announcing our new STEM-designated MPP

Our STEM-designated MPP prepares graduates to meet the growing demand from employers for policy professionals skilled in managing big data and knowledge of advanced quantitative methods to assess policy effectiveness. The program features additional coursework in advanced quantitative methods, program evaluation, project management, and cost-benefit analysis. STEM designation allows non-U.S. nationals to qualify for a 24-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension, providing up to three years of work authorization in the U.S. without requiring employer sponsorship.

Rich Real-World Experiences

Class time is balanced with experiential learning opportunities. Located in the epicenter of public affairs, where leaders in government and public policy and administration practice their craft, Washington, DC offers unparalleled resources for research, internships, and employment. Campus life is rich with policy talks, conferences, and active student groups. You’ll also find resources and experts at the many academic research centers in the School of Public Affairs, including the Center for Environmental Policy, the Washington Institute for Public Affairs Research, and the Metropolitan Policy Center.

Designed for Flexible Learning

AU’s MPP program allows you to align your degree with your career goals. Our concentrations provide flexible platforms upon which you can form personalized areas of expertise and showcase them on your resume, online portfolios, LinkedIn, and other social media profiles. Most class schedules cater to both full-time and part-time students. Classes start at 5:30 p.m. on weekdays to allow for work and internships.

Position Yourself for Success

Our MPP program will set you up for success in a competitive marketplace. Graduates emerge from the program ready to bring about policy change in the government, non-profit, and private sectors. Whether you want to work locally or globally, the MPP program will arm you with the skills to make important contributions to the world of public policy.

Practice-Oriented Training in Quantitative Methods

The STEM MPP program provides students with advanced, practice-oriented training in quantitative methods and analytic tools used across modern policy analysis. As part of the Advanced Policy Analytics Specialization, students complete 12 credit hours of required coursework designed to build deep technical capacity in evaluation, modeling, and decision analysis. These courses include:

  • PUAD-604 Public Program Evaluation, which develops skills in causal inference and applied research design
  • PUAD-617 Project Management, which equips students to plan, execute, and assess complex policy and organizational projects
  • PUAD-671 Cost Benefit Analysis, which trains students to assess policy tradeoffs and quantify social and economic impacts
  • PUAD-672 Advanced Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis, which provides rigorous training in econometric and statistical techniques used to answer high-stakes policy questions.

Together, this sequence strengthens students’ ability to generate evidence, interpret data, and support analytically grounded policy decisions in government, nonprofit, and consulting settings.

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Degree Requirements
Admissions
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Degree Requirements

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) requires 39 credit hours of approved graduate work for students entering the program with a bachelor's degree. Required core courses comprise 30 credit hours, with an additional 9 hours in an area of concentration. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in all coursework is required to remain in good standing and to earn the degree. Full-time status is considered to be 9 credit hours per semester. Students are expected to complete the degree within two years, including one summer.

Public Policy Practicum

The Public Policy Practicum (PUAD-688) exposes students to the institutional, legal, and ethical dimensions of policy analysis in organizational settings. It tests critical thinking, research, and writing skills using a client-based policy analysis project. The Practicum, taken in the final semester of study, is offered in fall and spring semesters only.

Internship

Students without an extensive professional background in public policy participate in either a for-credit or non-credit internship relevant to this field. If you are taking the internship for credit, you will register for the course as part of your concentration. If you have a non-credit internship, you will be required to complete a survey on your experience.

More information about course requirements can be found here.

For more information, please contact the SPA Graduate Admissions Office at 202-885-6230 or spainfo@american.edu.

The School of Public Affairs operates on a rolling admissions basis for our graduate programs. This means that applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis until programs reach capacity for either Spring or Fall entry. While previous academic or professional work in the career field is not required, your application file should demonstrate a serious commitment to a career in this field. Please consult the following web resources to learn more about building an application file for the program:

Deadlines
Application Requirements
FAQ(s)
International Student Application and Admission

For more information, please contact the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions at 202-885-6230 or spaapp@american.edu.

 

Please consult SPA’s Tuition and Funding page to gain an understanding of the cost of tuition, student fees, and associated discretionary costs.

All admitted students—domestic and international--who meet the priority deadlines for Spring and Fall entry (November 1 and February 15, respectively) are considered for merit aid as part of a separate review process. An admitted student’s application file is the basis of review. There is no separate application required for consideration. Merit aid options consist of partial tuition remission, graduate assistantships, and a limited number of named scholarships. All inquiries about SPA merit aid should be directed to spagrad@american.edu.

All domestic students are encouraged to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if they wish to apply for Federal student Loans. American University's FAFSA code is 001434. The Office of Financial Aid (OFA) at American University will review this information and will notify you of your eligibility. Questions may be directed to financialaid@american.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree emphasizes evidence-based ideas and approaches and the use of data and research methodologies to find solutions to policy challenges. Our Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree delves more into leadership in public and nonprofit organizations, the organizational environment, and the analysis of public management issues. As an example, the Social Policy concentration in the MPP program and the Social Policy focus area the MPA program may cover similar topics and may even offer some of the same courses and faculty, but the courses will have different emphases depending on the program you’re pursuing.

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Cam Napier

SPA/MPP '23

Cam Napier arrived at SPA with a general passion for policymaking but an undefined focus. “SPA exposed me to a variety of perspectives, helped me hone in on my newfound interest in climate and environmental policy, and connected me with professionals in the field,” he said. He credits courses with Profs. Khaldoun AbouAssi and Dan Fiorino for this inspiration, which led to his appointment as climate impact analyst at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. “My work always keeps me on my toes,” he said. “One day I’m calculating avoided emissions for an offshore wind project in Kenya and the next I’m focusing on improving climate resiliency for the agriculture sector in Sri Lanka.”