Master of Public Policy and Administration - Education Policy

The education policy specialization allows students to gain a deeper understanding of issues in three main contexts:Primary and secondary education in the United States; Higher education; and, International education.School of Public Policy graduates who specialize in educational policy may pursue careers in a range of institutions, including state and federal education authorities, education associations, foundations, institutions of higher education, and international organizations.The MPPA curriculum will provide you with a strong analytical foundation that can be applied to a wide variety of policy issues. You'll complete core courses in areas such as public management, economics in public policy, analysis, and statistical methods. Through electives, you can hone your degree to best suit your personal interests and professional goals. Choose from subjects like negotiations, makerspace leadership, social and environmental enterprises, public policy, racism, and patriarchy. Students also gain real-world experience through a required summer internship, senior capstone project, and a professional development seminar. Students who specialize in environmental policy are interested in contributing to the development of solutions to critical domestic and international environmental problems. Graduates of the School of Public Policy with an environmental policy specialization pursue careers in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, international organizations, and consulting firms. Alumni have worked in the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Tellus Institute, World Resources Institute, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The UMass campus offers a rich diversity of environmental courses and programs, ranging from geosciences to resource economics to environmental design, all of which offer students a unique perspective on understanding and evaluating natural resource use and preservation.

The Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) admissions committee assesses each student's application based on academic record, letters of recommendation, work or volunteer experience, and demonstrated commitment to or passion for public service. We prefer applicants to have at least two years of work experience in a job related to public policy or administration but do admit strong students who have just completed their undergraduate degrees if they have demonstrated a commitment to public service. For those students, greater weight is given to traditional academic criteria, such as undergraduate records, than for students with professional experience.Application RequirementsCompleted application formStatement of purposeTranscripts for all undergraduate and graduate workTwo letters of recommendationInternational students should review Graduate School international applicant policies for any additional requirementsThe GRE is not required for the MPPA program, although applicants can submit their scores if they choose.