Graduate Admissions

Apply to the UMass Amherst School of Public Policy's master's programs. Become a change maker and shape a better future.

Admissions now open for Spring, Summer and Fall 2026.

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Professor Brian Sargent and students in classroom

Why the UMass Amherst School of Public Policy?

Passionate about making a difference in the world through policy, data, and social impact? At the UMass Amherst School of Public Policy, you will gain the training and skills you need for the change-making career that you envision. Our master's degrees feature world-class faculty and a rigorous curriculum that combines classroom training with hands-on, real-world experience, ensuring you are fully prepared to tackle the even the most complex challenges. With 93% of students finding a job within 6 months of graduation, a degree from SPP is a wise investment in your future.

Choose the UMass Amherst School of Public Policy to become a leader in public service and make positive change in society.

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Admissions Requirements

Application Materials

Personal statement. Your personal statement should address why you are interested in pursuing the degree you are applying for and what makes you a good fit for the program. Be sure to describe any relevant research or professional experience, whether obtained in the classroom or in another setting, and how the skills you learn in the program will help facilitate the path that you will take upon graduation.
Resume or C.V.
Most recent official college transcript.
Two letters of recommendation. While two recommendations are required, you may submit a third if you feel it would provide another perspective. Include at least one current or former professor. Submit only the names of the recommenders; the Graduate School will send an email to each referee with instructions on how to electronically deliver the recommendation to the Graduate School. All recommendations will be considered non-confidential unless the applicant waives their right of access.
Short essay response. Please provide a short essay response to the prompt provided to you in the application process.
TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo. Required for international students without prior instruction in English
GRE (optional).
Writing sample (optional).

Admissions Criteria:

Not sure if you are prepared for a computationally intensive curriculum? Concerned that you won't be a good candidate if you have already covered similar material as part of your undergraduate degree? We are looking for candidates with a range of backgrounds and skills. Some of our students have undergraduate degrees in Engineering and Math, while others didn't take any math or statistics courses as undergraduates. Some students have been working for years and are looking to change directions or to advance their careers, while others have just completed their undergraduate degree.

What distinguishes students we admit?

Strong problem-solving mindset. Working with data requires thinking carefully and creatively about research questions and the data and methods of analysis that will be used to answer the question. Real-world problems are rarely as neat and easy to answer as those found in a textbook, and our curriculum is designed to ensure that all students have ample opportunity to work directly with confusing research questions, incomplete or poorly specified raw data, and other problems likely to be encountered as a professional data analyst.

Substantive background and interest in social science. Unlike data science or data analytics degrees offered by a computer science or statistics department, DACSS emphasizes a distinctly social scientific approach to data analysis and social data science. Students do not need to have majored in Social Science or a closely affiliated discipline (e.g., Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Anthropology, Psychology, History), but some prior exposure to substantive social scientific topics and concepts is desirable. Students with a background in engineering, math, computer science, or the natural sciences are encouraged to apply—just be sure to highlight your relevant experience and the reasons why you are pursuing graduate training in computational social science.

Strong communication skills. This program emphasizes all aspects of the research process, including research design, data collection, data analysis, and communication and visualization of results. Our curriculum emphasizes the challenges specific to communicating scientific results and analysis clearly and effectively to a general audience but assumes that students are already able to communicate clearly and effectively about other topics.

Willingness to engage with mathematical and logical concepts. Core courses and many technical electives are designed to allow students without a strong mathematical background to participate fully. The ability to engage with mathematical concepts can be demonstrated by a strong score on the GRE quantitative section; prior coursework in math, statistics, or research design; or prior work, research, or other experience described in the personal statement. Linear algebra is required to enroll in some courses, although faculty may accept students who can learn linear algebra concepts online and demonstrate adequate proficiency in the subject.

Some programming experience (optional). We assume no prior knowledge of programming languages used in data science (such as R, Python, or Java), but some prior experience with programming will make it easier to keep up with weekly computer-based course assignments. We encourage all students without programming experience to consider working through an introductory programming module online, such as DataCamp's Introduction to R. Also, DACSS 601: Fundamentals of Data Science is designed to make sure all students are well prepared for the rest of their coursework.

Master of Public Policy and Administration and Master of Public Policy

Applicants for our Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) and Master of Public Policy (MPP) programs come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and candidates from all academic disciplines and levels of work experience are encouraged to apply to our programs. When evaluating applicants, we specifically seek candidates with experience and/or willingness to engage in the following areas:

Dedication to public service and positive social change. A demonstrated passion and commitment to creating a better world through public service is of significant importance for MPPA and MPP candidates and can look different for every candidate depending on your career goals. This means you have sought out opportunities to have meaningful impact and serve your community in different ways, may it be through professional work experience, elected leadership positions, volunteering, undergraduate internships, and more.

Critical thinking and problem-solving mindset. Practitioners in public policy and administration are rarely handed simple questions with straightforward answers. Successful applicants should be able to demonstrate a capacity for using data and evidence to craft innovative and nuanced solutions to complex and multifaceted problems with an eye for the public good. The ability to think both analytically and creatively when tackling problems is key.

Strong communication skills. Effective policy practitioners must be excellent communicators. Successful applicants should be able to show the ability to articulate and synthesize complex ideas concisely and clearly to diverse audiences. This includes the capability to construct and present compelling evidence-based analyses and arguments as well as and engage in thoughtful dialogue.

Interest in engaging with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods analysis. We seek students who are interested in developing and honing their analytical toolkit. While we do not require an extensive research background, applicants with an enthusiastic interest in engaging with various research methods for public policy analysis are encouraged to apply.