About Public Policy
We seek to build a better world by preparing students for public service, conducting cutting edge research, and convening leaders to address pressing problems. Our work is constructed on the principles of democracy, social justice and equity, respect for human rights, and sustainability. We are a dynamic, interdisciplinary knowledge hub of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, and community partners, all of whom examine issues, ranging from local to global, through innovative social science methods. We emphasize real-world impact as we strive to understand, manage, and develop policy solutions.
Public Policy graduates are equipped to create meaningful change through their ability to address complex policy challenges ranging from sustainability to human rights and through their work in public, nonprofit, advocacy and private organizations. Our graduates serve as leaders and change agents in the Commonwealth, across the country, and internationally.
Academic Programs
With several undergraduate and graduate programs in public policy and administration, you'll find the education you need for your public service career at the Department of Public Policy. With a rigorous academic curriculum and hands-on professional training, you'll enter the workforce prepared with the skills and knowledge to tackle societal challenges and become a leader in the public, nonprofit, and private sector.
Alumni Highlight
"The School of Public Policy taught me how to look at policy through a broad lens, rather than in a specific area. Aspects of public policy can be found in just about any field, discipline, or topic. My classes at SPP have helped me to view the work I do every day through that same lens and to be able to see the full picture of the projects I work on."
Faculty Teaching and Research
Our world-class faculty are highly-respected researchers and educators dedicated to training the next generation of public servants. Our expertise spans many areas, including social policy, nonprofit and public management, economic policy, environmental and sustainability policy, science and technology policy, and much more.
Faculty engage with and lead a wide range of research institutes with the unifying vision of creating a better future through informed policymaking. Our faculty contribute leadership and research to organizations such as the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), the Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure (IDPI), the Roosevelt Institute, the National Academy of Public Administration, and more.
History
The Department of Public Policy is the public policy, administration, and affairs wing of the School of Public Policy (SPP). Previously known as the Center for Public Policy and Administration (CPPA), SPP was formed in 1997 by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS). The new organization brought together experts from a variety of social science disciplines with expertise in public policy and management. The mission, developed in 1998, was “to prepare students for careers in public affairs and to understand, explain, improve, and evaluate public policy and administration through active teaching, research and outreach.” In 2004, the Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA), replacing the Master of Public Administration program that had existed for several decades prior.
After existing as a center for over a decade as CPPA, SPP was born in 2015, simultaneously creating a school within SBS and an academic department. Soon after, the one-year Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree was developed to complement the two-year MPPA program. Since then, SPP continued to grow, becoming a multi-department school with the Data Analytics and Computational Social Science (DACSS) program joining SPP in summer 2023 and the Department of Legal Studies joining in summer 2025. Now with two departments (Public Policy and Legal Studies) and one program (DACSS), SPP is forging ahead with unwavering commitment to academic program excellence, impactful interdisciplinary research, and dedication to making positive change in the world.
Contact Us
Interested in our academic programs or have questions about the Department of Public Policy? Contact us here.