MPP Frequently Asked Questions
- The 37-credit Master of Public Policy program can be completed in-person, fully online, or as a 4+1 program (for UMass Amherst and 5 college students only). It is a very flexible program and can be completed full-time or part-time. Part-time students can take as few or as many classes as they wish, making it ideal for working professionals. In-person students may also choose to take online courses for a hybrid-like format.
- Full-time students typically complete the program in one year (three semesters), while part-time students complete the program at their own pace. You can review our suggested program timelines here.
- Our Master of Public Policy is a program of online and in-person classes that can be completed in just one year and allows you to move quickly and affordably toward pursuing your professional goals with the skills you need. You’ll take courses in policy analysis, research methods, economics, and other subjects. Electives include policy, management, and methods courses.
- We offer three paths to the MPP: the on-campus MPP and online part-time MPP, both open to all applicants who hold a bachelor's degree. The 4+1 MPP is open to outstanding current juniors at UMass Amherst or Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, or Smith colleges, which allows you to begin earning credits toward your graduate degree while an undergrad.
- The MPP program is ideal for mid-career professionals due to its flexible structure and online format options
- Our Master of Public Policy and Administration is a two-year program that allows students to take more elective courses at SPP and other UMass departments while developing an area of concentration. Concentration options include Environmental & Sustainability Policy, Non-Profit Management & Leadership, Social Policy, and Science & Technology Policy. You’ll take elective courses and complete a capstone — a culminating project in which you apply what you’ve learned in your core courses — either as an individual research project or as a team workshop project.
- MPPA students can also opt to pursue a dual degree in Business Administration, Higher Education, Public Health, or Regional Planning.
- The MPPA program is ideal for students with specific policy areas on interest or those who are looking to gain a deeper understanding of policy and administration.
- Both the One-Year MPP and the MPPA are open to full- and part-time students. The GRE is not required for any of our graduate programs.
- Internships are a required part of the MPP curriculum. MPP students are expected to complete a 150 hour internship, which is usually counted for-credit. The internship requirement may be waived for mid-career students with full-time jobs, but we highly recommend pursuing an internship for all students.
- Many internships are paid, but MPP students whose internships do not offer funding can request financial support from the School.
- Not only do internships prepare students with real world experiences before completing the program, but many students also secure jobs in the organizations they interned with.
- Our academic and career advisors send our monthly newsletters with internship and job opportunities. Students are welcome to secure internships through their own networks, as well.
- Our Professional Development course guides students through the entire internship and job search process, from identifying opportunities to preparing applications and practicing interviews. Our advisors work with students from day one to prepare them for competitive internship placements.
- Internships are typically completed in the summer but can be completed at any time during the year. Our advisors work with our students to ensure they are completing internships in policy areas of interest at times that work for our students' schedules.
- The School of Public Policy has an incredibly strong alumni network that spans the globe. We frequently host events with alumni so our students have the opportunity to form connections, learn about potential career options, and network. Our alumni are a crucial pillar of the School!
- We take regular trips to Boston, New York, and Washington DC so students have the opportunity to network with alumni and other professionals in the field.
- SPP students, including MPP students, are more than welcome to complete elective courses in other departments around campus, as long as they are graduate-level and approved by our advisors.
- If you are interested in further developing your quantitative background, check out our dual Master of Public Policy/MS in Data Analytics and Computational Social Science (MPP/MS DACSS) program.
- According to the Postsecondary Education & Economics Research Center at American University based on data from the Yale Tobin Center for Economic Policy, students who completed a degree in public policy/administration saw a 21% return in earnings after receiving the degree.
- Around 92% of SPP graduates secure a job within 6 months of graduating. Be sure to check out our alumni profiles here.
- Our Professional Development course makes career readiness foundational to your education. You'll develop critical job search skills including writing cover letters, resume building, interview practice, and professional relationship-building. From the first day, we guide students through the internship and job search process to ensure they're competitive candidates.
Accelerated 4+1 Frequently Asked Questions
- 4+1 programs make it possible for undergraduate students to start completing graduate-level courses while working toward their bachelor’s degree. Once students have finished undergraduate, they are able to complete the master’s program in an accelerated timeline due to having completed credits in undergraduate.
- Any graduate courses taken in undergraduate will be counted toward the master’s program. Some students may be able to “double-count” credits, meaning they are used to fulfill undergraduate requirements while also contributing to the master’s degree.
- If you are looking to "double-count" any credits, be sure to check with your undergraduate advisor on which courses could count.
- Following admission, students meet with our graduate advisors to discuss their course timeline. Undergraduate students should check in with their undergraduate advisors to determine if their master’s courses can also be used toward their major requirements or the required 120 credits for undergraduates.
- Please note, 4+1 students are only able to take a total of 12 graduate credits while still in undergraduate. We recommend 4+1 students take a minimum of 6 graduate credits during their senior year.
- We ask that students interested in a 4+1 program apply during their junior year of undergraduate. This ensures that 4+1 students can take graduate courses in combination with undergraduate courses for both semesters of their senior year.
- While we welcome first-semester seniors to apply to the program, having only one semester of graduate coursework while in undergraduate may alter the timeline for those students' graduate years.
Admissions FAQs
For more information on admissions, check out our Admissions FAQs page.