MPP Program Requirements

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) at the UMass Amherst School of Public Policy is a 1-year, 37-credit program. The program requirements includes 7 core courses, 5 electives, and a summer internship. At least 3 electives must be selected from the pool of SPP program electives, while others may be chosen from a larger pool of free electives, which are UMass courses that meet the approval of the student's adviser. 

Learn more about the program requirements below.

Core Courses

Our core courses are designed to provide students with a strong analytical foundation, applicable to a wide variety of policy issues. The MPP degree requires the following seven core courses:

Internship/Experiential Learning (150 hours)

MPP students are required to complete an internship equivalent to a total of 150 hours. Students' interests will guide the internship placement process, and SPP staff and faculty will help students establish internships through our alumni network and through our connections via the Five Colleges.

MPP students may choose to take a class & complete coursework to get academic credit for an internship (1-3 credits).

Elective Courses

MPP students complete the remainder of the program with 5 elective courses. Students must take a three credit SPP course in each of the following distribution areas: Policy, Methods, and Management. One class may not fulfill two distribution areas.  Elective offerings change frequently; for current information, check the SPP elective course list.

Notes on MPP requirements:

Student may fulfill the internship requirement without earning academic credit. No credit without a class.
To waive the internship/experiential learning or a core course, a student must have an approved Waiver Form.
Please note that program requirements can be waived but credit requirements cannot. Therefore, if a student waives an internship or required class, they will receive no academic credits for it and must make up those credits. 
*Economics must be taken before Policy Analysis