The University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Ready to be a changemaker?

    A Master of Public Affairs (MPA) is in your reach.

    Available as a 4+1 MPA for outstanding undergraduates from UMass Amherst and the 5 Colleges.

  • Professional Training

    Transform your potential into engaged policymaking, effective public management and creative social enterprise.

  • Dedicated to Equity

    SPP is recognized nationally for integrating social equity into our academic and practical work.

Welcome to the UMass Amherst School of Public Policy

Make Positive Social Change. Become a Leader in Public Service.

Learn to solve problems for the common good and become a leader in the nonprofit, public, or private sector in programs that balance policy and management analysis, professional skills development and practical experience.

For undergraduates, we offer a new bachelor's degree in public policy, launched in the fall of 2022. Undergraduates can also earn a certificate in public policy.

For graduate students, take advantage of one of several degree options:

Graduate students can enroll on a full- or part-time basis. The GRE is not required to apply. We strive to make our graduate programs financially accessible to all students.

The UMass Amherst School of Public Policy received the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration’s inaugural Social Equity Award.

Request information about our graduate degree programs.

News

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Fountain gives keynote lectures on digital governance in China

Jane Fountain, Director of the School of Public Policy, gave two keynote addresses at conferences in China in May. The first keynote, titled “The Moon, the Ghetto and Artificial Intelligence: Computational Algorithms and Reducing Inequalities” was delivered on May 20, 2023 at the Symposium on Digital – Intelligent Governance organized by Nankai University in Tianjin, China.

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Sherell Jeudi awarded summer research assistantship

Sherell Jeudi, an undergraduate public policy student, will be working as a summer research assistant with the Center for Justice, Law, and Societies (CJLS) and SBS RISE.

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Miller chosen as co-principal investigator on major transportation project

Thaddeus Miller, Associate Professor of Public Policy, is co-principal investigator on the recently awarded $15 million, five-year Region 1: New England University Transportation Center from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).

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Martin contributes to MA Commission on LGBTQ Youth FY 2024 report

Cas Martin, MPPA 2022, has recently been included as a section contributor in the newly released FY 2024 report by the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth. 

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Congratulations to our 2023 School of Public Policy graduates

On Friday, May 26, the largest-ever School of Public Policy class officially had their degrees conferred by the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Congratulations on your achievements, Class of ‘23!