Twin Cities campus

This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.

 
Twin Cities Campus

Public Policy M.P.P.

HHH Administration
Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Graduate Student Services, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-624-3800; fax: 612-626-0002)
Email: hhhadmit@umn.edu
Website: http://www.hhh.umn.edu
  • Program Type: Master's
  • Requirements for this program are current for Fall 2012
  • Length of program in credits: 45
  • This program does not require summer semesters for timely completion.
  • Degree: Master of Public Policy
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the General Information section of this website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
The master of public policy (M.P.P.) curriculum is built upon a core of required theoretical and methodological courses. In remaining courses, students choose either to emphasize more advanced study of analysis or management, or to focus on a particular substantive area of public policy. Structured concentrations include advanced policy analysis methods; economic and community development; global public policy; public and nonprofit leadership and management; science, technology, and environmental policy; social policy; and women and public policy. Students have multiple opportunities to apply the concepts learned in their coursework to real-life policy problems, including cases presented in courses, their internships, and workshops. Dual degrees include M.P.P./master of business administration; M.P.P./juris doctor; M.P.P./master of science in health services research, policy, and administration; and M.P.P./master of social work.
Program Delivery
  • via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
Prerequisites for Admission
The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program is 3.00.
A four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. university or foreign equivalent at time of enrollment.
Other requirements to be completed before admission:
Competence in college-level algebra (including facility with functional notations; algebraic manipulation of polynomials, logs, and exponentials; and graphic representation of equations) is required. A grade of B or better in an introductory course in microeconomics is required. At least one course in political science (that analyzes political institutions) is strongly recommended. Competence in MS Excel and Word is strongly recommended.
Special Application Requirements:
A complete application will include a Graduate School application, personal statement, resume or C.V., transcripts, GRE scores, TOEFL scores (if applicable), at least three letters of recommendation, and a diversity statement.
Applicants must submit their test score(s) from the following:
  • GRE
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
  • TOEFL
    • Internet Based - Total Score: 100
    • Paper Based - Total Score: 600
  • IELTS
    • Total Score: 7.0
Key to test abbreviations (GRE, TOEFL, IELTS).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the General Information section of this website.
Program Requirements
Plan C: Plan C requires 45 major credits and up to credits outside the major. There is no final exam.
This program may be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses towards program requirements is not permitted.
A minimum GPA of 2.80 is required for students to remain in good standing.
At least 1 semesters must be completed before filing a Degree Program Form.
This program offers options for four dual degrees. Each dual degree option within the M.P.P. allows for a different number of credits in common between the two programs: M.P.P./J.D.: 29 credits in common allowed M.P.P./M.S.-H.S.R.P.A.: 16 credits in common allowed M.P.P./M.S.W.: 21 credits in common allowed for full program, 15 for advanced standing, 11 for Direct Practice M.P.P./M.B.A.: 24 credits in common allowed
Core Courses
PA 5011 - Dynamics of Public Affairs Organizations (3.0 cr)
PA 5012 - The Politics of Public Affairs (3.0 cr)
PA 5021 - Microeconomics for Policy Analysis (3.0 cr)
PA 5031 - Statistics for Public Affairs (4.0 cr)
PA 5002 - Introduction to Policy Analysis (1.5 cr)
PA 5003 - Introduction to Financial Analysis and Management (1.5 cr)
PA 5022
Take 3 or more credit(s) from the following:
· PA 5022 - Applications of Economics for Policy Analysis (1.5-3.0 cr)
Methods Courses
Take 2 or more course(s) from the following:
· PA 5032 - Applied Regression (2.0 cr)
· PA 5033 - Multivariate Techniques (2.0 cr)
· PA 5035 {Inactive} (1.5 cr)
· PA 5036 {Inactive} (2.0 cr)
· PA 5037 {Inactive} (2.0 cr)
Concentration: 9 credits
Professional Paper
Professional paper through a Capstone Workshop, Working Group, or Master's: Professional Paper (Individual Option).
PA 8081 - Capstone Workshop (3.0 cr)
or PA 8082 - Professional Paper-Writing Seminar (3.0 cr)
or PA 8921 - Master's: Professional Paper (Individual Option) (1.0-3.0 cr)
Electives
Electives to bring total credits to 45.
 
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· Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs

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PA 5011 - Dynamics of Public Affairs Organizations
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Critical analysis of organizations in the world of public affairs from multiple levels - including the individual, group, organization, and sector - and the dynamics of relationships among them. Develop actionable recommendations to improve organizational effectiveness in the context of multiple (often contested) prosocial purposes and conflicting stakeholder demands. Memo writing, case analyses, simulations, guest speakers, and self-awareness exercises
PA 5012 - The Politics of Public Affairs
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Politics is how we make collective decisions about matters of shared consequence. This course examines politics and introduces students to key concepts and skills needed for effective political analysis. The central themes of the course focus on power; institutions and organizations; discourse; and citizenship.
PA 5021 - Microeconomics for Policy Analysis
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Introduction to tools useful for public policy. Intermediate microeconomics.
PA 5031 - Statistics for Public Affairs
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Basic statistical tools for empirical analysis of public policy alternatives. Frequency distributions, descriptive statistics, elementary probability/probability distributions, statistical inference. Estimation/hypothesis testing. Cross-tabulation/chi-square distribution. Analysis of variance, correlation. Simple/multiple regression analysis.
PA 5002 - Introduction to Policy Analysis
Credits: 1.5 [max 1.5]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Process of public policy analysis from problem structuring to communication of findings. Commonly used analytical methods. Alternative models of analytical problem resolution.
PA 5003 - Introduction to Financial Analysis and Management
Credits: 1.5 [max 1.5]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Finance/accounting concepts/tools in public/nonprofit organizations. Fund accounting. Balance sheet/income statement analysis. Cash flow analysis. Public/nonprofit sector budgeting processes. Lectures, discussions. Cases. prereq: Public policy major/minor or major in development practice, public affairs or liberal studies or grad nonprofit mgmt cert or instr consent
PA 5022 - Applications of Economics for Policy Analysis
Credits: 1.5 -3.0 [max 9.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Application of economic reasoning to a wide range of contemporary public policy issues. The following topically-focused courses also fulfill the MPP economics requirement: PA 5431: Public Policies on Work and Pay, PA 5503: Economics of Development, PA 5521: Development Planning and Policy Analysis, PA 5722: Economics of Natural Resource and Environmental Policy, and PA 5805: Global Economics. prereq: 5021 or equiv
PA 5032 - Applied Regression
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Bivariate/multivariate models of regression analysis, assumptions behind them. Problems using these models when such assumptions are not met.
PA 5033 - Multivariate Techniques
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Use of bivariate and multivariate statistical approaches for analyzing and evaluating public affairs issues and the assumptions behind the analytical approaches. Designed to help students read, understand, interpret, use, and evaluate empirical work used in social sciences by policy analysts and policy makers. prereq: Students who register for PA 5033 must take PA 5044 and PA 5033 in the same semester. The same grade will be issued for PA 5044 and PA 5033 after PA 5033 is completed.
PA 8081 - Capstone Workshop
Credits: 3.0 [max 6.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring & Summer
Project for external client on issue agreed upon by student, client, and instructor. Students apply interdisciplinary methods, approaches, and perspectives from core courses. Written report with analysis and policy recommendations. Oral presentation. Topics vary by term. prereq: completion of core courses or instr consent
PA 8082 - Professional Paper-Writing Seminar
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Facilitates completion of research paper on current issues in public policy, management, and science, technology and environment. Students apply interdisciplinary methods, approaches, and perspectives studied in core courses. Written report includes analysis of issue, policy recommendations. All topics accepted. Plan A students welcome. prereq: completion of core courses, or instr consent
PA 8921 - Master's: Professional Paper (Individual Option)
Credits: 1.0 -3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Students work under guidance of paper adviser and committee members to complete their Professional Paper (individual option). prereq: instr consent