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Master of Public Policy

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The Master of Public Policy (MPP) provides the knowledge and skills students need to be a policy analyst, researcher, or leader for a broad array of public, non-profit, academic, and tribal positions in Alaska and across the North. It provides students with the ability to engage across a broad array of public policy fields and the methodological depth to carry out sophisticated analyses using both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Admission Requirements

  • Complete the Admission Requirements for Graduate Degrees.
  • Complete a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited institution in the US or foreign equivalent, preferably in a policy discipline, e.g., political science, justice, economics, sociology, anthropology, environmental studies, public health.
  • Complete a minimum of 12 credits in baccalaureate-level Microeconomics (3 credits), Macroeconomics (3 credits), Political Science (3 credits), and Descriptive/Inferential Statistics (3 credits) with a minimum grade of B. Provisional admission is possible if this criterion is not met. Provisionally accepted students will be required to complete leveling coursework within a period of one year before admission to regular status in the program is conferred.
  • Submit the following additional documentation:
    • Minimum B grade point average (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or equivalent at an accredited college or university, or 3.50 or equivalent for graduate-level work.
    • Students with lower than a 3.00 undergraduate GPA may submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. The undergraduate GPA plus GRE Analytic score should total 7.0 or higher. The GRE is not required for students having already earned a graduate degree from an institutionally accredited institution in the United States or foreign equivalent, provided they have the minimum GPA listed above.
    • A “Statement of Intent,” two to three pages long, outlining prior work and/or policy experience, and academic and career objectives.
    • An academic or professional writing sample.   
    • A resume listing education and employment history, particularly any previous policy experience. Please include three references on the resume.

Acceptance into the program is based on the prospective student’s overall credentials as well as the availability of appropriate faculty for student practica and/or research.

Advising

Prospective graduate students are strongly advised to contact potential research/advisor faculty at an early stage of their admission process. An initial advisor is assigned to students based on interests and other academic criteria.

Academic Requirements

A full-time student in the MPP program is expected to complete a minimum of 9 credits (or 6 in the final semester of coursework) applicable to the program per semester with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00. Part-time students must complete at least 3 credits per semester and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00. Students who fail to satisfy provisional admission conditions may be removed from the program. Leaves of absence may not total more than four semesters.

Graduation Requirements

  • Complete the General University Requirements for Graduate Degrees.
  • Complete the following program requirements:
Course List
Code Title Credits
Complete the following courses:
ECON A625Economics and Public Policy3
PADM A601Introduction to Public Administration and Policy3
PADM A604Research Methods in Public Administration3
PADM A606The Policymaking Process3
PADM A628Public Financial Management3
PADM A632Public Policy Analysis3
or PADM A688 Program Evaluation and Performance Measurement
PADM A650Alaska Policy Studies3
PADM A651Issues in Arctic Policy3
PADM A660Public Policy Capstone A3
PADM A661Public Policy Capstone B3
Advisor-approved graduate electives6
Total36

A minimum of 36 credits is required for the degree.

Candidacy Requirements

See UAA Advancement to Candidacy requirements. A student advances to candidacy by doing the following:

  • Select a graduate studies committee by the end of the second semester of graduate study.
  • Submit an official graduate studies plan (GSP) by the end of the first semester of full-time graduate study.
  • Complete at least 30 semester credits of non-thesis/non-practicum coursework applicable to the MPP program.
  • Demonstrate research or statistical competence needed to complete the degree program (by earning a passing grade of B or higher in PADM A604 or pre-approved equivalent), as approved by a student’s graduate studies committee.
  • Receive from the graduate studies committee approval of a thesis/practicum prospectus.

Program Student  Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a Master of Public Policy will be able to:

  • Lead and manage in public policymaking and governance
  • Apply, participate in and contribute to the public policy process
  • Create and apply methods and tools to analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions across a broad set of policy issues
  • Articulate a public service perspective to engaging in public policy work
  • Analyze the Alaska and Arctic public policy and economic contexts and how to work successfully within them
  • Communicate and interact productively with diverse communities and institutions

Page Navigation

  • Undergraduate Programs
  • Graduate Programs
    • Graduate Degrees
    • Graduate Certificates
    • College of Arts &​ Sciences
    • College of Business &​ Public Policy
      • Information Systems &​ Decision Sciences
      • Management &​ Marketing
      • Public Policy &​ Administration
        • Master of Public Administration
        • Master of Public Policy
    • School of Education
    • College of Engineering
    • College of Health
    • Cooperative Graduate Programs
    • Interdisciplinary Studies Degree
  • About the University
  • Academic Policies &​ Processes
  • Annual Notifications &​ Disclosures
  • Course Descriptions
  • Faculty/​Administration
  • Catalog Archive
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