MPP Curriculum
Core courses in the Masters in Public Policy program cover public policy, policy analysis, quantitative methods, and economic policy. This is a two-year program for students taking 8 or more units per term. The program consists of either 50 or 60 approved units depending on when you started at Cal Poly and not including courses necessary to compensate for deficiencies. The degree culminates with a two-term seminar focused on analytical projects where students will develop, present, and discuss individual research. Students develop a unique concentration of electives related to their interests, and may pursue joint graduate degree programs.
MPP Courses
The MPP offers coursework relevant to problem solving and analysis of public policies. Each student files a formal study plan in their first quarter detailing their elective and core coursework.
The formal program of study includes a plan for all core and elective units. Core MPP courses must be taken for a letter grade. Full course descriptions can be found in the Cal Poly catalog online and in print. The student has seven years to complete all coursework and requirements for the degree, including the comprehensive examination.
Continuous Enrollment
As of Fall 2009, graduate students must maintain continuous enrollment in the University in three of four academic quarters annually. To maintain enrollment, students must be enrolled as a regular student, enrolled in a special place-holder course (GS 597), or be on planned educational or medical leave.
For more information on the Continuous Enrollment Policy, please visit the Cal Poly Graduate Education website.
Policy Expertise
Throughout the program, students are to develop an area of policy expertise. In order to do so, students are to direct their elective units toward a specific area of policy specialization. Students can choose courses from a wide array of disciplines throughout the university to develop a specific area of policy expertise. View example policy electives.
MPP Culminating Exam
The culminating experience is a two-day take-home exam, designed to assess the student's ability to integrate knowledge and demonstrate mastery in policy analysis applications. The exam will be administered by faculty associated with the program during fall and spring quarters each year.
Course of Study (Prior to Fall 2019)
| CLASSES | UNITS |
|---|---|
| POLS 510 Research Design | 4 |
| POLS 515 Public Policy | 4 |
| POLS 518 Public Policy Analysis | 5 |
| POLS 540 Leadership & Management | 4 |
| POLS 550 Regulatory and Economic Policy | 4 |
| POLS 560 Quantitative Methods | 5 |
| POLS 586 Policy Internship | 4-8 |
| POLS 590 Graduate Seminar | 8 |
| POLS 595 Directed Supervised Reading for MPP Comprehensive Exam | 2 |
| Electives - Click here to see example elective courses | 16-20 |
| Total Units | 60 |