‌Job growth, affordable housing, educational reform, environmental degradation—these are just a few of the significant challenges that face society today. The public policy program at Loyola can help students transform their interest in these types of problems into the ability to analyze and act upon them. The curriculum brings together knowledge about current government programs with the technical skills to assess how politics influence policy choices, how to design more effective programs, and how to evaluate the impacts of existing ones.

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) program at Loyola is a two-year professional degree focused on training students to assume leadership roles in government, non-profit organizations, or businesses. Part-time students typically finish in three years. Internships or capstone projects allow students to apply the skills developed in the program and gain work-related experience.

Curriculum

The MPP degree program requires 37 credit-hours of coursework—11 three-credit courses, plus a three-credit internship or capstone experience, and a one-credit professional development course.

Required Coursework

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Requirements
MPP 400	Policy Design and Analysis	3
MPP 401	Analytical Tools in Public Policy	3
MPP 403	Public Budget and Finance	3
MPP 404	Public Policy Process	3
MPP 405	Statistical Methods & Analysis for Public Policy I	3
MPP 406	Statistical Methods & Analysis Public Policy II	3
MPP 500	Public Policy Evaluation	3
MPP 502	Professional Development Skills	1
MPP 501	Public Policy Internship	3
or MPP 503	Public Policy Practicum
Electives
Select four from list of Electives		12
Total Hours		37

Electives

Students are required to take 12 hours of electives. Electives can be drawn from many departments across the university, including criminal justice,  education, environmental studies, political science, public health, psychology, sociology and social work. These electives are where students can focus on their preferred field of policy. The following are some examples of optional courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Environment
ENVS 410	Introduction to Environmental Law & Policy	3
ENVS 412	Water Law & Policy	3
Public Health
MPBH 400	Determinants of Population Health	3
MPBH 407	Public Health Policy: Concepts and Practice	3
Criminal Justice
CJC 401	Politics and Policies in the Criminal Justice System	3
CJC 402	Theories of Criminal Behavior	3
Economic and Community Development
MPP 407	Local Economic Development	3
MPP 414	Affordable Housing Finance and Policy	3
Education
ELPS 405	Introduction to Educational Policy Analysis	3
ELPS 412	Urban Education Policy	3
Immigration
SOWK 730	Immigration Dynamics and U.S. Social Policy	3
SOWK 732	Migration, Social Justice, and Human Rights	3

Internship or Capstone Experience

For students without significant professional work experience prior to starting the program, an internship is required. Most students complete their internships in the summer between their first and second years. For students with professional work experience, a capstone project or policy clinic resulting in a major analytical report could be done instead. 

Suggested Sequence of Courses 

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study.  Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Hours
MPP 401	Analytical Tools in Public Policy	3
MPP 404	Public Policy Process	3
MPP 405	Statistical Methods & Analysis for Public Policy I	3
MPP 502	Professional Development Skills	1
	Hours	10
Spring
MPP 400	Policy Design and Analysis	3
MPP 403	Public Budget and Finance	3
MPP 406	Statistical Methods & Analysis Public Policy II	3
	Hours	9
Year 2
Fall
MPP 501	Public Policy Internship	3
Select two from list of Electives		6
	Hours	9
Spring
MPP 500	Public Policy Evaluation	3
Select two from list of Electives		6
	Hours	9
	Total Hours	37

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MPP program, graduates will be able to: 

• Design policy interventions and apply criteria to assess the best option in each specific case
• Understand a government budget and evaluate it from different stakeholder positions
• Understand the political process at the federal, state and local government levels
• Develop political messaging to advocate for policies and to build a political coalition of support for a program
• Apply appropriate statistical procedures used in public policy research and practice
• Design, conduct and critique program evaluations
• Experience working in the public policy arena in government agency, non-profit, research, or private sector organization