Master of Public Policy - Social Policy in College Park United States | University of Maryland, College Park

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a two-year professional program that equips students with essential skills, knowledge, and connections to analyze issues and develop effective solutions. The MPP program structure includes two key elements - a 27-credit core curriculum covering governance fundamentals, quantitative methods, and policy implementation, alongside elective courses for specialized study. Students can apply their elective credits toward one or two focus areas or explore broader policy topics. Available specializations range from environmental and energy policy to international development, security, leadership, nonprofit management, public finance, and various social policy fields like health and education, plus a customizable option. Graduation requires completing 48 credits. Develop expertise in policy-making and governance while building analytical capabilities and hands-on experience to address critical societal issues.

The Social Policy concentration introduces students to the historical context and organizational frameworks of social policy, enhances their quantitative abilities for assessing programs and working with complex datasets, and engages them with ethical questions surrounding inequality. Core courses (Quantitative Policy Analysis, Social Policy Foundations, and Program Evaluation) form the basis for adaptable degree paths catering to both early-career and experienced professionals, with optional coursework in healthcare, education reform, poverty alleviation, criminal justice, housing policy, and social services administration. The program features an accomplished resident faculty alongside cross-disciplinary course offerings throughout the university.