Master of Public Policy Degree Requirements
General Degree Requirements
The Master of Public Policy is designed as a two-year, full-time master’s program of 61 credits. In order to graduate from the program, students must obtain a minimum of 61 credits. Coursework is made up of a first-year core curriculum in policy leadership, analysis, and process, and then a second-year curriculum composed of policy tracks, policy specializations, a summative project, a course that emphasizes diversity in public policy, and the creation of a professional development plan to be refined in the context of a professional development course.
The inclusion of both a traditional Policy Analysis track as well as a separate Policy Advocacy and Leadership track makes the Portland State University MPP an innovative program in the field. The MPP core courses draw from courses offered by programs in Political Science, Public Administration, and Public Affairs and Politics.
Core Courses
All MPP students are required to take all core courses (credit hours in parentheses).
| PAP 511 | Introduction to Public Policy (3) |
Policy Process Core (12-14 credits*)
| PAP 512 | Introduction to Policy Advocacy/Leadership (3) |
| PS 515 | Comparative Public Policy (4) |
| PS 520 | American Political Institutions (4) |
| PA 579 | Policy Tools in Policy Design (3) |
Policy Analysis Core (12-14 credits*)
| PAP 513 | Ethics and Public Policy (4) |
| PAP 653 | Micro-Economics of Public Policy (3) |
| PAP 654 | Policy Analysis Research (3) |
| PS 591 | Testing Theory (4) |
*Course substitutions are occasionally necessary for core courses, which can alter the total number of credits students can gain from core coursework. In these instances, the MPP director will communicate directly with students to alert them of the changes.
Diversity Courses (3-4 credits)
Diversity courses are to be chosen in consultation with an advisor. Course options to fulfill the diversity course requirement include, but are not limited to the following:
| PA 510 | Native American Policy & Governance (3) |
| PA 514 | Global Leadership and Management (3) |
| PA 523 | Nongovernmental Organizations: Nonprofits on the World Stage (3) |
| PA 547 | Culture, Values, and Leadership (3) |
| PA 549 | Cross-cultural Communication in the Public Sector (3) |
| PA 593 | Civil Rights or Public Managers (3) |
| PA 594 | Enhancing Diversity in the Workplace (3) |
| PS 522 | Constitutional Law |
| PS 524 | Law, Politics, and Society |
| PS 571 | Gender & Politics: A Comparative Perspective |
Summative Policy Project (3 or 6 credits)
The summative policy project is the highlight and summation of the MPP program. It is an opportunity for MPP students to begin the transition to professional life by engaging in a capstone project that engages the 6 skills and competencies that the program delivers in the setting of a client organization.
| PAP 509 | Public Policy Project |
Professional Development
The Professional Development course is a key component of the professional development requirements of the Master of Public Policy program. The plan is intended to prepare students to enter into public service through a series of professional development activities that outline both near-term and long-term intentions for their careers. PAP 508 is worth a total of three credits overall, with students taking a 1 credit seminar each quarter of their second year. Students will develop their professional identity, create their professional portfolio, identify current job postings, develop a long-term job search strategy, and develop professional networking strategies.
| PAP 508 | Professional Development Plan |
Track and Specialization Courses
Students may choose any combination of 3 and 4-credit courses to fulfill the 12-14 credit requirements (each) for tracks and specializations. In order to reach the 12-credit requirement minimum, it may be useful to arrange a 1-credit Reading and Conference (PAP 505) course. (For example, credit totals might be 3, 3, 3, 3; 3+1, 3+1, 4; or 4, 4, 3+1). This could be alongside a 3-credit course working with that instructor or as a standalone course with another instructor. Enrollment in Reading and Conference courses requires submission of the “By Arrangement Request” form.
Track courses may come from a variety of policy-related fields, both within and outside the Hatfield School of Government. All Track courses should be taken in consultation with students’ faculty advisors.
Policy specialization courses (Minimum of 12 credits) address specific policy domains. There is a wide breadth of expertise and courses across campus. Students will be expected, in consultation with their advisors, to select a set of courses that cover the areas they are likely to pursue professionally. Examples of relevant policy areas, including suggested core courses include:
| PS 546 | National Security |
| PA 564 | Environmental Policy |
| USP 567 | Housing Policy |
Policy Advocacy Track (Minimum of 12 credits)
Suggested courses for the Policy Advocacy Track include (* designates special topics courses that may not be offered regularly):
| PA 514 | Global Leadership and Management |
| PA 517 | Leadership Development for Public Organizations |
| PA 518 | Leading Public Organizations |
| PA 519 | Civic Capacity |
| PA 537 | Law and Public Policy |
| PA 538 | Advocacy and Political Participation by Nonprofits |
| PA 541 | Social Entrepreneurships |
| PA 539 | National Policy Process (Washington, DC Field Course) |
| PA 543 | Creating Collaborative Communities |
| PA 545 | Organizational Development |
| PA 560 | Local Government Administration |
| PA 592 | Volunteerism &Volunteer Management |
| PA 595 | Labor Relations in the Public Sector |
| PS 516 | Political Parties and Elections |
| PS 517 | Interest Groups |
| PS 518 | Contemporary Political Protest in America |
| PS 519 | Political Reform |
| PS 527 | The Politics of Public Opinion |
| PS 531 | State and Local Politics |
| COMM 510 | Political Campaigns* |
| COMM 520 | Political Communication |
| SOC 524 | Groups, Interaction, and Identity |
| SOC 576 | Theories of Social Change |
| SW 524 | Community Organization |
| SW 532 | Advocacy and Empowerment |
| USP 550 | Participatory Planning |
| USP 584 | Negotiations in the Public Sector |
This is not an extensive list and students are encouraged to look for relevant courses from across
the university, in consultation with their Advisor.
Policy Analysis Track (Minimum of 12 credits)
Suggested courses for the Policy Analysis Track include:
| PA 539 | National Policy Process (Washington, DC Field Course) |
| PA 551 | Analytic Methods in Public Administration I |
| PA 552 | Analytic Methods in Public Administration II |
| PA 555 | Program Evaluation & Management |
| PA 556 | Contract Management |
| PA 582 | Public Budgeting |
| CCJ 520 | Analysis of Crime and Justice Data |
| CE 566 | Environmental Data Analysis |
| PAH 588 | Program Evaluation & Management for Health Services |
| EC 527 | Cost-Benefit Analysis |
| EC 528 | Project Evaluation |
| EC 570 | Econometrics |
| GEOG 588 | Geographic Information Systems I |
| GEOG 592 | Geographic Information Systems II |
| USP 591 | Geographic Information Systems I |
| USP 592 | Geographic Information Systems II |
| SOC 592 | Qualitative Methods |
| SOC 597 | Applied Survey Research |
| SOC 638 | Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods |
| SOC 639 | Focus Group Interviewing |
| SYSC 513 | Holistic Strategies for Problem Solving |
| SYSC 525 | Agent-Based Simulation |
| SYSC 545 | Application of Data Science |
| SYSC 551 | Discrete Multivariate Modeling |
| SYSC 552 | Game Theory |
| USP 536 | Policy Evaluation Methods |
| USP 520 | Applied Demographic Methods I |
| USP 521 | Applied Demographic Methods II |
| USP 615 | Economic Analysis of Public Policy |
| USP 683 | Qualitative Analysis |
This is not an extensive list and students are encouraged to look for relevant courses from across
the university, in consultation with their Advisor.