MPP Curriculum

(2 semesters) The economics sequence deals with individual and policy choices in a world of scarcity. The first semester of the sequence introduces topics such as household consumption and production, the economics of information, risk and uncertainty, markets and market structure, behavioral economics, game theory, externalities and other types of market failure, and welfare economics. The second semester extends the analysis of market failure and introduces the economics of the public sector, regulation, non-market decision making, quantitative methods and microeconomic theory for analysis of economic policy, including cases and examples of cost-benefit analysis, public sector pricing, public utility regulation, pollution regulation and product safety regulation.

The political analysis course explores the role of legislatures, interest groups, chief executives, and the bureaucracy in defining alternatives and in shaping policy from agenda formulation through policy implementation.

The globalization and governance course focuses on the blurring of lines between the “international” and the “domestic,” and the increasing interconnectedness of nation-states and their peoples across a range of economic, political, security, societal and cultural issues. The course seeks to help students develop an analytic framework and historical context for understanding globalization and governance; understand core concepts, major political institutions, and political dynamics; and delve into some of the major policy debates.

(2 semesters) The two-course sequence is intended to make students critical consumers and effective producers of statistical evidence presented in support of policy arguments. The first course devotes significant time to fundamental building blocks of statistics, including basic probability, inference, and hypothesis testing, which, in turn, support the study of multiple regression. Students learn to manipulate large databases, conduct sensitivity analysis, and present results. The second course presents experimental and nonexperimental methods for evaluating the effect of public programs, including topics in experimental design, regression analysis, and simulation.

Students must take one of a few courses designed to help students identify, analyze and discuss ethical questions, issues and situations that arise in the policy making process. These courses must be at the graduate level and offered or approved (for dual degree students only) by the program.

(2 semesters) The two-course sequence emphasizes identifying pragmatic solutions to contemporary policy problems in a variety of settings and case studies. Teamwork, writing, professional development, and presentation skills are emphasized.

(2 semesters) To satisfy this requirement, students may enroll in public policy management courses such as Public Management, Principles of Leadership, Public Budgeting, Foundations Strategy & Impact, or Negotiations. Management and leadership courses offered outside of the Sanford School at the Fuqua School of Business, Duke Law School, or UNC–Chapel Hill also may be accepted.

• PUBPOL810 - Microeconomics and Public Policymaking
• PUBPOL814-Politics of the Policy Process or PUBPOL 820 Globalization and Governance
• PUBPOL812-Statistics and Data Analysis
• PUBPOL803-Policy Analysis 1

May take an Elective or Concentration Foundation Course

• PUBPOL811-Microeconomics: Policy Applications
• PUBPOL813-Quantitative Evaluation Methods
• PUBPOL804-Policy Analysis II
• Elective

The required policy internship is a key component of the MPP curriculum. The internship is completed during the summer, typically after the first year. It must last at least 10 full-time weeks and be policy-relevant, as determined by Sanford Career Services.

Explore a Youtube playlist of MPP students talking about their summer internships.

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• PUBPOL807–Master’s Project I
• 3 Electives

• PUBPOL808-Master’s Project II
• 3 Electives

• PUBPOL 816
• Leadership/Management: 6 total credits

*For specific requirements, check the MPP Student Handbook.

• Look at a complete list of Public Policy courses offered.
  • 800-level courses: graduate and professional;
  • 500-level are graduate-level courses permitting a selected number of junior and senior undergraduates;