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Home>School of Public Policy & Management>Public Policy & Management (MSPPM)>Two-Year Track (Pittsburgh/D.C.)
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MSPPM two-year track with 2nd year in Washington, D.C.
This unique program seeks to train a new breed of public interest leader and to give students a broad awareness of and direct exposure to careers in national and international policy. During the first year of the program, students will be located at the main campus in Pittsburgh, PA, building a solid foundation in public policy, management, information technology, and analytical thinking – skills that have long been a hallmark of the MSPPM degree. The second year of the program will take place in Washington, DC where students will work four days per week in full-time apprenticeships, take classes two nights per week, and spend Friday mornings in workshops and classes. This integration of skill building with hands-on application, real-world experience and networking will create a unique graduate school experience.
Curriculum requirements
- Begin the program in the Fall semester (late August).
- Complete a total of 198 units with a cumulative QPA of 3.0.
- Complete the core curriculum and specific coursework for students in DC.
- Undertake an internship in the summer between the first and second years.
- Undertake an approved apprenticeship in the second year in the national capital region.
- Complete Systems Synthesis, a group capstone project, during your second year.
MSPPM Course Requirements
The MSPPM core curriculum—reviewed, refined and validated by the top professionals in the public policy arena—provides a solid foundation of comprehensive skills you need to lead an organization to success and address critical social issues. Below is a list of required courses you'll need to earn the degree.
Year one in Pittsburgh, PA
Policy Analysis
- Applied Economic Analysis
- Empirical Methods for Public Policy Analysis
- Policy Convocation
Management
- Organizational Design and Implementation
- Management Science
- Strategic Writing Skills
- Strategic Presentation Skills
Political Science
- Policy and Politics: An International Perspective -or- Policy and Politics in American Political Institutions
Technology & Management
- Introduction to Database Management
- Information and Communication Technologies
Finance
- Financial Analysis
Year two in Washington, DC
- Apprenticeship: work in a high-level policy apprenticeship in a government, non-profit, or consulting organization, four days a week (30 hours).
- Apprenticeship Workshop: includes discussion of the week’s events, problems encountered and lessons learned
- Systems Synthesis Project: student teams will work for a client and tackle a real issue that synthesizes their coursework
- Capstone Course: integrates material from the required curriculum and provides an opportunity to learn how policy plays out in the real world.
- Advanced Policy & Methods Courses: an opportunity to explore the tools of policy analysis within context-specific policy areas.
Course Exemptions
If you have a strong background in any of the core courses, you can receive an exemption either by passing an exemption exam administered by Heinz during your orientation program or through successful completion of comparable coursework during your undergraduate work. Exempting a course doesn't reduce the required number of courses you must complete. However, you can add more elective courses to expand your knowledge base.
Public Policy in Action: Heinz College DC
The Heinz College Washington, DC office was established in summer 2008 to help strengthen the School’s connections to national and international policy makers and organizations.