Master of Science in Public Policy and Management: Flagship Track
Your Most Flexible Public Policy Degree
This track is right for you if:
- You want to be the translator between evidence gathering and policy creation
- You want the skills to impact policy across sectors
- You see data analysis as crucial to solving the thorniest public policy challenges of our time
Key Program Information
Everything you need to know about the Master of Science in Public Policy and Management program.
Application Deadlines
- Round 1: December 1, 2026
- Round 2: January 10, 2027
- Round 3: February 1, 2027
Cost of Attendance
Please visit the Student Financial Services website.
Explore the Program
My Heinz College Story: Maggie
Maggie Harger was a Transportation Fellow for Traffic21, a U.S. Department of Transportation University Transportation Center, during her time at Heinz College.
Fall 2027 Public Policy and Management: Flagship Track Curriculum
- Policy and Politics: American Political Institutions (90-714) or An International Perspective (90-713)
- Policy Analysis
- Applied Economic Analysis (90-710) or Intermediate Economic Analysis (90-709)
- Statistical Reasoning (90-707) or Statistical Reasoning with R (90-711) or Accelerated Statistics (90-777)
- Optimization and Decision Modeling for Policy (90-722)
- Organizational Design and Implementation (94-700)
- Financial Statements and Analysis (90-723)
- Strategic Communication for Public Policy and Management (90-877)
- Introduction to Database Management (90-728)
- Public Policy Capstone Project
- PPM Professional Seminar
In fall 2027 and beyond, public policy students will choose from targeted electives to gain skills and experience in the following areas:
- Policy Domains
- Policy Methods
- Artificial Intelligence
- Lab-Based Experiential Learning
- Management
For class, syllabi, and faculty information, please visit the Heinz College course catalog. Fall 2026 current students, please visit the Master of Science in Public Policy and Management Student Handbook.
- Telling Stories with Data (94-870)
- Policy Innovation Lab (90-783)
- Critical Analysis of Policy Research (90-822)
- Program Evaluation (90-823)
- Negotiation (94-800)
- Federal Budget Policy (90-894)
- Poverty Reduction and Social Policies in the U.S. (90-704)
- Local and Regional Economic Development (90-743)
- Systems Analysis: Environmental Policy (90-798)
- Python Programming (90-812)
- Machine Learning for Public Policy Lab (94-989)
- Unstructured Data Analytics (95-865)
- Data Science and Big Data (95-885)
- Responsible AI: Fundamentals, Policy, and Implementation (94-885)
- Geographic Information Systems (94-802)
- Behavioral Economics in Public Policy
- U.S. Energy and Climate Policy
- Policy in a Global Economy
- Racial & Gender Impact on U.S. Policies
- Demystifying AI
- Lean Innovation Lab
- Policy Innovation Lab
- AI and Democracy (94-816)
Elective availability may differ by pathway/location; students may also enroll in graduate-level courses from other Heinz College programs as well as other departments across Carnegie Mellon University’s campus, with approval.
For class, syllabi, and faculty information, please visit the Heinz College course catalog.
Public Policy and Management Concentrations:
Students in the Flagship pathway can elect an optional concentration in one of the following policy areas:
- AI Management
- Energy and Environmental Policy
- Health Policy
- International Policy
- Nonprofit and Public Management
- Public Interest Technology
- Social Policy
- Technology Governance, Cybersecurity, and Privacy Policy
- Urban & Regional Economic Development
- U.S. Politics and Policy Making
Sample Public Policy and Management Class Schedule
- At Carnegie Mellon University, courses are counted in units instead of credits.
- Three units are roughly equivalent to one credit at many of our peer institutions.
- A semester-long course is 12 units, while a half-semester class (called a mini) is six units.
- Complete 192 units over two years, including a required summer internship and capstone experience.
The following schedules are intended to be examples of the structure of the semester. Courses may not always be offered in this fashion.
Fall Semester, Mini 1
| Course Title |
| Applied Economic Analysis |
| Statistical Reasoning |
| Policy & Politics: American Political Institutions |
| PPM Professional Seminar |
| Organizational Design & Implementation |
Fall Semester, Mini 2
| Course Title |
| Applied Economic Analysis |
| Statistical Reasoning |
| Policy & Politics: American Political Institutions |
| PPM Professional Seminar |
| Elective: Local & Regional Economic Development |
Spring Semester, Mini 1
| Course Title |
| Policy Analysis |
| Optimization & Decision Modeling |
| Finance |
| Database |
Spring Semester, Mini 2
| Course Title |
| Policy Analysis |
| Optimization & Decision Modeling |
| Elective: Responsible AI - Fundamentals, Policy, and Implementations |
| Elective: Policy Innovation Lab |
