MSPPM: Pittsburgh (Two-Year)

Our most popular and flexible MSPPM option.

In MSPPM: Pittsburgh, you will gain crucial strengths in quantitative management and evidence-based problem-solving, as well as effective communication and strategic thinking. This combination of abilities will position you to use data, technology, and smart policy to make the world a better place.

A full-time professional graduate degree program with a required summer internship, students have opportunities to work with industry clients on real-world problems via Capstone Projects, bringing theory into practice.

With a MSPPM from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College, you will come out ready to use your skills to lead meaningful change.

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Duration: 2 years / 4 semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer Internship, Fall, Spring)

MSPPM Admissions Requirements

My Story: Franz

Franz Rivera (MSPPM '18) was born in Manila and grew up in Los Angeles, California. He's getting his MSPPM so he can make an impact in many different ways.

MSPPM: PITTSBURGH CURRICULUM

MSPPM Core
- Applied Economic Analysis
- Statistical Reasoning with R
- Intro to Database Management
- Organizational Design and Implementation
- Management Science
- Policy and Politics
- Financial Analysis
- Writing for Public Policy
- Strategic Presentation Skills
- Public Policy Capstone Project
PLUS
- Required Summer Internship
MSPPM Concentrations
MSPPM Concentrations:
Students in the MSPPM: Pittsburgh pathway can elect an optional concentration in one of the following policy areas:
- Cybersecurity and Management
- Energy Systems and Public Policy
- Environmental Policy
- Health Policy
- International Trade and Development
- Management
- Policy Analysis
- Public and Non-Profit Finance
- Smart Communities
- Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Urban and Regional Economic Development
Learn more about MSPPM Concentrations
MSPPM Sample Electives*
- Programming R for Analytics
- Evidence-Based Management
- Technology and International Development
- Labor Economic Policy
- Negotiation
- Social Innovation
- Privacy in the Digital Age
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Immigration Research
- Poverty, Inequality and Social Policies
- SAS for Public Policy
- Public Finance
- Energy Policy
- Applied Data Science
- Exploring and Visualizing Data
- Data Warehousing
- Introduction to Python
- Text Analytics
- Communicating Complexity
- Management Consulting
- Growth With Intelligent Transportation
- Developing as a Leader
*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.

SAMPLE SCHEDULE

Below is one possible schedule for MSPPM: Pittsburgh. Actual schedules will vary depending on pathway, concentrations, and electives.

Class titles in bold are core courses.

YEAR 1 - FALL SEMESTER

AI for Public Policy
Design Thinking
Statistical Reasoning with R
Intro to Database Management
Organizational Design and Implementation
Applied Economic Analysis
Writing for Public Policy

YEAR 1 - SPRING SEMESTER

Intro to Programming with Python
Management Science I & II
Policy & Politics: American or International Perspective
Financial Analysis
Strategic Presentation Skills

--REQUIRED SUMMER INTERNSHIP--

YEAR 2 - FALL SEMESTER

Telling Stories with Data
Behavioral Economics in Public Policy
Developing as a Leader
Poverty, Inequality, and Social Policies
Geographic Information Systems
Societal Consequences of Technological Change: Autonomous Vehicles

YEAR 2 - SPRING SEMESTER

Public Policy Capstone Project
Econometrics
Large Scale Data Analysis for Public Policy
Negotiation
Societal Consequences of Technological Change: Education
Methods of Policy Analysis

MSPPM Pathways

Compare all five MSPPM options at a glance

The MSPPM program is offered in five distinct modalities—Pittsburgh (Two-Year), Data Analytics, Washington D.C., Fast Track (Three-Semester), and Global. Compare all five and choose the path that best suits your mission.

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Your Bridge to Impact