Public Policy

The Woodrow Wilson School offers a one-year Master in Public Policy (M.P.P.) degree for mid-career professionals who are rising leaders in international and domestic public policy.  This residential program is designed for mid-career professionals with seven or more years of public service experience in government agencies or nonprofit organizations in the United States and abroad.

The M.P.P. program provides rigorous training in economic, behavioral, and political analysis. Students may also choose to specialize and earn a certificate in one of the following: health and health policy (HHP); science, technology, and environmental policy (STEP); urban policy (UP) or urban policy and planning (UPP).

To qualify for the degree, M.P.P. candidates must successfully complete eight courses.

A typical M.P.P. program of study will include a specialization in one of the school’s four fields of concentration:

• International Relations
• International Development
• Domestic Policy
• Economics and Public Policy

Additional Requirements:

All M.P.P. students begin with a seven-week summer program that includes intensive courses in microeconomics and statistics, and a policy analysis and leadership seminar.

The summer program is designed to enhance students’ preparation for graduate-level courses. The seminar aims to introduce them to the approaches they will encounter in WWS courses during the academic year, while also helping them get to know their peers and refine their learning objectives for the year.

• Application Fee: $90
• Statement of Academic Purpose
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Recommendation Letters
• Transcripts
• Fall Semester Grades
• Prerequisite Tests
• English Language Tests
• Statement of Financial Resources
• GRE : The general test is required for all Ph.D., M.P.A., and M.P.P. applicants.
• 4 page policy memo. Applicants are required to select a field when applying. Mid-career professionals are required to have a minimum of 7 years’ experience.

The Wilson School’s goal is to enable graduate students to earn a graduate degree without incurring indebtedness, thereby making it more feasible to pursue careers of public service in the public and nonprofit sectors.

The one-year MPP degree for mid-career professionals, lawyers, physicians and Ph.D. scientists awards financial aid on the basis of merit.

Unless applicants receive outside scholarships from governmental or other funding agencies, the School will offer each candidate a full scholarship for tuition and a stipend to cover living expenses. Stipends are offered on the basis of each individual and family.

Our goal is to try to preserve the savings and assets of MPP candidates so that they are able to acquire professional training, and then continue careers in public service.

The MPP program offers John L. Weinberg Fellowships to candidates selected from the U.S. Foreign Service and other agencies focused on international affairs.