Public Policy, MPP | Northeastern University Academic Catalog (2024)

School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs

CSSH Graduate Programs General Regulations

The Master of Public Policy is the recognized industry standard for those seeking careers in public policy analysis and design. The MPP degree emphasizes the analysis of data and other relevant information to enable graduates to assess public problems, develop appropriate policy responses, and evaluate program effectiveness. MPP graduates enter careers as policy analysts, researchers, consultants, program evaluators, and policymakers in a broad range of public and nonprofit settings, ranging from the local to the international, and in the private sector. At Northeastern, the MPP joins the nationally accredited Master of Public Administration as well as our Master of Science in Urban Planning and Policy, Master of Science in Urban Informatics, Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy, and Master of Arts in International Affairs. As such, MPP students are part of a larger School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs community of great intellectual and policy area diversity.

The MPP programs require all students to engage in an internship experience and offer an optional cooperative education experience to eligible students. Cooperative education is central to both the Northeastern experience and to the experiential liberal arts framework of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. Northeastern’s signature co-op ecosystem provides qualified master's students with six-month work experiences in businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies in Boston and across the United States.

Healthcare Management and Policy Concentration

This graduate concentration is available to students in the MPP program in the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs.It is designed to enable students in the MPP program to develop a deeper understanding of the contemporary healthcare sector, including the intricacies of U.S.health policy, and competencies in healthcare management.The concentration is comprised of three courses, one from each of three focus areas, and an elective.

Sustainability and Climate Change Policy Concentration

This graduate concentration is available to students in the MPP program in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities.It is designed to enable MPP students to develop deeper insights into the policy dimensions of these intertwined but conceptually distinct realms of inquiry and action, in both domestic and international domains.The concentration is comprised of three courses.

Please review thetuition and feespage as credit costs differ depending on the college the course is located in.

Academic Standing/Progress

Students in the program are monitored for academic progress. Those students whose grade-point average falls below a3.000are notified by and meet with the director of academic programs. They are counseled that if their GPA does not rise to a3.000or higher, they run the risk of not graduating and are advised on strategies for improvement.

Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Core Requirements

Internship Requirement

Concentration or Electives Options

A concentration is not required. Students may complete electives (from the elective list below) in lieu of a concentration.

• Healthcare Management and Policy Concentration
• Sustainability and Climate Change Policy Concentration
• Electives Option

Optional Co-op Experience

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

40 total semester hours required (42 with optional co-op)
Minimum 3.000 GPA required

Healthcare Management and Policy Concentration

Sustainability and Climate Change Policy Concentration

Electives Option