Master of Science in Public Policy

About the Program

Master of Science: 45.0 quarter credits

The Master of Science in Public Policy is a general professional masters degree designed for people who work, or who would like to work, for government or a nonprofit organization.

The Master of Science in Public Policy has a required core curriculum of nine courses, specifically designed for students to:

• develop an understanding of the social, political and ethical context of policy research, and how this understanding can be applied to an applied practice of policy analysis;
• conceptionalize, design and conduct social research for policy purposes, as well as comprehensively analyze existing social research data;
• recognize the history of public policy institutions in America and the management and governance of nonprofit organizations; and
• understand the concept of sustainability as it relates to policy planning, design, and implementation.

In addition to the core courses, the program has a focus on case study research as a unifying element of the curriculum. The curriculum reinforces coursework with a series of accompanying 1-credit, online, Case Study Research co-requisites. Students are required to choose a specific case study topic that they will work on for the duration of the core curriculum. In each subsequent Case Study Research course, students continue further research and writing on their chosen case study topic. Thus by the end of the program students will have produced a polished, in-depth analysis of a specific case that they can use to demonstrate expertise in a given policy area.

With the approval and support of the program director, students can craft a specialized course of study with their three electives, or they can take courses in one of three tracks:

1. Educational Policy
2. Environmental Policy
3. Urban Systems Management

The degree can be completed part-time in two years. Select students will also be able to apply for an intensive full-time track in which they complete the degree in a single year.

For additional information, view the Center for Public Policy page on the College of Arts and Sciences' website.

Admission Requirements

Acceptance for graduate study at Drexel University requires a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the United States or an equivalent international institution. Although admission requirements vary by program, regular acceptance typically requires a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 for the last two years of undergraduate work. The GPA for any graduate work must be at least 3.0.

The admission committee evaluates all credentials submitted by applicants to determine a student’s ability and potential to succeed in graduate study. In addition, the committee is interested in the applicant’s ability to contribute to his/her program of study and to the University community as a whole.

Though part-time at 8.0 credits, Drexel is extending the same scholarship opportunities to Master of Science in Public Policy students who enroll that are usually only available for full-time programs.

Visit the Graduate Admissions website for more information about requirements and deadlines, as well as instructions for applying online.

Degree Requirements 

Interdepartmental Faculty