Master's degrees in public policy prepare men and women for government careers.
If a career in government appeals to you, or if you have a burning interest in public affairs, then a master's degree in public policy may be the perfect fit for your education and career goals. These professional degrees instruct students in government administration, public policy analysis, quantitative research methods and government institutions and processes. Students who complete these degrees find careers in government, policy research firms, consulting and other areas.
Types
The most common types of public policy master's degrees are the Master of Public Administration (MPA) and the Master of Public Policy (MPP). The MPA is a management degree that trains future government administrators to implement policies and programs. The MPP emphasizes policy research and analysis techniques to identify effective approaches to resolving public policy problems. Less common master's degree programs in public policy include the Master of Public Management (MPM) and the Master of Public Affairs (MPA or MPAff.). The MPM, with its emphasis on management, resembles the Master of Public Administration. The Master of Public Affairs may resemble the MPA or MPP depending on the type of coursework a student completes toward the degree.
Features
Students working toward an MPA take courses in government management, policy design and implementation, government financial management and budgeting, human resources management, administrative law, and government institutions and processes. An MPP program may include some of the same coursework but emphasizes courses in economics, analytical methods and specific areas of public policy. For example, MPP students may take courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, statistical methods and cost-benefit analysis, as well as classes in policy areas of interest, such as health care, education, science and the environment, or criminal justice.
Effects
The Public Service Careers website states that students who complete their public policy master's degrees find careers at all levels of government (federal, state and local), nonprofit organizations, the United Nations and other international institutions, consulting firms and policy research firms. The degree also may benefit working professionals who wish to change careers or advance in their existing ones. For example, a police officer who completes an MPA may advance to a management position in law enforcement.
Benefits
In addition to the range of job opportunities, a master's degree in a public policy field often leads to a higher income. The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), citing Census Bureau figures, reported that individuals with master's degrees earn an average of nearly $10,000 a year more than those with a bachelor's degree. Over a lifetime, a master's degree is worth nearly $250,000 more.
Considerations
Students with specialized interests can tailor their public policy education by entering a master's degree program with a concentration that matches those interests. According to the NASPAA, concentrations in MPA programs include health care administration, nonprofit management, urban affairs and criminal justice administration. Concentrations for MPP students include environmental and science policy, international development, education policy, health policy and policy evaluation.
Tags: public policy, Master Public, master degree, policy research, Administration Master