Master's in Public Policy (MPP)
Address a vast range of public concerns, including terrorism, human trafficking, gender studies, environmental hazards, and hunger with the Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) at George Mason University’s Schar School.
Effective public policies advance the public good. The Master of Public Policy (MPP) program at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government prepares you to move into influential positions in the policy world. You will develop skills in policymaking and analysis necessary to understand and solve critical problems. Our MPP graduates advance in careers across a wide range of policy areas and hold positions throughout the public and private sectors, including government agencies, NGOs, and consulting firms.
Coronavirus/COVID-19 Notice:
Mason will move to a mix of in-person instruction and expanded online classes for its on-campus programs for the spring 2021 semester. Faculty and staff who normally work on-campus are teleworking and are fully available to support students. Visit Mason's Coronavirus Information page for more information, including affected dates and frequently asked questions. For questions as a prospective student, please don't hesitate to contact the Schar School Office of Graduate Admissions at schar@gmu.edu.
CURRICULUM AND COURSE SCHEDULE
A cornerstone of our MPP degree is your ability to pursue a public policy emphasis area of your choosing. You can select from among the pre-defined areas of emphasis or work with your advisor to craft a tailored focus area. Policy topics covered in the emphasis areas include:
For detailed curriculum and course schedule information, click here.
To learn more about the differences between the MPP and MPA degrees, click here.
“I think it’s important to study public policy, because it teaches people how to make an impact. Through understanding the policy processes and a wide range of perspectives, I feel this degree will give me the best change to enact positive change.”
—Najma Mohamud, Master’s in Public Policy student
“The academic discipline that I learned at Mason was much, much greater than anything I learned at academic institutions prior. [My professors] were brilliant and inspired me to be more creative in problem solving, and more expansive in the way I think about issues in the world.”
—William Kreamer, Master's in Public Policy '06
“City and local policy issues have always been my favorite. It’s exciting to see the results of your work in your community not long after doing the work.”
—Rose Previte, Master's in Public Policy '07
"I never thought that it would be possible for me, the child of immigrants [from El Salvador], to have that opportunity right out of the gate as a freshman in college—or even ever."
—Wilberg Rivera, Master's in Public Policy '18
With George Mason University's prime location in the Washington, D.C. area, Schar School students gain access to leading scholars and practitioners closely connected to the epicenter of policymaking and public service, and the hub of the nonprofit sector.
The Schar School as a whole has 80+ faculty members, as well as hundreds of adjunct faculty, allowing students to gain access to a variety of perspectives and subjects through elective courses. Notable faculty members in the public policy program include program director Bonnie Stabile, Dean Mark J. Rozell, Siona Listokin-Smith, Janine Wedel, Stephen Fuller, and many more.
FACULTY DIRECTORY
In addition to university-wide resources, the Schar School has a dedicated team of student services and career development advisors to assist you in your academic and professional plans. The Master's in Public Policy program prepares students for a range of industries and roles in the public and private sectors. In a recent graduating class career outcomes survey, the following were the top employers of MPP program graduates:
Rose Previte’s award-winning Washington restaurant, Compass Rose, is on national “best restaurant” lists, noted as much for its sold-out, no-reservation tables as for its global “street food” theme. She collected the recipes on travels to more than 30 countries with her husband David Greene, a correspondent for National Public Radio.
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The Marine Corps officers cohort, selected after a rigorous application process, enroll in the Schar School's Master's in Public Policy program which provides fellows with the skills in policymaking and analysis necessary for understanding and solving critical problems.
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Wayne Lavender, a graduate from the PhD in Public Policy program, is the executive director at the Foundation 4 Orphans, where he builds homes and educates hundreds of orphans in Mozambique.
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Schar School professor Zoltan Acs and Emma Lappi, Jönköping International Business School PhD candidate, set out with some scientific rigor and big data analysis to reveal how entrepreneurial endeavors perform in European countries known for their cocktails.
READ MOREReady to apply?
The Master of Public Policy (MPP) program accepts students for both the fall and spring semesters. Browse our application guide to learn more about application requirements and deadlines.
HOW TO APPLY