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Master in Public Policy - Concentration

The MPP core curriculum is complemented on a Policy Area of Concentration. You will be required to focus on a Policy Area of Concentration.

You  are expected to declare your policy area at the beginning of your final year at the USILD. However, if you are considering of declaring concentration in International  Affairs and Diplomacy, you are advised to declare your concentration during the first year so you can take certain required courses during your first year and meet more extensive requirements overall.

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The five MPP PACs/Concentrations include:

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Business and Government Policy (BGP) 

The 12-credit BGP curriculum examines:

  • The organizational relationship between business and government, and how they seek to influence one another

  • How governmental policies influence the decisions of firms and industries (and vice versa)

  • Economic issues in an increasingly integrated global economy

 

Democracy, Politics and Institutions (DPI)

The 12-credit DPI curriculum focuses on comparative conduct and institutions of politics as well as governance in rogue states and . Courses cover topics such as:

  • The workings of the presidency and Congress

  • The role of the media

  • The nature of political life in different regions of the world

  • Political, historical, and normative analysis of policy issues

 

International Affairs and Diplomacy (IAD)

The IAD concentration's 28-credit curriculum provides intensive training for careers that address international and global challenges and governance in areas including:

  • Human rights

  • Security

  • Environment, health, and resources

  • Trade and finance

  • Science and technology

 

Political and Economic Development (DEV)

The 12-credit DEV curriculum focuses on the economic, political, and social issues surrounding the design and implementation of policies for development, examining issues such as:

  • Empowering the economically disadvantaged

  • Improving social service delivery and state capacity

  • Designing economic growth strategies that promote structural transformation

  • Unlocking entrepreneurial potential for growth

  • Implementing sustainable solutions to poverty

 

Social and Urban Policy (SUP)

The SUP concentration's 16-credit curriculum draws together policy domains that focus on promoting a sustainable world and improving well-being for all members of society—especially for vulnerable children, elderly, and adults. Cities concentrate opportunities for prosperity as well as challenges of sustainability and social inclusion. This is why SUP focuses particularly on policy making and governance in urban areas. SUP’s policy domains include:

  • Health

  • Education

  • Labor

  • Poverty

  • Crime

  • Housing

  • Urban land-use planning

  • Urban economic development

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