Drexel, the PA Department of Corrections and the University of Oslo are co-creating the ‘Little Scandinavia’ Prison Project. © PA Commonwealth

Quicklinks

Program Overview

With courses in data analysis, statistics, institutional dynamics, and more, Drexel's Master of Science in Public Policy (MSPP) program covers a breadth of topics to prepare graduates for demanding roles in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Our program is for individuals who already work in government or nonprofit organizations or wish to pursue careers in these sectors. Drexel’s MPP program is innovative and distinct in at least two key respects: Its focus on case study research and its separate specialization tracks. Our program focuses on case study research as a unifying curriculum element.

Students take required and elective courses for the Master of Science in Public Policy from multiple schools within Drexel University, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business, and the College of Computing and Informatics.

Applications for both the in-person and online formats are accepted year-round, and applicants can expect a decision within one month.

Flexible Schedule

Entering students may begin to study fall, winter, or spring quarters. Through a flexible course schedule that includes evening or online classes, students can complete the program at a pace that suits them. On average, students can complete the program in as little as 18 months to two years. Working professionals are also welcome to enroll part-time. Graduates go on to successful careers in the public, private and non-profit sectors plus more.

Specialty Tracks

Students in the Public Policy master's degree program gain a strong foundation in analysis, economics, research and writing. Students can customize their curriculum to fit their career interests through Drexel’s numerous certificate programs or graduate minors.

Program Faculty

Faculty members affiliated with the Public Policy master's degree program address a wide range of topics, including: citizen science, data infrastructure, drug treatment and use, energy literacy, prison rehabilitation, urban politics and violence reduction. Many faculty collaborate with local communities and nonprofits on projects that have a real impact on people in the Philadelphia area and beyond.

	Faculty Member	Expertise
	Richardson Dilworth Department Head, Department of Politics; Professor MacAlister, Room 3025 dilworth@drexel.edu	American political development Urban politics Public policy
	Christian Hunold Associate Dean for Faculty Advancement; Professor 3021-F MacAlister Hall hunoldc@drexel.edu	Environmental Political Theory Deliberative Democracy Human-Animal Studies Multispecies Ethnography Multispecies Urbanism Wild horses and Burros
	Jordan Hyatt Director, Center for Public Policy; Associate Professor 3401 Market Street, Room 110-B jmh498@drexel.edu	Corrections, Re-entry and Community Supervision Comparative and International Penology Drug Treatment and Drug Use Community Violence Reduction Prison Climate, Oversight and Reform Financial Sanctions Scandinavian Correctional Policy Sentencing Experimental and Field Research
	Gwen Ottinger Professor 3101 Market Street, Room 217 ottinger@drexel.edu	Environmental justice Political theory Science and technology policy Citizen science Science and engineering ethics Information infrastructures Community-based research

Outcomes

• Know the basics. Courses in a wide range of disciplines offer students a solid understanding of the complexity of policy issues.
• See all sides. In the program’s core courses, students learn how to analyze competing perspectives, enabling them to be constructive problem solvers.
• Care about equity. Policies have different impacts on different populations, including the rich and poor, and current and future generations. Students learn to spot these differences and design policies that promote greater equity.
• Communicate clearly. Writing projects across the curriculum teach students to express highly specialized ideas from multiple domains in a way that non-specialists can understand and use to guide their actions.
• Collaborate effectively. Students from different backgrounds work together, learning to problem-solve in groups where not everyone sees eye-to-eye.

Careers

Drexel’s Master of Science in Public Policy (MSPP) degree program is suited for those who want to work in government or nonprofit organizations. Because the Master&rsquops in Public Policy equips graduates with skills like leadership and management, there are many public policy career paths for graduates to consider. Every corporation and organization is responsible for addressing legal and policy issues; therefore, public policy jobs exist in various fields. Public policy jobs often involve elements of project planning, budget analysis, public relations, fundraising and other functions.

Potential roles include policy analyst at advocacy organizations and in many government divisions. In addition, there is a strong demand for policy professionals who contribute to think tanks, legal firms, and large corporations’ legal and public affairs departments.

Potential careers

What Is Case Study Research?

For the Master of Science in Public Policy degree program, students take a series of three-credit case study research courses (PLCY 510, 516 and 517). The case study provides students in the Master of Science in Public Policy program with a unique opportunity to concentrate on and demonstrates their expertise in a more specific policy area than is typically covered in traditional courses. Through the case study program students choose their own topic, are introduced to case study methodology and practice, develop a research agenda, and ultimately sit for an oral defense. By the end of the program, students have produced a polished, in-depth analysis of a specific case that they can use to demonstrate expertise in a given policy area, and they will defend their case study with a panel of public policy faculty.

Recent Theses

We proudly invite prospective students to review recent theses authored by our Master of Science in Public Policy degree recipients.