Professor Richardson Dilworth's book Reforming Philadelphia 1692-2022 examines the evolving relationship between national and local city politics.

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Master of Science in Public Policy

Drexel's Master of Science in Public Policy (MSPP) program is innovative and distinct in at least two key respects: Its focus on student-led inquiry and its distinct specialization tracks. Our program –which is offered both in-person and online– focuses on case study research as a unifying curricular element. Students must choose a specific research topic they will work on for their time in the program. In each subsequent Case Study Research course, students continue further research and writing on their chosen case study topic. By the end of the program, students will have produced a polished and in-depth analysis of a specific case that they can use to demonstrate expertise in a policy area.

Students take required courses for the Master of Science in Public Policy from multiple schools within Drexel University, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business, and the College of Computing and Informatics. Students gain a strong foundation in analysis, economics, research and writing — skills and knowledge that will help them achieve or advance in careers in public service, both in government and the private sector.

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Master of Science in Environmental Policy

The Master of Science in Environmental Policy (MSEP) program equips future policy professionals with the tools they need to understand the complexities of environmental issues and promote policies that improve the environment. Students in this program take core courses in Public Policy, Environmental Policy, and Economics and elective courses in Environmental Science, Environmental and Occupational Health, or Environmental Engineering. Students can conduct real-world research by writing a case study thesis, selecting elective courses tailored to their unique interests, or completing their degree with immersive research experiences. Personalized advising helps students to select classes and take advantage of opportunities that best serve their professional goals.

Faculty members in the program hold expertise spanning law, sociology, engineering, business, public health and other disciplines. They are engaged locally, nationally, and globally to explore and address today’s most pressing environmental concerns: climate change, water policy, energy policy, sustainability operations management and the effect of pollution on public health.

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Accelerated Degrees

The College of Arts and Sciences offers three accelerated degree options that allow qualified undergraduates with majors in environmental science, environmental studies and political science to earn a master's in environmental policy or a master's in public policy much sooner. Undergraduate students should review the “First-Year Application Instructions” for accelerated programs outlined by Drexel University’s Accelerated, Combined, and Bridge Degree Programs.

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Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (BS) / Master of Science in Environmental Policy (MSEP)

The accelerated degree program in Environmental Science and Environmental Policy (BS+MSEP) is appropriate for Environmental Science majors interested in learning about public policy and who desire to work in environmental policy, such as in government, advocacy work, consulting, or the nonprofit sector. Qualified students begin pursuing a graduate degree prior to completion of their bachelor’s degree in the 4+1 co-op program.

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Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Sustainability (BA) / Master of Science Environmental Policy (MSEP)

The accelerated degree program in Environmental Studies and Sustainability and Environmental Policy (BA+MSEP) builds on undergraduates’ knowledge in the Environmental Studies and Sustainability program and offers advanced education for careers in environmental law, research, advocacy, and more.

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Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (BA) / Master of Science in Public Policy (MS)

The Political Science program in the Department of Politics helps students cultivate perspective; develop critical thinking, communication, and data analysis skills; and understand the economic, social, and political systems within which we live and work. Our curriculum builds on the department's research focuses and strengths. These include public policy, environmental politics, international organizations, human rights, and law and society. This flexible program allows students to shape a curriculum that meets their needs whether they are preparing for public service, the business world, graduate school in political science, an MBA or other business program, or law school. Drexel’s MS in Public Policy is designed for people who work, or who would like to work, for government or a nonprofit organization. It is innovative and distinct in at least two key respects: Its focus on case study research and its distinct tracks of specialization.

Program details

Center for Public Policy Faculty

Faculty in Drexel's Center for Public Policy are members of a vibrant community of scholars who explore environmental and public policy topics by integrating knowledge across disciplines often in collaboration with policy experts, government officials and nonprofit leaders.

	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
	Alison Kenner Associate Professor 3101 Market Street, Room 222 amk438@drexel.edu	Energy Justice Climate Change Feminist Political Theory Asthma and Air Quality Experimental Ethnography Urban Politics
	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
	Diane Sicotte Professor of Sociology 3201 Arch Street, Room 203 dms76@drexel.edu	Environmental Sociology Environmental inequality and injustice Political economy of energy and environment Labor and environment Plastics in society

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Mary Madsen, MS public policy ’21, started her master's program before Covid and graduated with the pandemic in full swing. Originally from Texas, the culture shock of moving to Philadelphia with her husband and child was difficult to begin with, but especially challenging when she realized that she would be stuck in the city with no prospect of returning home due to travel restrictions. But Madsen made the most of her time here. As someone interested in education policy, it was a great opportunity for her to learn about how city councils and school districts work in times of crisis.

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Criminology and Justice Studies Professor Explores Effects of Recreational Marijuana Legalization in NJ with Reducing Inequality Research Grant

Kathleen Powell plans to use the $544,000 grant from the William T. Grant Foundation to explore how the legalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey affects Black, Hispanic and White young adults.

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Exploring the 'Wild' Politics of Free-Roaming Horse Management

Things are getting wild in the West. Free-roaming horse populations have existed in western states for centuries, but the conflict surrounding them is entirely human. This conflict sparked the interest of Jen Britton, director for communications and special projects in the Office of University & Community Partnerships, and Christian Hunold, PhD, professor of politics.

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Meet Assistant Research Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies Kathleen Powell, PhD

Kathleen Powell, PhD, is an assistant research professor in the Department of Criminology and Justice Studies, with a joint affiliation with the Center for Public Policy. Broadly, her research examines the various impacts of involvement with the juvenile and criminal justice systems. She focuses on identifying person-level outcomes of being arrested, on community supervision or incarcerated.

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Public Policy Course Tackles Philadelphia’s PES Refinery Problem

The Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in South Philadelphia was the largest and oldest refinery complex on the East Coast until it shut down this summer, following an explosion on June 21, when a highly flammable processing liquid leaked and caught fire from a corroded elbow joint, sending a massive fireball into the Grays Ferry darkness.

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