Drexel’s Master of Public Policy (MPP) program prepares students to lead within government, nonprofit, and policy-focused organizations through a curriculum that blends theory, practice, and real-world application. Offered in both fully on-campus and fully online formats, the program provides the flexibility to fit your schedule—whether you're advancing your career or just beginning your journey in public service.

While similar in structure to a Master of Public Administration (MPA), Drexel’s MPP stands out in two key ways:

Case Study Focus: Students engage in a multi-term case study project, developing a polished, in-depth policy analysis that demonstrates expertise in a specific area—an ideal portfolio piece for future employers.

Areas of Specialization: Students can leverage unique opportunities across the university to tailor their education. Student can focus on areas including, but not limited to:

Courses are drawn from across Drexel’s academic ecosystem, including the Center for Public Policy, the LeBow College of Business, and the College of Computing and Informatics—offering a rich, interdisciplinary learning experience.

At Drexel, you’ll gain the analytical tools, policy insight, and practical experience to shape solutions that make a difference.

Program Format

• Full or part time options; 45 credit program.
• Online or on-campus.
• Customize focus areas through certificate programs and graduate minors.
• Case study research allows students to develop policy relevant areas.

Program Deadlines

The deadlines below are the dates by which applications must be submitted and all application requirements received.

• Fall (Domestic Phl/Onl) - July 1 (Priority); August 1
• Fall (International Phl) - May 1
• Spring (Domestic Phl/Onl) - November 1
• Summer (Domestic Phl/Onl) - April 1
• No International Spring, or Summer Intake.

Quicklinks

Program Overview

With courses in data analysis, statistics, institutional dynamics, and more, Drexel's Master of Public Policy (MPP) 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 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.

Flexible Schedule

Students can complete the program at a pace that suits them through online, evening, and in-person options. On average, students 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 Professor of Politics; Department Head, Department of Politics MacAlister, Room 3025 dilworth@drexel.edu	American political development Urban politics Public policy
	Christian Hunold Professor of Politics 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 Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies; Director, Center for Public Policy 3201 Arch Street, Room 299 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 Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building (PISB), room 318 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 Public Policy (MPP) degree program is suited for those who want to work in government or nonprofit organizations. Because the Master's 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.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Potential careers

Case Study Research

For the Master of 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 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 Public Policy degree recipients.

Recent Theses