Master of Public Affairs (MPA)
Gain key professional skills for an impactful career in public affairs – in just one year.
Master of Public Affairs (MPA)
Gain key professional skills for an impactful career in public affairs – in just one year.
The Ivy League’s only one-year residential master’s program in public affairs, the MPA prepares students to be public policy leaders, analysts and advocates in government, politics, and the nonprofit, and private sectors, both in the U.S. and abroad.
Through our rigorous one-year program that runs from early June to May, students will sharpen their analytical, communication, and strategic leadership skills needed for an impactful career in public affairs.
Graduate Admissions
A comprehensive check-list of items needed for your MPA application
The Brown Master of Public Affairs Program considers admitted students for a variety of scholarship opportunities, and all admitted MPA students receive some level of merit-based financial aid.
Learn about the Brown MPA by registering for one of our upcoming Informaton Sessions! Information sessions are 45 minutes long, including Q+A in the final 15 minutes.
100,000 +
Brown University alumni network across 152 countries
100 +
Employers hired our 2021-2023 graduates
30 +
Professional development events
Every day I have to effectively boil down complex policy topics into something brief and digestible...We spent a lot of time at Brown learning how to write impactful policy papers in as few pages as possible, and I have definitely carried that skill into my work.
MPA ’22
Curriculum
The Master of Public Affairs is a rigorous, one-year program that provides the analytical foundation and management tools to tackle the policy problems of today.
Learn More About the Curriculum
Careers
Our program offers an array of services, workshops, and resources tailored to the career needs of public affairs students.
Find Out More About Our Career Support
Living in Providence
With its low cost of living, historic architecture, and nationally renowned dining scene, the capital city is a vibrant place to live and work.
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MPA Student Experience
News from Watson
Alumni Spotlight: Alberto Morales '16 MPA
Alberto Morales, a 2016 graduate of Watson’s Master of Public Affairs program and first-generation college student, founded his own consulting firm two years ago with the goal of creating a more equitable philanthropic sector.
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News from Watson
Student Spotlight: Andrew Davis ’24 MPA ’25 MPH
Master of Public Affairs and Masters of Public Health dual-degree student Andrew Davis is finding ways to incorporate his activism in sexual violence prevention into his coursework. He says he has found a receptive community among the students, faculty and staff at Brown who are eager to support him.
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News from Watson
Student Spotlight: Lizbeth Lucero ’24 MPA
First-generation college graduate Lizbeth Lucero, who aims to make public policies more inclusive and equitable, appreciates the diversity of faculty and fellow students in Brown’s Master of Public Affairs program.
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