Master of Public Affairs (MPA)
Cultivating and elevating future global leaders to address pressing societal challenges
Master of Public Affairs (MPA)
Cultivating and elevating future global leaders to address pressing societal challenges
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 to address pressing societal challenges as future global leaders.
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
On Thursday, February 27, seven Master of Public Affairs (MPA) Director's Fellows presented the results of a semester of research working with Watson faculty and other international and public affairs professionals.
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News from Watson
Alumni Spotlight: Jillian Harvey ’19 MPA
After witnessing systematic inequalities first-hand while working two jobs supporting at-risk communities, Jillian Harvey decided she needed to further her education in public policy to make a real impact in her community. After graduating from the Watson Institute's Master of Public Affairs Program in 2019, Harvey became a leader in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the state of Massachusetts.
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News from Watson
Alumni Spotlight: Graham Sheridan ’14 MPA
Graham Sheridan's success demonstrates that while the shortest distance between two points may be a straight line, it's not always the best career path. After earning his Master of Public Affairs degree from Brown in 2014, Sheridan took a winding route to his current position as a clean communities and economic development director at Virginia Clean Cities.
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