The Statistics and Economics courses in the MPA program's first summer sequence are taught in an integrated way, centering on applying core concepts and methods to concrete policy problems. Topics are carefully sequenced across both courses, and a weekly joint policy lab session provides students with an opportunity to apply the week's ideas and tools to analyzing real-world policy problems and solutions. Review an abbreviated sample syllabus for the class, which is delivered over an accelerated 4.5-week period.

Economics for Public Policy examines issues in government spending and tax policy. Conceptual topics include the normative assignment of responsibility with federal systems and the equitable distribution of income. Specific policy applications are covered. 

Statistics for Public Policy covers social and economic statistics and their role in public policy research. Among the topics explored are descriptive and inferential statistics, measurement, sampling, and multivariate analysis.

Summer Sequence 1

This course provides an overview of macroeconomics for public policy. It builds on skills and concepts introduced in the statistics, microeconomics and program evaluation summer courses. We will introduce concepts around international trade, monetary and fiscal policies, business cycles as well as economic growth. Within the course, the segment on international trade will highlight the importance of the global economy. At the completion of this course students will be able to analyze and discuss how public policy interacts with the broader economy and how changes in the global economic conditions impact the economy as a whole. 

This course shares an integrated policy lab session with the Statistics for Program Evaluation course. Review an abbreviated sample syllabus for the class, which is delivered over an accelerated 4.5-week period.

Summer Sequence 2

Broad overview of public policy analysis and program evaluation with emphasis on methodological issues involved in the analysis and assessment of government programs. Illustrations are drawn from a variety of substantive policy areas.

This course shares an integrated policy lab session with the Economics of Government Intervention course. Review an abbreviated sample syllabus for the class, which is delivered over an accelerated 4.5-week period.

Summer Sequence 2

This course introduces students to concepts and tools relevant to making public decisions informed by social values. It equips students to define problems and to systematically develop and compare policy options available to public actors. In short, the course teaches students to “think like a policy analyst” and reason in the public interest. In addition, the course is attentive to the political and institutional context in which policy decisions are made.
Fall

*For Academic Year 2025-26, all MPA students must take at least one skills-based MPA elective in the Fall semester. Students will choose from the following four MPA skills-based electives:

Fall

MPA 2015: Strategic Communication
MPA 2020: Public Budgeting and Management
MPA 2229: Principles and Practices of Stakeholder Engagement
MPA 2603: Leading for Impact

The Policy-In-Action experience is designed to provide a rigorous and practical immersion with a client in a domestic or global community-based or institutional setting. The consultancy focuses on experiential learning and creative problem solving. Real world, complex contemporary problems are addressed, policy and practice-based solutions explored, strategies identified and future approaches recommended. Students conduct research to understand contemporary problems and issues and develop policy and practice-related solutions to address these issues and/or enhance an organization’s capacity.
Spring 

How and when can organizational leaders and staff become engines of policy and social change? How do the policies that elected officials, courts, and bureaucrats promulgate get put into practice? What affects whether those policies get put into practice? What affects whether those policies produce expected changes? This course is designed to help students identify and manage core challenges facing policy development, implementation, and sustainment in public organizations.
Spring 

This course examines efforts that work toward social justice in contemporary political and social life. The class begins by evaluating different perspectives on how to define social justice. We consider the special challenges involved in defining social justice across borders or in diverse communities. We then examine strategies and channels used to promote social change.
Spring