Public Policy

M.P.P. Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy · UC Irvine · 2026-2027 Catalog

The Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) program is a two-year professional degree program administered by the School of Social Ecology. The program provides training for highly motivated and talented individuals to become leaders at the local, state, national, and international level in the development and implementation of policies that lead to a more effective public sector, a more productive private sector, and more vibrant communities.

The GRE is recommended, but not required, for any student – international or domestic – that has completed all the requirements for their high school diploma, bachelor's degree, or an advanced degree in an educational institution where the primary and/or dominant language of instruction is English.

Requirements

Requirements

Students are required to complete 72 units of graduate courses. In the first year, students will attend an introductory conference and take seven core courses and two elective courses. In the summer after the first year, students will participate in a policy-relevant internship in an appropriate government, business, or nonprofit setting. In the second year, students take three core courses (including a two-quarter capstone research project) and five elective courses.

A part-time option is available for students. Part-time students take two courses per quarter over the span of three years. These students have the choice of completing the required summer internship in the summer after year one, or the summer after year two. The required capstone project takes place during the winter and spring quarters of year three.

Course Requirements

CourseTitleUnits
A. Complete:
UPPP 216Statistics and Methods for Public Policy
UPPP 219Information and Public Policy
UPPP 221Public Policy
UPPP 225Qualitative Methods for Public Policy
UPPP 227Economics of Government
UPPP 240Microeconomics and Public Policy
UPPP 260Policy and Ethics
UPPP 283Collaborative Governance and Public Management
SOCIOL 249Special Topics: Political Sociology and Social Movements
B. Select seven elective courses.
C. Complete two quarters of UPPP 274A
  1. Electives need to be 200-level courses and can be selected from within and outside the Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy. The Master of Public Policy faculty program director is responsible for elective course approvals.

Additional information is available at the Master of Public Policy website.

View in the original catalog

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