Public Affairs (Graduate Field)

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Field Description

The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy offers students the opportunity to study public policy and program management from a cross-disciplinary perspective. Students gain an understanding of the political processes through which issues, problems, and policies are formulated; the economic basis for government action in a market economy; and the comparative and historical contexts of governmental programs. Students study public budgets, finance, and regulatory processes, as well as the behavior of both public and private organizations and their management. Students also gain competence in the qualitative and quantitative methods needed to analyze programs and policies, and develop sensitivity to the moral and ethical dimensions of policy issues.

M.P.A. Program The two-year Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) program consists of a minimum of 65.5 credits; students typically take a full load of coursework for four semesters. The M.P.A. program offers a structured curriculum that includes courses in data analytics, managing organizations, politics and policy, applied microeconomics, global citizenship, policy communication, and tools for public administration. Each M.P.A. student also takes concentration courses based on the student's specific area of interest. Elective courses and research opportunities may be taken through the program in relevant departments or colleges at the university. Students have seven areas they may concentrate their studies in:

  • Environmental and Sustainability Policy
  • Economic Policy
  • Data Science
  • International Policy and Management
  • Public and Non-Profit Management
  • Science and Technology Policy
  • Social Policy: Health, Education, and Inequality

M.P.A. students are expected to engage in public affairs work related to their respective areas of concentration during the summer between their first and second years of study.  As a culmination of studies in the M.P.A. program, all students are required to develop and complete a professional writing project. This requirement may be fulfilled by writing a research thesis, a professional report based on work done during the summer internship, or by completing the MPA Capstone.

Field Manual