Master of Science in Public Policy and Management Curriculum
The Public Policy and Management program augments your public policy courses with a well-rounded curriculum that will make you invaluable in the workforce. The addition of economics, data analysis, statistics, management science and AI/machine learning classes to policy-specific courses in topics such as environmental policy and social justice allow you to analyze, create, and implement policy no matter the domain.
Public Policy and Management Curriculum
For detailed curriculum information, please visit the Master of Science in Public Policy and Management Student Handbook.
- Policy and Politics: American Political Institutions (90-714) or An International Perspective (90-713)
- Applied Economic Analysis (90-710)
- Statistical Reasoning with R (90-711)
- Optimization and Decision Modeling for Policy (90-722)
- Organizational Design and Implementation (94-700)
- Financial Statements and Analysis (90-723)
- Writing for Public Policy (90-717)
- Strategic Presentation Skills (90-718)
- Strategic Communication for Public Policy and Management
- Database Management (90-728)
- Public Policy Capstone Project
For class, syllabi, and faculty information, please visit the Heinz College course catalog.
Data Analytics Coursework is taken in addition to the Core coursework listed above.
- Python Programming (90-812)
- Exploratory Data Analysis and Visualization in Python (90-800)
- Machine Learning Foundations with Python (90-803)
- Applied Econometrics I (94-834)
- Applied Econometrics II (94-835)
- From Data to Action (94-867)
- Database Management for Policy Analytics* (90-838)
- Optimization and Decision Modeling for Analytics* (90-755)
- Accounting and Finance Analytics* (95-719)
For class syllabi, and faculty information, please visit the Heinz College course catalog.
*These classes are the Data Analytics track versions of the Public Policy core.
DC Coursework is taken in addition to the Core coursework listed above.
- Working the Policy Ecosystem (90-897)
- Policy in Action (90-879)
- Program Evaluation (90-823)
- Cost-Benefit Analysis (90-747)
- Leadership/Management Workshop: How Washington Works (90-855)
- Federal Budget Policy (90-894)
PLUS
- Policy Analysis CapstoneProject
PLUS
- Heinz Policy Fellowship (Year Two, ~30 hours/four days per week)
For class, syllabi, and faculty information, please visit the Heinz College course catalog.
- Systems Analysis: Environmental Policy (90-798)
- Federal Budget Policy (90-894)
- Poverty Reduction and Social Policies in the U.S. (90-704)
- Critical Analysis of Policy Research (90-822)
- Using R for Policy Data Analysis (90-872)
- Machine Learning for Public Policy Lab* (94-989)
- Unstructured Data Analytics* (95-865)
- Data Science and Big Data* (95-885)
- Python Programming (90-812)
- Telling Stories with Data (94-870)
- Policy Innovation Lab (90-783)
- Behavioral Economics (90-880)
- Program Evaluation (90-823)
Elective availability may differ by pathway/location; students may also enroll in graduate-level courses from other Heinz College programs as well as other departments across Carnegie Mellon University’s campus, with approval.
*Data Analytics track pre-requisites required for these courses.
For class, syllabi, and faculty information, please visit the Heinz College course catalog.
Students can elect an optional concentration in one of the following policy areas, or define their own:
- AI Management
- Energy and Environmental Policy
- Health Policy
- International Policy
- Nonprofit and Public Management
- Public Interest Technology
- Social Policy
- Technology Governance, Cybersecurity, and Privacy Policy
- Urban & Regional Economic Development
- U.S. Politics and Policy Making
Public Policy and Management Curriculum, Explained
What does a modern Public Policy and Management education look like in today’s data-driven, rapidly changing policy landscape?
Sample Public Policy and Management Class Schedule
- At Carnegie Mellon University, courses are counted in units instead of credits.
- Three units are roughly equivalent to one credit at many of our peer institutions.
- A semester-long course is 12 units, while a half-semester class (called a mini) is six units.
The following schedules are intended to be examples of the structure of the semester. Courses may not always be offered in this fashion.
Customize Your Degree With a Concentration
Students can elect an optional concentration in one of the following policy areas, or define their own:
- AI Management
- Energy and Environmental Policy
- Health Policy
- International Policy
- Nonprofit and Public Management
- Public Interest Technology
- Social Policy
- Technology Governance, Cybersecurity, and Privacy Policy
- Urban & Regional Economic Development
- U.S. Politics and Policy Making
Additional Degree Pathways
