For nearly 60 years, the School of Planning, Public Policy and Management (PPPM) and its predecessor programs have offered students training in rigorous, professional programs. We support diverse perspectives, beliefs, and cultures and are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive community. We provide the skills and mentorship needed for our students to tackle complex global challenges and positively affect the people, communities, and environments around them. Graduates from our program work worldwide for national, state, and local governments, for nonprofit organizations, and in the private sector.
School Vision
The School of Planning, Public Policy and Management is a national leader known for academic rigor, intellectual leadership, stellar evidence-based research, innovative applied instruction, and its inclusive and equitable climate.
Program Mission Statements
Public Administration
The purpose of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is to promote, educate, and train the next generation of policymakers and public and nonprofit servants to be improve outcomes for the community.
Community and Regional Planning
The Community and Regional Planning program prepares public leaders through a challenging, applied curriculum, and inclusive learning environment. Using evidence-based research and innovative and applied instruction, we focus on creating positive social impact. We collaboratively engage in intensive partnerships to solve communities’ pressing economic, environmental, and social issues.
Nonprofit Management
The purpose of the Master of Nonprofit Management (MNM) program is to promote evidence-based decision making and the efficient and ethical stewardship of nonprofit organizations. The program fosters nonprofit leadership for the rapidly evolving nonprofit and philanthropic sectors in the United States and around the world. We believe that effective nonprofit management requires a hands-on education that teaches vital skills and allows students to practice those skills in the context of real organizations. To best prepare future leaders, we provide a rigorous curriculum tailored to meet the distinct needs of communities across public, nonprofit, and private organizations.
Undergraduate Planning, Public Policy and Management
The Bachelor's degree in Planning, Public Policy and Management equips students with a broad professional foundation to address real-world challenges and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Through applied learning and interdisciplinary coursework, students develop the skills to analyze complex issues, design effective solutions, and pursue impactful careers in public service, nonprofit organizations, and community-based initiatives.
PhD in Planning and Public Affairs
The PhD program in Planning and Public Affairs prepares students to discover new knowledge about public service, so that they become leaders in academic, nonprofit, or public sector organizations. Through the program’s flexible curriculum, our students are trained to conduct rigorous, original research that speaks across academic disciplines and helps inform policy and practice. We aim to create a community of support for all students, as the program’s small cohort size and co-advising model demonstrate. Ultimately, our program aims for graduates to be critically engage and applied scholars who utilize interdisciplinary research and teaching to positively impact communities, organizations, and the public sector at large.