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 evidence-based decision making and the efficient and ethical stewardship of societal and environmental resources by professionals in the public and nonprofit sectors.
We support this purpose by training a diverse cohort of students from the US and abroad to be effective administrators, analysts, and advocates in their communities. The MPA provides a curriculum that values students who are committed to public service, offering a close connection between multidisciplinary, policy-oriented research and opportunities for real-world applications. Students are supported in creating a customized course plan that allows for the most effective use of their time as full-time or part-time students.
Our program combines a rigorous academic approach in the development of analytical and managerial skills with highly experiential opportunities such as the 48-hour policy project and a client-centered capstone research project.
Community and Regional Planning
The Community and Regional Planning program prepares innovative public leaders through a challenging and applied curriculum and an inclusive learning environment. It creates and disseminates new knowledge and engages in intensive partnerships to solve society's most pressing economic, environmental, and social issues.
Nonprofit Management
The Master of Nonprofit Management program fosters nonprofit executive leadership for the rapidly evolving nonprofit/NGO sector. We believe that the most effective nonprofit management requires a practical, experiential education that teaches vital skills and allows students to practice those skills in administrative service to regional organizations. To best prepare future nonprofit executives, we provide a rigorous curriculum tailored to meet the distinct needs of nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.
Undergraduate Major Learning Objective
The objective of the bachelor's degree in Planning, Public Policy and Management is to provide students with a broad professional background as well as a sound basis for graduate study in fields such as planning, public policy, management, business, law, journalism, and social welfare. In addition, degree recipients are prepared for entry-level positions in a variety of public service agencies and organizations.