Students from other graduate departments: Please see the information about our graduate certificates below.

Evans School MPA students may take electives across an array of substantive and skill areas that build on the core curriculum to strengthen the foundations of a career in public service.

Program Options provide MPA students with a more formal credential demonstrating that they completed a sufficient number of pre-designated courses to be certified as specializing in a specific area. Students who complete all of the required coursework for a Program Option will have the following listed on their transcript upon graduation: “Master of Public Administration (Name of Program Option).” Program options do NOT appear on diplomas.

Pursuing a program option is optional. Note that students can pursue a maximum of one program option, but are welcome to take electives in additional areas of specialization.

Analysis and Evaluation

The Analysis and Evaluation program option deepens students’ skills in analysis and evaluation beyond what is learned in our core courses. Courses in this program option are designed to help students develop the skills needed to implement analysis and evaluation in a broad set of institutional contexts, thereby preparing students for careers in which these skills can be applied to a wide variety of policy areas. Students completing this option will obtain more than just familiarity with the methods of analysis and evaluation, but will be trained and ready to implement these advanced methods with expertise.

Interested first-year MPA students will be eligible to complete the program option in their second year of study. Students who complete all of the required coursework will have the following listed on their transcript upon graduation: “Master of Public Administration (Analysis and Evaluation).”

Requirements

  1. Completion of all MPA program requirements, as outlined in the MPA degree requirements page, including 36 core credits, one values elective, fulfillment of the Evans School’s capstone requirement, and completion of a total of 72 credits (of which at least 60 must be PUBPOL credits) to earn the MPA degree.
  2. Completion of at least three of the following elective courses (not every course will be offered every year):
    • PUBPOL 514 Psychology for Policy Analysis
    • PUBPOL 518 Applied Cost Benefit Analysis
    • PUBPOL 525 Qualitative Field Methods and Analysis
    • PUBPOL 529 Advanced Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis
    • PUBPOL 533 Economics of International Development
    • PUBPOL 540 Advanced Policy Analysis (formerly PUBPOL 599)
    • PUBPOL 542 Computational Thinking for Governance Analytics (formerly PUPOL 599)
    • PUBPOL 543 Visual Analytics for Policy & Management (formerly PUBPOL 599)
    • PUBPOL 544 Tax Policy Analysis (formerly PUBPOL 599)
    • PUBPOL 551 Measuring Social Impact: Advanced Program Design and Evaluation
    • PUBPOL 575 Taxation & Social Policy (formerly PUBPOL 599)
    • PUBPOL 594 Economic Approaches to Environmental Management
    • PUBPOL 597 Environmental Decision Analysis
    • PUBPOL 599 Advanced Program Evaluation
    • PUBPOL 599 GIS and Public Policy (formerly PUBPOL 565)
  3. All program option courses must be taken for a numerical grade (i.e., courses cannot be taken Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory).

Environmental Policy

The Environmental Policy program option provides MPA students the opportunity to acquire the tools, methodologies, interdisciplinary perspectives, and substantive topic knowledge necessary to be successful analysts, managers, and leaders in public, nonprofit, and private organizations that cover a broad spectrum of environmental and natural resource issues.

Interested first-year MPA students will be eligible to complete the program option in their second year of study. Students who complete all of the required coursework will have the following listed on their transcript upon graduation: “Master of Public Administration (Environmental Policy).”

Requirements

  1. Completion of all MPA program core requirements, as outlined in the MPA degree requirements page, including 36 core credits, one values elective, fulfillment of the Evans School’s capstone requirement (preferably on an environmental topic), and completion of a total of 72 credits (of which at least 60 must be PUBPOL credits) to earn the MPA degree.
  2. Completion of at least four of the following elective courses (not every course will be offered every year):
    • PUBPOL 518 Applied Cost Benefit Analysis (approved for 2019-20)
    • PUBPOL 538 International Organizations & Ocean Management
    • PUBPOL 582 Communicating Climate Change
    • PUBPOL 587 Native Nations, Lands, & Waters
    • PUBPOL 589 Risk Assessment for Environmental Health Hazards
    • PUBPOL 590 Environmental Policy
    • PUBPOL 592 Resource Policy & Administration
    • PUBPOL 593 Climate Change & Energy Policy (formerly PUBPOL 595)
    • PUBPOL 594 Economics Approaches to Environmental Management
    • PUBPOL 595 Environmental Disaster Policy
    • PUBPOL 595 Environmental Governance in the Developing World
    • PUBPOL 596 Environmental Risks & Values
    • PUBPOL 597 Environmental Decision Analysis
    • PUBPOL 599 GIS and Public Policy (formerly PUBPOL 565)
    • PUBPOL 599 Regulatory Policy (approved for 2019-20)
  3. PUBPOL 590: Environmental Policy is recommended as the broad survey course, but it is not required.
  4. All program option courses must be taken for a numerical grade (i.e., courses cannot be taken Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory).

International Development

The International Development program option offers students a foundation for addressing complex questions of poverty and development. The goal of the program option within is threefold: to understand the main debates, players, policies and values within international development; to be familiar with a common set of skills and applied approaches; and to appreciate the perspectives and methods that other disciplines bring to address current development challenges.

Interested first-year MPA students will be eligible to complete the program option in their second year of study. Students who complete all of the required coursework will have the following listed on their transcript upon graduation: “Master of Public Administration (International Development).”

Requirements

  1. Completion of all MPA program requirements, as outlined in the MPA degree requirements page, including 36 core credits, one values elective, fulfillment of the Evans School’s capstone requirement (recommended, but not required, to be on a topic related to international development), and completion of a total of 72 credits (of which at least 60 must be PUBPOL credits) to earn the MPA degree.
  2. Completion of one of the two following courses (students may take more than one of these courses and count the second course towards the elective requirement):
    1. PUBPOL 531 Development Management and Governance (typically offered in Autumn Quarter) examines the characteristics of development policy and aid institutions and explores the ethical and practical considerations of managing development projects at the national and local levels; or,
    2. PUBPOL 533 Economics of International Development (typically offered in Winter Quarter) critically examines the most common economic development indicators of poverty, growth and inequality, and provides an overview of, and basic literacy around, international macroeconomic topics including debt, aid, trade, and financial markets.
  3. Completion of at least two of the following elective courses (not every course will be offered every year):
    • PUBPOL 534 Food and Agricultural Policy in Developing Countries
    • PUBPOL 535 American Foreign Policy
    • PUBPOL 536 Diagnosing and Reforming Corrupt Systems
    • PUBPOL 537 Development Practice: Financial Inclusion and Poverty Reduction
    • PUBPOL 538 International Organizations & Ocean Management
    • PUBPOL 539 Values in International Development
    • PUBPOL 541 Role of NGOs in International Development
    • PUBPOL 555 Social Enterprise: New Models for Mission-Based Business
    • PUBPOL 595 Environmental Governance in the Developing World
    • PUBPOL 599 Advanced Program Evaluation
  1. All program option courses must be taken for a numerical grade (i.e., courses cannot be taken Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory).

Leadership and Decision-Making

The Leadership and Decision-Making program option prepares Evans School students to become reflective individuals of integrity and skill to further the common good in institutions and policy. The option focuses upon the self-development of ethical and effective habits of thought, skilled deliberation, deployable frames of judgment, as well as personal self-awareness of values and character. It is designed to develop the cognitive and emotional skills and discipline to initiate change in people, organizations, and culture, based on scientific understanding of these processes. This option goes beyond the Evans MPA management core courses, targeting competencies not addressed directly in other options.

Interested first-year MPA students will be eligible to complete the program option in their second year of study. Students who complete all of the required coursework will have the following listed on their transcript upon graduation: “Master of Public Administration (Leadership and Decision-Making).”

Requirements

  1. Completion of all MPA program requirements, as outlined in the MPA degree requirements page, including 36 core credits, one values elective, fulfillment of the Evans School’s capstone requirement, and completion of a total of 72 credits (of which at least 60 must be PUBPOL credits) to earn the MPA degree.
  2. Completion of one of the four following courses (students may take more than one of these courses and count them toward completion of the program option):
    • PUBPOL 502 Strategy for Public Leaders
    • PUBPOL 503 Executive Leadership
    • PUBPOL 504 Leadership Ethics for the Public Interest
    • PUBPOL 515 Decision Making and Psychology for Public Leaders (not currently offered)
  3. Completion of at least two of the following elective courses (not every course will be offered every year):
    • PUBPOL 501 Legislative Relations
    • PUBPOL 507 Mediation and Negotiation
    • PUBPOL 509 Managing People in Public and Nonprofit Agencies
    • PUBPOL 531 Development Management and Governance
    • PUBPOL 550 Managing Nonprofit and Philanthropic Organizations
    • PUBPOL 558 Collaboration and Management Across Sectors
    • PUBPOL 559 Advanced Performance Management: Quadruple Bottom Line Lab (formerly Quadruple Bottom Line Performance)
    • PUBPOL 560 Inequality, Governance, and Policy in the Metropolitan Region
    • PUBPOL 563 Intergroup Relations and Public Policy
    • PUBPOL 567 Community Engagement and Urban Governance
    • PUBPOL 599 Values and Bias in Public Policy
  4. All program option courses must be taken for a numerical grade (i.e., courses cannot be taken Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory).

Nonprofit Management and Social Innovation

The Nonprofit Management and Social Innovation program option provides MPA students the opportunity to develop the management and leadership skills and substantive topic knowledge necessary to be successful managers and leaders in nonprofit, philanthropic and social sector organizations.

Interested first-year MPA students will be eligible to complete the program option in their second year of study. Students who complete all of the required coursework will have the following listed on their transcript upon graduation: “Master of Public Administration (Nonprofit Management).”

Requirements

  1. Completion of all MPA program requirements, as outlined in the MPA degree requirements page, including 36 core credits, one values elective, fulfillment of the Evans School’s capstone requirement, and completion of a total of 72 credits (of which at least 60 must be PUBPOL credits) to earn the MPA degree.
  2. Completion of PUBPOL 550 Managing Nonprofit and Philanthropic Organizations (two sections will be offered in Autumn 2018). Focuses upon the roles played by nonprofit organizations in meeting the public good. Examines internal management issues such as structure, budget, and operations; and external issues such as board functions, legal status, marketing, media relations, and fundraising.
  3. Completion of at least three of the following elective courses (not every course will be offered every year):
    • PUBPOL 503 Executive Leadership
    • PUBPOL 509 Managing People in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
    • PUBPOL 541 Role of NGOs in International Development
    • PUBPOL 551 Measuring Social Impact: Advanced Program Design and Evaluation
    • PUBPOL 552 Philanthropy & Society
    • PUBPOL 553 Nonprofit Financial Management (highly recommended)
    • PUBPOL 555 Funding the Social Sector
    • PUBPOL 555 Marketing Social Innovation
    • PUBPOL 555 Advocacy for Social Change (formerly Nonprofit Advocacy and Public Policy)
    • PUBPOL 555 Social Enterprise: New Models for Mission-Based Business
    • PUBPOL 558 Collaboration and Management Across Sectors
    • PUBPOL 559 Advanced Performance Management: Quadruple Bottom Line Lab (formerly Quadruple Bottom Line Performance)
  1. All program option courses must be taken for a numerical grade (i.e., courses cannot be taken Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory).

Public Financial Management

The Public Financial Management program option provides students the opportunity to understand how finance works through management and policy lens. The curriculum places emphasis on the effective management of resources in complex environments. Students will develop an appreciation of the role of finance from both an internal managerial perspective (financial management) and an external policy perspective (public budgeting and finance). They will develop an array of analytical tools, including cost analysis and budgeting, cost-benefit analysis, contract management, public sector accounting, financial statement analysis, capital improvement analysis, investment management, and debt management. They will be required to demonstrate how a wide-variety of tools and techniques inform strategy and policy decisions.

Interested first-year MPA students will be eligible to complete the program option in their second year of study. Students who complete all of the required coursework will have the following listed on their transcript upon graduation: “Master of Public Administration (Public Financial Management).”

Requirements

  1. Completion of all MPA program requirements, as outlined in the MPA degree requirements page, including 36 core credits, one values elective, fulfillment of the Evans School’s capstone requirement, and completion of a total of 72 credits (of which at least 60 must be PUBPOL credits) to earn the MPA degree.
  2. Completion of at least four of the following elective courses (not every course will be offered every year):
    • PUBPOL 518 Applied Cost Benefit Analysis
    • PUBPOL 521 Managing Public Grants and Contracts
    • PUBPOL 523 Advanced Budgeting in the Public Sector
    • PUBPOL 524 Public Sector Financing
    • PUBPOL 544 Tax Policy Analysis (formerly PUBPOL 599)
    • PUBPOL 553 Nonprofit Financial Management
    • PUBPOL 556 Public-Private Partnerships
    • PUBPOL 557 Financial Modeling for the Public Sector (formerly Management and Public Capital Markets)
    • PUBPOL 575 Taxation & Social Policy (formerly PUBPOL 599)
  1. All program option courses must be taken for a numerical grade (i.e., courses cannot be taken Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory).

Social Policy

The Social Policy program option prepares students for careers in government and nonprofit organizations involved in the design, implementation, management, and evaluation of education and social policies. Coursework in this area develops students’ ability to bring policy analysis and management tools to bear on issues in education and social policy. Also, it helps students understand how policies and programs affect, and are affected by, the family, the market economy, and government and nonprofit institutions.

Interested first-year MPA students will be eligible to complete the program option in their second year of study. Students who complete all of the required coursework will have the following listed on their transcript upon graduation: “Master of Public Administration (Social Policy).”

Requirements

  1. Completion of all MPA program requirements, as outlined in the MPA degree requirements page, including 36 core credits, one values elective, fulfillment of the Evans School’s capstone requirement, and completion of a total of 72 credits (of which at least 60 must be PUBPOL credits) to earn the MPA degree.
  2. Completion of at least three of the following elective courses (not every course will be offered every year):
    • PUBPOL 562 Immigration Policy
    • PUBPOL 564 Housing and Social Policy
    • PUBPOL 569 Race and Public Policy
    • PUBPOL 570 Foundations of Social Policy
    • PUBPOL 571 Education, the Workforce, and Public Policy
    • PUBPOL 573 Crime and Punishment Policy
    • PUBPOL 573 Employment Equity and Discrimination (formerly Equity in Employment)
    • PUBPOL 573 Homelessness and Social Justice
    • PUBPOL 573 Income Inequality
    • PUBPOL 573 Policy and Governance of K-12 Education
    • PUBPOL 573 Public Policy, Law, and Equity
    • PUBPOL 575 Taxation & Social Policy (formerly PUBPOL 599)
    • PUBPOL 576 Poverty and Anti-Poverty in the United States
    • PUBPOL 578 Asset Building for Low Income Families
    • PUBPOL 579 Child Well-Being and Public Policy
  3. All program option courses must be taken for a numerical grade (i.e., courses cannot be taken Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory).