Department of Public Policy

The Master of Public Policy is delivered through the Department of Public Policy, with extended multi-disciplinary support from affiliated faculty in the departments of English, economics, sociology, nursing, management, and history. The Department also offers policy certificates in three policy concentration areas that can be applied to the MPP degree. These are: educational, environmental, and public management. In conjunction with the Law School, students can also pursue a dual degree (J.D./M.P.P.)

Detailed and updated information about the department and its programs can be found on its home website: https://www.umassd.edu/cas/public-policy/.

The Department of Public Policy is an interdisciplinary academic department that offers students a variety of graduate study options using an asynchronous, online course format. Programs include: the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program, and graduate certificates in environmental policy, educational policy, and public management. Students may also pursue a joint J.D./M.P.P. with the law school. The Department’s programs and courses emphasize the development of policy analysis, applied research, and public management skills in specific content policy areas (environmental, educational, and public management). The Department of Public Policy offers students the opportunity to engage and learn with an interdisciplinary community of scholars actively engaged in public policy and work closely with policymakers in federal, state and local government and non-governmental organizations.

Admissions

The Department of Public Policy uses the campus-wide graduate admissions process at UMass Dartmouth for its applications. This process requires prospective graduate students to submit an application to the university’s Office of Continuing Education. Applications are screened by university staff to ensure that applications are complete and meet the minimum requirements for admission. All completed applications meeting the minimum admissions requirements are reviewed by an Admissions Committee composed of faculty from the Department of Public Policy.

Application Deadlines

All graduate programs offered by the Department of Public Policy are on a rolling basis for the following matriculation point after the application is acted upon. Because the Department offers many classes on a seven-week schedule during the academic year accepted students have several entrance points to matriculate during the academic year. Students may also matriculate in the winter or summer sessions. This applies to the Master of Public Policy as well as the graduate certificates offered by the Department.

Masters of Public Policy Application Requirements

Individuals applying to the M.P.P. and certificate programs should submit an application through the Office of Continuing Education.

1. Earned Baccalaureate Degree:

All applicants to the Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) must have an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited 4-year college or university in the United States or comparable non-U.S. degree/diploma from a recognized foreign institution of higher education at the time of matriculation. Undergraduate seniors may apply in their final semester with expectation that they will have graduated prior to enrolling in MPP courses. A copy of official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, undergraduate and graduate, must be submitted as part of the application process.

Applicants may hold a degree in any field. To make up for gaps in their undergraduate preparation, students may be admitted with conditions to complete one or more undergraduate deficiency courses. Deficiency courses will count in the students load, but not towards the degree requirements. Such conditions will be stated in the letter of admission.

2. Graduate School Application for US Citizens/International Applicants:

All applicants to the Master’s of Public Policy must complete and submit UMass Dartmouth’s Graduate School Application. The application may be submitted electronically.

3. Statement of Purpose (Essay) & Resume/C.V.

The MPP at UMass Dartmouth requires an essay of 600-900 words explaining the applicant’s interest in the program and purpose for applying to the program. graduate study objectives, previous policy-related or public management experience, and undergraduate preparation for the course of study. The applicants should also submit resumes or a curriculum vita.

4. Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are required to submit at least two letters of recommendation. For recent recipients of the bachelor’s degree, at least one of the letters should be from a professor familiar with the student’s academic work. Note: applicants who have successfully completed one of the graduate certificates offered by the Department of Public Policy do not need to submit letters of recommendation.

5. Other Materials Required for Application to the Master of Public Policy:

a: Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), or Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT): Applicants to the Master of Public Policy must submit GRE (general test), LSAT, or GMAT scores taken within 5 years of the application. The MPP will not require a minimum score for admission, but performance on the examination will be factored into the admissions process. Generally students should expect to score within the 50th percentile or higher overall on the examination. Official score reports must come directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). [UMass Dartmouth’s GRE Code for reporting scores is 3786]. Applicants that have already earned a graduate degree from an accredited institution or have earned a graduate certificate from the UMass Dartmouth Department of Public Policy are not required to submit GRE scores.

b: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth requires a TOEFL or other sanctioned English competency evaluation exam unless applicants have earned their Bachelor’s degree in the United States or in the following countries where English is the official language (Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa).

TOEFL scores are valid for five years from the date of anticipated matriculation to the MPP. This requirement is waived only for those who had English as their primary language for secondary school or college instruction, who have successfully completed a year of advanced secondary school or college/university study in the US, or who can be present in person to meet with officials of the university at the time of application for admission. A minimum TOEFL score of 250 is required on the computer-based test and a minimum score of 600 is required for the paper version of the test.

Graduate Policy Certificate Application Requirements

Statement of purpose (minimum 300 words). Indicate your graduate study objectives, research/creative interests and experience, undergraduate and graduate experience, and business or industry experience, as applicable. Be sure that your name and the name of your desired program appear on the first page. We will use this essay to assess how well your academic interests and long-range goals match the academic program to which you are applying.
Resume
Official transcripts from all accredited post-secondary institutions attended (regardless if a credential was earned or not).

Please note: A completed graduate certificate waives the GRE requirement for those considering application to the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program. In addition, each class counted towards the graduate certificate will be accepted into the MPP program (for certificate holders who apply and are accepted into the MPP program) so long as the student earned a 3.0 (B average) or higher in the course.

Financial Assistance

The students enrolled in the Master of Public Policy degree will be eligible to apply for financial aid that is generally available to graduate students at UMass Dartmouth.

Overview of the Academic Program

The Department of Public Policy offers several online graduate program options to its students. These include three graduate certificate programs, a Master of Public Policy (MPP) program, and a joint Juris Doctor (JD)/MPP program associated with UMass School of Law.

The Policy Studies graduate program leads to the Master of Public Policy degree (MPP). It is a two-year professional program that requires students to complete 39 credits of coursework in policy studies, including an internship. The curriculum is designed to provide students with the ability to reason and analyze from both a normative and problem-solving perspective, to develop technical methodological skills, and to develop substantive policy or leadership expertise in one concentration area. The curriculum is organized on a foundation of eight core courses, a three-course concentration area, an internship, and a capstone research seminar and portfolio.

What is the MPP Degree and What are the Program Outcomes?

The Master of Public Policy has a comprehensive focus and a distinct professional application. It opens opportunities for students to engage with and solve policy problems as analysts, managers, and leaders. Graduates work with quantitative and qualitative information and data to develop, assess, and evaluate alternative approaches to current and emerging issues in a variety of settings and rewarding careers within: all levels of government (federal, state, local, and regional), domestic and international nonprofits and agencies, and the private sector.

Students will be prepared to:

Lead and manage in public governance
Participate in and contribute to the policy process
Analyze, synthesize, think critically, make decisions, and contribute to policy decisions
Articulate and apply a public service perspective
Communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry

Contact

Mark Paige, J.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Public Policy
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Faculty and Fields of Interest

Core Program Faculty

Nikolay Anguelov (Ph.D. Policy Studies, Clemson University) Associate Professor, Specializes in trade policy, industrial recruitment policy, and regionalization.

Devon Lynch (Ph.D. Economics, University of Colorado, Boulder), Associate Professor, jointly appointed with the Department of Economics, Specializes in applied microeconomics with an emphasis in the field of public and labor economics.

Chad McGuire (LL.M., University of San Diego School of Law) Professor, Specializes in environmental law, environmental policy, and decision-making.

Mark Paige (Ph.D., J.D., University of Wisconsin Madison), Associate Professor, Specializes in education policy and law.

Kate Wassel (J.D., Florida State University), Assistant Teaching Professor, Specializes in local governance, social equity and justice, economic development, and local sustainability policies.

Affiliated Faculty

Robert Golder (MPP, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth), Adjunct Faculty, Public Policy, Specializes in teaching introductory courses in public policy, environmental issues, sustainability, and public management.

Michael D. Goodman (Ph.D. Sociology, Boston University), Professor and Executive Director of Economic Development and Community Partnerships in the Office of the Provost, Specializes in economic development, housing and education policy