COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master in Public Policy (MPP) at UNH is designed for students who want to understand how public decisions are made and how to improve them using evidence, analysis, and real-world experience. This degree prepares you to work on complex social, economic, and political problems by teaching you how to evaluate policies, design effective solutions, and communicate recommendations clearly to decision-makers. The program builds strong analytical skills through core training in policy analysis, economics, quantitative methods, and strategy, while also developing practical abilities in communication, leadership, and implementation. A key feature of the degree is its structure around applied learning, where students don’t just study policy theory but actively engage with it through internships, a Washington, DC colloquium, and a capstone project that focuses on real policy issues. Students can also specialize their studies through tracks such as Strategy and Communication or Policy Analysis, allowing them to align the degree with career goals in government, nonprofits, consulting, or international organizations. Elective options further expand flexibility, including areas like environmental policy, nonprofit leadership, recreation management, and public service administration. The program requires 40 credits and is structured to ensure both depth and practical exposure, combining five core courses, experiential learning components, track-based specialization, and electives. Students are encouraged to have a background in basic economics before entering, as economic reasoning is a core part of policy analysis. Overall, the MPP at UNH is built for individuals who want to move beyond understanding problems to actively shaping solutions, equipping graduates with the tools to influence policy at local, national, and global levels through data-driven decision-making and effective communication.