MPA-PNP Curriculum

The Master of Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy (MPA-PNP) is a 45-credit degree program made up of core courses, a required specialization, electives, capstone, and the Professional Experience Requirement (PER).

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED: 45

I. DEGREE CORE (15 CREDITS)

Statistical Methods || Microeconomics  ||  Management and Leadership 

Financial Management  ||  Introduction to Public Policy

II. SPECIALIZATION REQUIREMENTS (9 credits)

Each of the six specializations requires three courses (9 credits) to give students an introduction to key concepts and skills.

ADVOCACY And Political Action FINANCE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Community Organizing Public Economics Institutions, Governance, and International Development
Advocacy Lab: How to Make Change Happen Financial Management II Politics of International Development
Policy Formation and Policy Analysis Corporate Finance and Public Policy; or
Multiple Regression and Introduction to Econometrics		 Economics of International Development
MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP PUBLIC POLICY SOCIAL INNOVATION
Strategic Management and Leadership Public Economics Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation by Design
Human Resources: Leading Talent Development Evaluating Programs and Policies Design Thinking: A Creative Approach to Problem Solving and Creating Impact
Performance Measurement and Management Multiple Regression and Introduction to Econometrics; or Policy Formation Impact Investing

III. Electives: Specialization-Recommended and School-wide Focus areas (18 credits)

You may choose courses across Wagner for your electives. To assist you, we've grouped courses by recommended Focus Areas. 

You can go deeper in your specialization by choosing elective courses within specialization-recommended focus areas that help you develop more advanced skills.

If you wish to gain a breadth of knowledge and skills, or sharpen your career focus, you may also choose electives within and across the school-wide focus areas.

 

Specialization Focus Areas

  • Growth, Sustainability, and Inequality
  • Organizations and Management in International Contexts
  • International Finance
  • Health, Human Rights, and Humanitarian Aid

View courses in International specialization focus areas

Specialization Focus Areas

  • Relationships Across Differences
  • Organizational Performance
  • Strategy and Leadership 

View courses in Management specialization focus areas

Specialization Focus Areas

  • Policy Advocacy and Creation
  • Policy Design
  • Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation
  • Data Science

View courses in Policy specialization focus areas

 

School-wide Focus Areas

  • Cities
  • Communication Skills
  • Data Science and Data Management 
  • Education
  • Environment and Climate Change
  • Global Action
  • Health Policy and Management
  • Inequality, Race, and Poverty
  • Program Evaluation
  • Nonprofit and Government Organizations
  • Philanthropy and Fundraising
  • Social Justice and Democracy
  • Transportation

Search courses by school-wide focus area

IV. CAPSTONE (3 Credits)

The Capstone Program, a year-long consulting or research project that's required for all MPA students, puts you out in the world, resolving a problem or conducting an analysis for a client organization.

Learn more

V. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT

NYU Wagner is deeply committed to education outside of the classroom. First-hand work experience in your field of choice can be a pivotal experience, and our New York City location offers countless opportunities for career exploration. To this end, NYU Wagner requires all MPA and MUP students to graduate with professional experience that is directly related to their degree program and field of interest.

Students can fulfill this requirement in one of two ways:

  1. Enter NYU Wagner with at least two years of full-time, degree-relevant, professional experience; or
  2. Complete the Professional Experience Requirement (PER), which means working in a degree-relevant job or internship while attending NYU Wagner and before enrolling in Capstone. Students typically fulfill the PER via a relevant work experience over one semester (i.e. 15-20 hours per week during a semester, or 35-40 hours per week in the summer).

Once you begin classes, NYU Wagner’s Office of Career Services staff is available to advise you on strategies and resources for identifying degree relevant positions, submitting strong application materials, conducting successful interviews, or seeking a PER waiver for previous experience.

Authoritative curriculum information can be found exclusively in the University Bulletin. All other content, including this web-page, is for informational purposes only. You can find the curriculum for this program on this page of the Bulletin.