Public Policy Specialization
Design innovative solutions for today's complex policy challenges.
Program Overview
An MPA-PNP degree with a Public Policy specialization equips you with the tools to play a leading role in creating, advocating for, and evaluating policies that better serve the public good, whether from within government, nonprofit organizations, or private sector firms that work alongside the public sector.
You'll learn the analytical skills and frameworks you’ll need to design and assess policy responses to important public issues and will have the option to deepen your quantitative skills. You’ll graduate ready to address big questions: Which public policies are doing what they're designed to do, and which could do their job better? How can cities create and implement policies for growth and development? What are the next steps to reducing poverty? Which policies are most effective at minimizing racial disparities? How can education policy improve the performance and equity of US educational systems?
Unlock Your Potential With a Career in Public Policy
With an emphasis on analytic rigor, communication and writing skills, and quantitative analysis, this specialization equips you to lead in the government, nonprofit, and private sectors. This highly flexible program opens doors to high-impact career paths such as:
- Policy advocacy and creation: Interest-group advocate, lobbyist, think-tank analyst, government relations officer
- Policy design and implementation: Policy analyst, program officer, urban, regional planner
- Policy analysis and program evaluation: Program evaluator, consultant
- Data science in public policy: Data analyst, data scientist, or fundraising manager
Skills You'll Gain With the Public Policy Specialization
The Public Policy specialization hones your ability to craft effective solutions to complex issues. Throughout the program, you'll build a versatile skill set that prepares you for leadership roles in public policy, empowering you to shape decisions and drive outcomes. The competencies you'll master include:
Graduates will develop a strong command of analytical frameworks, enabling them to dissect complex policy issues, structure their analysis systematically, and apply evidence-based approaches. This includes both qualitative and quantitative methods to ensure well-rounded evaluations.
Graduates will develop the ability to clearly and persuasively communicate policy recommendations through writing, public speaking, and media engagement. They’ll also learn advocacy strategies, enabling them to champion policies effectively across different sectors and audiences.
Students will become proficient in designing and conducting thorough program evaluations, learning how to assess policies’ effectiveness in real-world contexts. This includes understanding what works, for whom, and under what conditions, allowing for data-driven policy refinement.
The ability to analyze large datasets, use statistical software, and apply econometric methods is critical. Graduates will learn to interpret data and make informed recommendations for policy interventions, grounded in empirical evidence.
What Our Graduates Say
Dahlia Darwiche (MPA 2018)
Senior Analyst at U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
“My NYU Wagner experience exposed me to impactful and interesting ways to pursue public policy work. I was able to develop key skills, including essential quantitative skills, that prepared me to succeed across several industries. The faculty also presented unique paths for students to take to apply and strengthen these acquired skills and knowledge. I was even recruited to work at my federal government agency at a Wagner career fair! Overall, Wagner was a perfect place to begin my public policy career.”
Curriculum Overview
Our 45-credit program includes a blend of foundational courses, specializations, electives, and a capstone project. This comprehensive curriculum provides you with the critical skills and knowledge needed for leadership in public and nonprofit management and policy.
Learn More About the Curriculum
Program Requirements
Below is an overview of the required coursework. For detailed information, view the program checksheet.
Students must complete the following core courses:
CORE-GP.1011, Statistical Methods
CORE-GP.1018, Microeconomics
CORE-GP.1020, Management and Leadership
CORE-GP.1021, Financial Management
CORE-GP.1022, Introduction to Public Policy
Students complete the following specialization courses:
PADM-GP.2140, Public Economics
PADM-GP.2171, Evaluating Programs and Policies
Students must also choose and complete one of the following courses:
PADM-GP.2411, Policy Formation and Policy Analysis
PADM-GP.2902, Multiple Regression and Introduction to Econometrics
The capstone program, which is a year-long consulting or research project, puts you out in the world to resolve a problem or conduct an analysis for a client organization. All students must complete the following courses in conjunction with their capstone experience.
CAP-GP.3301 & 3302 Capstone: Advanced Lab in Social Innovation I &II
Focus Areas
These are optional clusters of courses designed to guide your elective choices.
Choosing electives within specialized focus areas allows you to deepen your expertise and develop more advanced skills. To gain in-depth knowledge in a focus area, we recommend completing nine credits. Alternatively, you can opt for a broader approach by choosing electives across different focus areas.
This focus area equips students to shape policy from the ground up—preparing them to craft, advocate for, and implement transformative public solutions in government, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations.
Grounded in economics, behavioral insights, and policy analysis, this focus area prepares students to design policies that are economically sound, politically informed, socially responsive, and ready for real-world implementation.
This focus area equips students with the analytical tools to assess which policies work, why they succeed or fail, and for whom. Students learn a range of skills and evaluation methods from process evaluation, data collection, causal inference, and impact assessment to cost-effectiveness analysis.
Recommended courses: PADM-GP.2875, Estimating Impacts in Policy Research; PADM-GP 2172, Advanced Empirical Methods.
This focus area prepares students to work at the intersection of data and public policy. Students develop skills in data collection, analysis, visualization, coding, and machine learning—gaining the tools to transform complex data into actionable insights for policy, management, and social impact.
Recommended courses: PADM-GP 2172, Advanced Empirical Methods; PADM-GP 4503, Introduction to Data Analytics.
In addition to the courses in the specialization-related elective focus areas above, to gain a breadth of knowledge and skills, you may also wish to choose electives from across course offerings, including from the school-wide focus areas or a different specialization. Relevant school-wide focus areas for you to consider as a Policy student include, Environment and Climate Change; Health Policy and Management; Inequality, Race, and Poverty; Transportation Policy; and more.
Additional MPA Degree Specializations
Why Choose NYU Wagner?
Your chosen MPA program sets the foundation for a successful career in public and nonprofit management and policy. Our interdisciplinary approach, expert faculty, and prime New York City location offer unparalleled learning, growth, and professional development opportunities. Here’s what sets us apart:
Convenience & Flexibility
Our program offers flexible scheduling for both full-time and part-time students, with start terms available in both the Fall and Spring. Full-time students who begin in the Fall can complete the program in as little as two years. Part-time students typically finish in three to four years.
Distinguished Faculty
Learn from premier scholars in a variety of disciplines, including economics, finance, management, political science, law, planning, and healthcare. These highly-accomplished industry leaders will prepare you to effectively address issues across sectors and policy arenas.
Real-World Experience
A year-long capstone project is the pinnacle of your graduate experience, offering an opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge to real-world challenges. Collaborating with peers and expert faculty mentors, you'll take on pressing issues facing communities both locally and globally.
Tangible Career Outcomes
MPA graduates work in government agencies, nonprofits, international organizations, corporate social responsibility departments, and a multitude of other sectors. That includes organizations such as the American Red Cross, APCO Worldwide, Ernst & Young, Everytown for Gun Safety, NY Green Bank, United Nations, and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Meet Our Faculty
How to Apply
Ready to take the next step? Explore the application process, admissions criteria, and deadlines for our MPA-PNP Public Policy Specialization.
Submit your online application, including two essays (with an optional video essay), your resume or curriculum vitae, two letters of recommendation from academic or professional settings, transcripts from colleges or universities, and standardized test scores. You’ll also need to submit the $85 application fee and review any requirements specific to international applicants. To make sure you have everything you need, we created a complete application checklist.
We invite students from all majors and backgrounds to apply who demonstrate aptitude in both quantitative and qualitative coursework, along with strong written and verbal communication skills. We value a deep commitment to public service, whether shown through academic studies, work experience, or volunteer efforts, and we encourage career changers to explore our program as well. Our admissions process is focused on identifying candidates with the potential to make a significant impact, regardless of scope, and who appreciate professional experience from all sectors to enrich the learning environment.
While we prefer applicants to have at least two years of relevant professional experience, such as full-time, part-time, internship, or volunteer work, it is not a requirement for admission. Students without two years of full-time, degree-relevant experience will participate in the Professional Experience Requirement (PER) to enhance their understanding of the public service field.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Find out detailed information about the cost of attendance, and access resources to finance your education—including federal loan programs and merit-based fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships.
Tuition is calculated on a per-credit basis. Your tuition costs are customized based on the total number of credits you enroll in each term.
Per-Credit Tuition Costs (2024-2025)
| FALL 2024 | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Tuition per point/credit |
$2,395 |
$2,395 |
$2,395 |
PER-SEMESTER TUITION COSTS (2024-2025)
| Credits | Tuition |
|---|---|
6 credits |
$14,370 |
9 credits |
$21,555 |
12 credits |
$28,740 |
View the tuition and fee calculator at the NYU Bursar's website.
*For Executive Masters students, fees also include a one-time $1,758 EMPA program fee. The program fee will be split across two semesters:
- EXEC-GP 100 = $879 (Fall 2024)
- EXEC-GP 101 = $879 (Spring 2025)
**A typical part-time student enrolls in 6 credits per fall and spring semester each academic year. A typical full-time student enrolls in 12 credits per fall and spring semester each academic year.
|
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
Housing |
$23,588 |
||
Food |
$6,450 |
||
Books |
$1,510 |
||
Transportation |
$2,342 |
||
Personal Expenses |
$3,000 |
||
Student Basic Health Insurance** |
$4,346 |
||
ESTIMATED TOTAL |
$41,236 |
*Please note that these expenses, based on 2024-2025 rates, are discretionary for students and are included here to assist you in planning your budget.
**Based on Basic Plan. For more information on student health insurance options, including premiums, enrollment, and waivers, please visit the NYU Student Health Insurance website.
Most NYU Wagner students fund their studies through a variety of means—private or federal student loans, college work-study, or student employment. You can seek out supplementary funding by applying to external merit-based or need-based scholarship programs that award students pursuing a degree program in public service.
Federal Student Loans
Federal student loan programs offer low-interest student loan options for US Citizens and Permanent Residents. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid. Graduate financial aid programs available to students who study in New York State include:
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Federal Grad/Professional Plus Loans
- Federal Work Study
Compare the different types of federal loan programs.
How to Apply
If you are a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and you wish to be considered for need-based federal financial aid, you must complete the current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). List "New York University" as a recipient and include our federal school code number 002785. Deadline: You should submit the FAFSA no later than October 1 for spring-start students or February 1 for fall-start students. While the FAFSA is accepted after these deadlines, late submission will cause a delay in the determination (and notification) of your aid eligibility (but it does not impact the amount of funding for which you are eligibile).
Private Loan Programs
A variety of additional, private (non-federal) alternative loans are also available from individual lending institutions. Please think carefully about your obligations as a borrower before pursuing any educational loan. Consider your educational investment at NYU, as well as your long-term financial commitments when borrowing.
See a reference list of private lenders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Graduates with a public policy specialization are prepared for many policy-related roles, such as policy analysts, legislative staffers, consultants, and urban planners. They can work in different sectors, including government, nonprofits, international organizations, and private industry, shaping policy on education, housing, healthcare, and more.
The MPA Public Policy Specialization emphasizes data-driven analysis and policy design, preparing students to tackle complex societal issues. It provides a strong foundation in quantitative methods and urban policy, distinguishing it from other tracks like social innovation or health policy, which focus on different aspects of public service.
You will develop critical skills in policy analysis, program evaluation, quantitative methods, data interpretation, and strategic communication. These competencies enable you to design, assess, and implement policies that address societal challenges and drive meaningful change.
The quantitative-path in the Policy Specialization in the MPA program covers similar content to the MSPP program. It differs in that: it is a two-year program (with options for part-time study, and a January start); it includes a required course (and optional electives) in management, and allows for many more electives and more opportunities for internships. Additionally, if you have a strong focus on international development, the MPA program may be the better choice, as it offers a dedicated specialization, while the MSPP program provides limited elective options. The MSPP program is a one-year, intensive, cohort-based program, with all students starting in late August, and ending in August of the next year. Lastly, the MSPP is STEM-designated, unlike the MPA program.