Master of Public Policy

NDSU’s Master of Public Policy (MPP) program provides rigorous training that meets regional, national, and international needs for policy design and program evaluation. The hybrid format means students may attend classes in person or attend remotely in real-time. The program accommodates both traditional students and those who have already begun their careers.

The degree program consists of 36 credits and can be completed in two years of graduate study.

What is an MPP?

A Master of Public Policy prepares students to be policymakers. The coursework helps students to identify policy goals, design effective programs, and evaluate policies to determine if they have met their intended goals. Unlike an MPA (Master of Public Administration), which prepares students to carry out policy implementation, an MPP program trains those who will determine “what works” and generate new policy solutions to social problems.

Why an MPP?

Individuals with MPPs work in government agencies, non-profits, think tanks, political advocacy organizations, and even the private sector. Professionals with MPPs are attractive candidates for organizations that want to evaluate and improve their policies and approaches. MPPs cultivate strong thinkers who want to do good and do it well.

Nationally, the number of open jobs listing an MPP as a qualification is large and growing. Analytics firm Burning Glass reports over 300 jobs per year just in North Dakota and the surrounding states, offering an average salary of over $75,000. Universities in the region currently confer substantially fewer MPP degrees than necessary to meet this demand.

Why NDSU?

NDSU provides the only MPP program in the Dakotas and offers one of the most cost-effective options for earning an MPP nationwide. The program offers a rigorous sequence of core courses that provide skills in policy design and evaluation, complemented by a variety of electives that allow students to build their knowledge in specific policy areas; these courses cover policy areas ranging from education to infrastructure to international development.

Our faculty have expertise in local, national, and international policy. Members of our faculty direct the Upper Midwest Center on Public Policy and Center for Study of Digital Society and serve as policy consultants with major organizations including USAID and Facebook. Students can also leverage the resources of the newly-created Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth.

Accelerated MPP

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy is also pleased to offer an accelerated MPP option for current NDSU undergraduates, that allows students to complete a BA/BS in Political Science and an MPP in as little as 5 years.

Students interested in an accelerated master's will complete the same application as those applying for the traditional MPP program (see above). Students must have a 3.5 GPA in order to be admitted and can matriculate in the program once they have completed 60 undergraduate credits. See the Graduate School’s website for more information about this process. Students should talk with their advisers about this option early in their undergraduate careers.

Tuition

Students enrolled in the MPP online pay the in-state tuition rate.

North Dakota State University is distinctive as a student-focused, land-grant, research university.

NDSU is ranked 94 among public research universities based on NDSU’s research expenditures reported to the National Science Foundation. In addition, NDSU is listed in the National Science Foundation’s top 100 in several areas, including agricultural sciences; business management and business; communications; computer sciences; natural resources and conservation science; political science and government; social sciences; sociology, demography, and population studies; and visual and performing arts.

The main campus is in Fargo, North Dakota, with Extension Service and Research Experiment Station locations across the state.

Mission, Vision, Core Values

Mission

With energy and momentum, North Dakota State University addresses the needs and aspirations of people in a changing world by building on our land-grant foundation.

Vision

We envision a vibrant university that will be globally identified as a contemporary metropolitan land-grant institution.

Core Values

NDSU is guided by the following key values and principles:

Land-Grant

We reflect and serve geographically and culturally diverse populations. We share institutional success across the university. We anticipate and welcome growth and service that will occur in ways yet to be conceived. We embrace our unique complexities as a land-grant university on the Northern Great Plains. We remain committed to serving people globally.

People

We derive strength and vitality from each other and from the diverse communities we serve. We envision an academic and social environment that is conducive to intellectual and personal development by promoting the safety and welfare of all members of the university community. We promote excellence through individuals participating in decisions and value cooperation for the common good.

Teaching and Learning

We provide a superior teaching and learning environment within and outside the traditional classroom. We promote and value liberal, graduate, and professional education in a collegial environment where divergent ideas can be shared. We foster an environment that promotes life-long learning with individually defined goals.

Ethics

We maintain our integrity through principled action and ethical decision-making.

Culture

We will be the land-grant university that we want to be by welcoming and respecting differences in people and ideas. We support the goals of the North Dakota University System and value collaboration with colleges and universities around the world. We foster accessibility to our programs and services.

Accountability

We have a special relationship with and are accountable to, the people of North Dakota. We actively strive to contribute to our region's economic prosperity and to improve the quality of life.