Johns Hopkins has designed a fresh, innovative approach to policy
studies that builds on past experience but adapts it to the new
policy realities of the 21st century. We emphasize analytic thinking
throughout the curriculum, from applied statistics and microeconomics
to the policy process and policy implementation. And the program
embeds those skills in the concept of citizenship, linking questions
of ethics and values to policymaking. Courses are designed to prepare
students for involvement in the critical decision-making required
in the development of public policy in the public, nonprofit and
private sectors.
The Hopkins MPP program stands out from most public policy programs
in several major respects: a balance of quantitative and qualitative
courses; close contact with core faculty; courses reflecting current
and often path-breaking research; enrichment through the involvement
of scholars and practitioners from overseas; and the opportunity
for master's candidates to produce a research- or practice-oriented
thesis.
In addition to rigorous academic training, MPP students also develop
real-world skills through internships, courses, seminars, and formal
presentations by policy practitioners. By the end of the first semester
of the first year, each MPP student will have conducted an applied
policy research project—identifying key questions, collecting
and analyzing data, and writing and presenting a report for publication—on
a real-world issue in social policy. The MPP program also requires
students to observe policy-making first-hand through internships
of at least 300 hours in public or private agencies.
WHY A HOPKINS MPP?
The Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies provides an ideal
setting in which to pursue an advanced degree in public policy.
At the center of a world-class university and research center, the
program offers the many advantages of Johns Hopkins:
A World Class University
The Johns Hopkins University, created in 1876 as the first American
research university, is today a world-class institution with exceptional
faculty and students. Its early reputation for excellence in the
realms of medicine, public health and health policy now extends
to virtually every field. The university remains committed to research
of the highest quality. MPP students have access to the extraordinary
array of talent and resources at Hopkins through small classrooms,
seminars, and many interdisciplinary activities.
A Leading Research Institute
The MPP Program is located in the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy
Studies, the university's primary policy research and teaching arm
in the social sciences. The Institute boasts a distinguished staff
of policy professionals covering economic development, housing and
urban policy, human resource development policy, and all other major
social issues. It stands at the cutting edge of policy research,
including the non-profit sector in the U.S. and abroad. The large
number of ongoing research projects leads to rich opportunities
for research assistantships, internships and study.
An Ideal Location
The Institute for Policy Studies has an ideal setting for the analysis
of social issues. Baltimore is an old industrial city with strong
neighborhoods and a handsomely redeveloped Inner Harbor. While its
harbor is lauded for sparking an urban renaissance, the city grapples
with all the problems of contemporary urban life. For policy students,
the city becomes a working laboratory. Baltimore is located only
30 miles from Maryland's capital in Annapolis and less than an hour
by train or car from the nation's capital. Senior policy officials
from federal, state and city agencies, Congress, think tanks, and
public interest groups participate actively in the MPP program.
Students observe policy processes at every level and become personally
acquainted with city, state, and federal decision-makers. Through
involvement in the Institute's research projects and internships,
students have an opportunity to help affect policy as well. |
