Online MPA with Public Policy Concentration

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The U.S. Government plays a huge role in the development and management of public organizations all over the country. Its influence over these agencies can often be found in the funding and policy development aspects of providing services to the public.

If you are interested in improving current public systems through thorough review and implementation of relevant policies, this could be the degree program for you. Students entering into this degree program can seek out careers in popular fields such as education and healthcare after graduation. The guide below can provide you with more helpful information about this degree program and what it can help you pursue as a professional in the field of public administration.

Why consider a MPP?

For MPP students, a specialization in public policy can help them to gain more knowledge within the policy analysis of current organizations, planning for policy changes and implementation of new programs and policies that can be helpful in delivering services to the public. Degree programs that offer this specialization can be helpful to students that may be interested in pursuing careers at the government level or even those in management positions in public service agencies.

Without policies, public organizations would not have certain regulations or restrictions placed on their service, which could allow them to provide independent services just as standard business organizations. Since public organizations receive their funding from the government, they must act according to the policies and regulations placed upon them.

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How Much Does an MPA with Public Policy Concentration Cost?

If you are considering a Master’s in Public Administration – Public Policy degree program for your education, there may be a few different topics to consider prior to enrolling in your college of choice. A lot of experienced college students are up to date with the rising tuition costs and fees associated with enrolling in a degree program.

However, these factors are constantly changing and rarely ever the same between different schools. At the master’s level, students may be signing up for a 2-3 year time investment that should be properly planned for starting at the very beginning.

The University of Illinois at Chicago is a popular choice for individuals interested in pursuing their MPA – Public Policy online. This university contains a reputable degree program that covers many of the main concerns of policy-driven individuals.

For most students, this master’s program can take around 2 years to complete, which is a reasonable time frame for what the degree can provide professionally. Our team of educational experts researched the tuition costs at this university and found that students are billed at a rate of $730 per credit hour.

Since this university’s program consists of a 54 credit hour requirement, students can expect to invest around $39,420 for their entire master’s program. This total cost can be covered by scholarships, work-study grants or even student loans. This degree program is also offered online, which can allow students to continue working their regular full-time jobs while enrolled. Programs such as this one may have been created with professionals in mind, which means they can easily be paired with a busy personal schedule.

Expected Coursework for MPA Public Policy Degrees

Common Careers Associated With an MPA in Public Policy

While a degree program in public policy can help you to become better educated about the policy research and implementation process, it can also assist you in finding careers that can make a difference in fields you are interested in.

There are numerous career fields that graduates can choose to work in after graduation, many of which consist of reviewing and improving policies to increase the field’s effectiveness. Some popular fields for upcoming professionals in this field may include education, healthcare and nonprofit management. Each of these fields may provide a slightly different direction for policy experts, but still result in changing and influencing the future of each field.

Each of these topics can be extremely important to the success of students within school systems, so they may be important to address in terms of educational policy.

In a more general placement, graduates can choose to become public policy analysts in their career. This position can be found in specific organizations or even with the national government. In businesses, policy analysts can assist with researching public issues that may influence the efficiency or delivery of services, track relationships with government organizations responsible for issuing public policies that concern the organization and connect members of the organization with public policy officials for better networking.

This career position could be great for graduates that have some work experience in public administration or public policy.

What to Expect in a MPA Public Policy Associated Career

Careers in public administration can consist of many diverse job responsibilities that seek to increase policy-awareness and efficiency from within and organization. You may find that there is an array of various positions available that are related to public policy within popular fields such as healthcare and education.

Each of these programs is influenced by the U.S. Government, so their operation may be based on the implementation of public policies within each field. Take a look at some of the common job responsibilities in each field.

• Advocate for Effective Policy Change
• Review and Implement Current Programming According to Policy
• Ally with Relevant Organizations
• Communicate Policy Changes to Staff
• Train Staff According to Policy
• Review Current Policies for Change
• Network with Public Officials Regarding Policy Change

Average Salaries of MPA Public Policy Associated Careers

• Policy Analysts: $31,740 on average per year (starting pay) (BLS).
• Budget Analysts: $75,240 on average per year (BLS).

MPA in Public Policy Versus A Law Degree

Many students considering a degree program in public policy may also explore the field of law before making their decision. Some people may find these fields to contain a lot of similar elements that can make the decision to pursue either one more difficult.

The field of public policy may be concerned with creating more effective workplaces and programs that are equipped to meet their goals. Policies are not laws by any sense, but rather a statement of what an organization should or should not do during their normal course of work. This type of degree program can lead to leadership and research positions within the field of public administration.

Choosing a law-based degree program can lead students into a more fact-based program that includes research into common laws present within the country. Laws, by their very definition, may be mandatory and require that all relevant beings follow them.

In degree programs that focus on law, students may be generally preparing to work in legal fields or with the government on the review and update of current laws. These degree programs can prepare students to be current on laws relevant to their field, as well as be prepared to implement change when needed.

Careers within this field may include those that interpret the law within a legal setting as well as those that research the historical basis of laws for improvement purposes. Both public policy and law fields may be increasingly important to the development of public organizations throughout the U.S.