The UCR Master of Public Policy (MPP) program equips students with the analytical, leadership, and communication skills to tackle today’s most pressing challenges. Our curriculum blends rigorous coursework in economics, quantitative methods, policy analysis, and ethics with experiential learning through policy internships and a capstone project. With specializations ranging from environmental policy to health, education, and social policy, UCR MPP graduates are prepared to make data-driven, equitable, and impactful decisions in government, nonprofit, and private sectors.
For more details, please refer to UCR's General Catalog.
Suggested Timeline
| FALL (YEAR 1) |
|---|
| PBPL 205 |
| PBPL 214 |
| PBPL 222 |
| WINTER (Y1) |
|---|
| PBPL 210 |
| PBPL 212 |
| PBPL 215 |
| SPRING (Y1) |
|---|
| PBPL 200 |
| PBPL 202 |
| PBPL 220 |
| FALL (YEAR 2) |
|---|
| PBPL 216 |
| PBPL 298I - Internship |
| ELECTIVE |
| WINTER (Y2) |
|---|
| PBPL 298A - Capstone |
| ELECTIVE |
| ELECTIVE |
| SPRING (Y2) |
|---|
| PBPL 298B - Capstone |
| ELECTIVE |
| ELECTIVE |
Core Courses (13 Courses)
The Policy Process (2 Courses)
- PBPL 200: Introduction to Policy Analysis (4 units)
- PBPL 202: Policy Institutions and Processes (4 units)
Policy Analytic Methods (6 Courses)
- PBPL 205: Research Design and Statistics for Public Policy (4 units)
- PBPL 210: Quantitative Methods for Public Policy Analysis 1 (4 units)
- PBPL 220: Quantitative Methods for Public Policy Analysis 2 (4 units)
- PBPL 212: Qualitative Social Science Methods (4 units)
- PBPL 214: Economics for Public Policy Analysis 1 (4 units)
- PBPL 215: Economics for Public Policy Analysis 2 (4 units)
Institutional Context (2 Courses)
- PBPL 216: Public Leadership and Management (4 units)
- PBPL 222: Ethics, Professionalism, and the Normative Bases of Public Policies (4 units)
Capstone (2 Courses)
- PBPL 289a & PBPL 289b: Capstone Research Project Internship (1 course)
- PBPL 298i: Individual Internship in Public Policy (4 units)
Electives by Policy Area (Choose 5 Courses)
Subject to availability.
Environmental and Resource Policy
PBPL 233 – Environmental Economics and Policy
PBPL 245 – Comparative Global Water Policy
PBPL 246 – Agricultural and Food Policy
PBPL 245 – Comparative Global Water Policy
PBPL 246 – Agricultural and Food Policy
Health Policy
PBPL 230F – Public Policy and Health
PBPL 264 – Methods in Health Disparities Research: An Introduction to Community Engaged Research
PBPL 265 – Advanced Methods in Health Disparities Research: An Application of Community Engaged Research
PBPL 264 – Methods in Health Disparities Research: An Introduction to Community Engaged Research
PBPL 265 – Advanced Methods in Health Disparities Research: An Application of Community Engaged Research
Education Policy
PBPL 260 – Education Policy Analysis
PBPL 261 – Higher Education Policy
PBPL 262 – Economics in Higher Education
PBPL 261 – Higher Education Policy
PBPL 262 – Economics in Higher Education
Urban Policy
PBPL 235 – Economic Development in United States Cities
PBPL 236E – U.S. Census Data and Policy Studies
PBPL 255 – Mapping for the Common Good
PBPL 273 – Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Public Policy
PBPL 252 – Crime Mapping Analysis
PBPL 266 – Transportation Policy
PBPL 236E – U.S. Census Data and Policy Studies
PBPL 255 – Mapping for the Common Good
PBPL 273 – Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Public Policy
PBPL 252 – Crime Mapping Analysis
PBPL 266 – Transportation Policy
Social Justice and Policy
PBPL 234 – Poverty in Global Perspective
PBPL 270E – General Perspectives on Immigration Policy
PBPL 270F – Borderland Policies and Community Processes
PBPL 271 – Racial Inequality in Politics and Policy
PBPL 272 – Policy and Politics in California
PBPL 270E – General Perspectives on Immigration Policy
PBPL 270F – Borderland Policies and Community Processes
PBPL 271 – Racial Inequality in Politics and Policy
PBPL 272 – Policy and Politics in California
Additional Elective Courses
PBPL 204 – Regional Policy-Making Across Administrative Jurisdictions
PBPL 206 – State Governments as Laboratories of Change
PBPL 224 – Global-Local Policy Connections: Case Studies in Poverty, Water, and Sustainable Development
PBPL 250 – Public Budgeting and Finance
PBPL 280 – Special Topics in Public Policy
PBPL 274 – Social Innovation in Theory and Practice
PBPL 206 – State Governments as Laboratories of Change
PBPL 224 – Global-Local Policy Connections: Case Studies in Poverty, Water, and Sustainable Development
PBPL 250 – Public Budgeting and Finance
PBPL 280 – Special Topics in Public Policy
PBPL 274 – Social Innovation in Theory and Practice