Master of Arts in Public Policy

Trinity College’s master of arts in public policy seeks to equip students with both critical skills in organizational management and a strong grounding in the core civic ideas that animate public policy in the United States and other democracies.

At a Glance

Our graduates work in fields including government, law, policy analysis, journalism, and nonprofits.

You can complete the degree in one year as a full-time student; two to three years as a part-time student.

Your total cost is $33,000 (excluding fees), based on 2023-24 tuition rates.

Submit your application by August 1 for fall start, December 15 for spring start, and April 15 for summer start.

About the Program

In Trinity’s liberal arts tradition, the master of arts in public policy (M.A.P.P.) provides students an opportunity to master practical aspects of public administration with the benefit of the historical and intellectual context in which our political principles and practices have developed.

Students may complete the 10-credit program in a single year, including our summer sessions, but many working adults choose a part-time schedule that allows them to complete their degree in two or three years. The capstone of Trinity’s M.A.P.P. is a semester-long consulting assignment, the “Public Policy Practicum,” where student teams apply their skills to help federal, state, and local policymakers—as well as not-for-profit organizations—tackle real world challenges.

Is public administration a unique discipline, distinct from the generic approaches to management and leadership taught in M.B.A. programs? What can the public and private sectors learn from each other? Our students apply disciplines from political science to economics and psychology in confronting such fundamental questions, even as they acquire the valuable research, analysis, and writing skills vital to success in any professional field. Whatever their long-term career goals, our M.A.P.P. graduates leave Trinity with the tools to make a difference.

For students interested specifically in the application of public policy in urban planning, the public policy graduate program offers a graduate certificate in urban planning.

Next Step: Start Your Application

If you want a professor who will spend time outside of the classroom to fuel your passion or help you strengthen your performance, Trinity is the place for you.

Bhumika Choudhary M'20, Public Policy

The Curriculum

The M.A. in public policy consists of 10 course credits. Students must take six core courses, three policy electives, and the capstone policy practicum.

See the Trinity College Bulletin for detailed course descriptions.

Master of Arts in Public Policy Courses
Core Courses (4 required)	PBPL 800. Public Policy: Principles and Practice PBPL 840. Budget Management in Public Policy PBPL 846. Policy Analysis PBPL 860. Public Management
Policy Electives (5 required)	PBPL 801. Community Development Strategies PBPL 802. Global Cities PBPL 803. Urban Planning Global Studio PBPL 806. Methods & Statistics for Policy Research PBPL 808. Constitutional Foundations of Public Policy PBPL 815. Urban South Asia PBPL 817. Education and Immigration in the City PBPL 819. Affordable Housing Policies PBPL 820. Urban Research Practicum PBPL 821. Law, Policy & Society PBPL 833. Introduction to Urban Planning PBPL 849. Health Care Regulation and Policy PBPL 850. Women, Leadership and Public Policy PBPL 855. Urban Politics PBPL 859. Economics of Public Policy PBPL 866. State and Local Policy PBPL 869. Leadership in the Policy Arena PBPL 870. Polarization and the Policy-Making Process
Capstone Course	Policy Practicum