Master of Public Policy online

Gain the tools you need to understand, assess, and create public policy using an equitable and cooperative approach to help drive progress for your community and beyond.

Apply by: 1/4/26

Start class: 1/26/26

Apply Now

Home / Degrees / Business / Master of Public Policy

Program Overview

Become an influential leader of change with a master’s in public policy

$17,910 Total Tuition

As few as 12 months Duration

30* Credit Hours

Learn to develop innovative and collaborative solutions for public benefit with the Master of Public Policy online program. Coursework will teach you to analyze the policy process, consider its impact on diverse populations, and design ideas that resolve widespread issues. Explore areas of applied policy—including urban, labor, and economic sectors—while building your knowledge of immigration, social inequality, and public management. You will also study policy writing for government, nonprofit, and private consulting.

The interdisciplinary curriculum strongly prioritizes technical skills while integrating practical and theoretical learning opportunities to build your expertise in domestic and international policy making. Plus, you can gain real-world experience by engaging in an optional internship for course credit.

Upon completing this MPP master's degree, you will be able to:

Analyze complex public policy issues
Develop and evaluate public policies and programs
Apply core principles and skills of policy analysis and public administration
Research, analyze, and communicate complex policy analyses and recommendations

Analyze complex public policy issues
Develop and evaluate public policies and programs
Apply core principles and skills of policy analysis and public administration
Research, analyze, and communicate complex policy analyses and recommendations

Potential careers in public policy:

Public Analyst
Public Affairs or Government Relations Specialist
Legislative Aide or Policy Advisor
Research Analyst
Urban or Community Development Planner

Public Analyst
Public Affairs or Government Relations Specialist
Legislative Aide or Policy Advisor
Research Analyst
Urban or Community Development Planner

Also available:

William Paterson University offers a variety of master’s-level programs. Check out all of our online graduate programs.

$17,910 Total Tuition

As few as 12 months Duration

30 Credit Hours

Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 833-960-0139

Tuition

Review the tuition breakdown for your public policy graduate degree

The Master of Public Policy online program from William Paterson University offers affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition. All fees are included in the total tuition.

Program	Per Credit Hour	Per Course	Per Program
MPP	$597	$1,791	$17,910

Tuition breakdown:

$17,910 Total Tuition

$597 Per Credit Hour

Calendar

Plan your educational journey using these online program dates

William Paterson University online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year.

View full calendar +

Now enrolling:

1/4/26 Apply Date

1/26/26 Class Starts

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?

Apply Now

Admissions

Take the next step toward earning your online MPP degree

At William Paterson University, we’ve streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the Master of Public Policy online program, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them.

The requirements include:

Undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
GPA of 3.0 or higher
Transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended
Online application

You must meet the following requirements for admission to this Master of Public Policy online program:

Completed online application and $50 application fee
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended

Official transcripts, test scores, and other documents should be sent from the granting institutions to:

Email address: [email protected]

Mail address:

Office of Graduate Admissions and Enrollment Services
William Paterson University
Morrison Hall 102
300 Pompton Road
Wayne, NJ 07470

Courses

Expand your knowledge with the master’s in public policy online coursework

For the MPP online program, you must complete 10 courses for a total of 30 credit hours, including 12 core credit hours and 18 elective credit hours.

Expand All

Core Courses

POL 5070: Critical Policy Analysis

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks

Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed not only to acquaint the student with the approach to knowledge known as “critical theory”, it is meant to prepare them to carry out real-world public policy analysis. To this end, three themes serve as the focus of study: capitalism, democracy and globalization. The relationship between all three and public policy serves as the life-blood of the course. The required and suggested readings cross disciplines, from political philosophy to economics to policy and gender studies. The mélange reflects critical theory itself: interdisciplinary from the start.

POL 6250: Methods of Policy Anaysis

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides students with some of the specific methodological tools of social statistics that they need in order to understand, evaluate, and conduct research in political science and public policy. Techniques for collecting quantitative data and for analyzing and presenting it are stressed

POL 6320: States, Markets and Policy

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks

Credit Hours: 3

This course is a survey of the most salient theories, cases, and issue areas in the field of political economy. The field links international politics and international economics by examining systemic, national, and sub-national variables, including trade policies, industrial development, capital markets, and institutions. The course examines why some countries are so rich and others so poor by looking at development strategies, currency regimes, and international financial flows. It also addresses the issues raised by the growing power of multinational corporations over nation states and labor movements within industrial and developing countries, as well as the environmental and human challenges created by the global economy.

POL 7020: Applied Policy Brief

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks

Credit Hours: 3

TBD - New Course Description; Capstone Course

Elective Courses

POL 5030: Comparative Public Policy

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks

Credit Hours: 3

Why do nations differ markedly in their approach to policy issues such as social welfare, education, health, national defense, environmental protection, immigration, or the like? This course provides an analytical perspective for understanding these differences across three types of nation state systems: advanced industrial democracies; transitional or Third Wave democracies; and developing authoritarian states. The influence of culture, state and legal systems, party systems, economic elites, social movements, and the international political economy on the evolution and practice of public policies are explored. Students are required to conduct a cross-national study of a particular public policy issue.

POL 5080: Emergency Management

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks

Credit Hours: 3

This course introduces students to policy, planning, and management to prepare and mitigate ahead of disasters and emergencies, and to respond when they occur. Students will be introduced to the dominant theories, approaches and controversies in the field of emergency management. Students will learn to identify and analyze hazards, emergencies, and disasters with special attention to their social and political contexts.

POL 6210: American Welfare Policy in Global Perspective

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides an in-depth examination of the evolution, contemporary functioning, and future of the American welfare state in comparative perspective. An overview of the major values, concepts, theories, and measurement tools involved in the development and implementation of social policies is provided and the reasons for American exceptionalism are explored. Specific policy arenas, such as poor relief, old age insurance, and health care are examined in depth. The general goal of this course is to deepen students’ understanding of the United States’ “exceptional” and bifurcated welfare state and to develop their capacity to participate in the analysis and change of social welfare policies.

POL 6230: Environmental Politics and Policy

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides a critical evaluation of how governments and international regimes attempt to manage the domestic and global environment. The first part of the course examines the conceptual/paradigmatic context of environmental decision-making and the history of how environmental protection became a public policy issue. The second part of the course examines the domestic and international institutions and processes involved in environmental policy-making. Case studies of specific environmental conflicts illustrate the cultural, political, scientific, institutional, and legal issues that are involved in environmental decision-making, both domestically and globally.

POL 6330: U.S. Security Policy in the 21st Century

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks

Credit Hours: 3

This course studies both the goals and implementation of U.S. national security policy. Contested definitions of national security and contending policy prescriptions are examined, as are the impact of domestic factors and bureaucratic procedures. Topics covered include national security strategy, strategic nuclear policy, limited wars, low-intensity conflict, interventions, terrorism, and foreign economic policy insofar as it bears on national security concerns. Case studies, both historical and contemporary, are used.

POL 5990: Selected Topics

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks

Credit Hours: 3

Topics not covered by an existing course are offered under this designation.

Ranked #23 among the “Top Public Schools, Regional Universities North” by U.S. News & World Report (2025)

Request more information

Submit this form, and an Enrollment Specialist will contact you to answer your questions.

*All fields required.
Program of interest*
First Name*
Last Name*
Email*
Phone*
ZIP Code*
How did you hear about us?*
Email
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Or call 833-960-0139

Begin Application Process

Start your application today!

Apply Now

Or call 833-960-0139 833-960-0139

for help with any questions you may have.

Term	Start Date	App Deadline	Document Deadline	Registration Deadline	Tuition Deadline	Class End Date	Term Length
Spring I	1/26/26	1/4/26	1/7/26	1/16/26	1/21/26	3/15/26	7 weeks
Spring II	3/23/26	3/1/26	3/4/26	3/13/26	3/18/26	5/10/26	7 weeks