Public policy

You can select an area of focus from a variety of established concentrations or graduate certificates, or you can self-design a concentration with an advisor and approval of the public policy graduate program director.

A minimum of 24 credits is required to fulfill the MPP concentration. Concentration options for the EMPP program range from 16 to 20 credits.

If you successfully complete both a certificate program and the master’s program, you will receive the certificate in addition to the MPP or EMPP degree.

If you have minimal work experience in public service, the nonprofit sector or the international context, we will strongly encourage you to engage in a supervised internship as an MPP student. This internship will allow you to work closely with experienced mentors who will help you integrate theory with practice and introduce you to a professional network. You will work with an advisor to create an internship or select from several options available through OSU.

State of Colorado: This program requires an internship. Although Oregon State University participates in the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), due to Colorado’s Workers’ Compensation Act, we have limited authorization to offer programs that require internships in the state of Colorado. The Colorado internship site must provide workers’ compensation. In some cases, a proposed internship site may not provide workers’ compensation insurance and, as a result, is not available as an internship site. Please contact Shannon Riggs, associate vice provost for educational programs and learning innovation, with questions.

As a student in either the MPP or EMPP program, you’ll complete an 11-week policy lab capstone course online, in which you will work in teams to conduct policy research and analysis for an OSU School of Public Policy client partner. This collaborative effort challenges you and your classmates to apply methods and theory knowledge to emerging and relevant policy topics.

The policy research skills and knowledge you gain will be broadly applicable toward your career. At the conclusion of the course, you will present your findings and be evaluated on your contribution and quality of work. Each student will be assessed individually.

Oregon State’s Master of Public Policy program is officially recognized for its commitment to inclusivity by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration. The recognition is given to NASPAA member programs that demonstrate exemplary commitment in civic engagement, inclusion, sustainability and globalization.

MPP
Explore the detailed admissions information for the Master of Public Policy program, including any application deadlines and required documents, on the College of Liberal Arts website.

EMPP
You can find detailed admissions information for the Executive Master of Public Policy program, including any application deadlines and required documents, on the College of Liberal Arts website.

Students are admitted to the MPP and EMPP programs four times per year, and you can begin your studies in fall, winter, spring or summer. Visit Oregon State's academic calendar for term start dates.

You can gain highly specialized skills that are in demand by employers — and do it with less of a time and financial commitment — when you earn a certificate or microcredential online from Oregon State. Choose from a large collection of short-form offerings that can help you upskill quickly.