Master's in Public Policy & Management: Curriculum
Core Curriculum
18 credits:
- PPM 601 Applied Statistics for Public Policy and Managment
- PPM 602 Research Design
- PPM 610 Foundations of Public Policy & Management
- PPM 611 Economics and Public Policy
- PPM 615 Foundations for Public Services & Management
- PPM 640 Public Finance and Budgeting
Tracks
Policy Analysis Track
Required course:
- PPM 620 Introduction to Policy Analysis
Select 3 credits:
- PPM 603 Advanced Research Methods: Modules 603B-603I
- PPM 604 Evaluation Methods
- PPM 622 Applied Policy Analysis
Select an additional 6 credits from above courses or from:
- CPD 622 Introduction to ArcView
- PPM 513 Law and Public Policy
- PPM 551 Public Policy Dispute Resolution
- PPM 519 Communication for Public Managers
- PPM 623 Risk and Public Policy
- PPM 524 Gender, Race, Politics, and Public Policy
- PPM 526 Public Policy and Children
- PPM 633 Strategic Planning in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors
- PPM 642 Seminar in Financial Analysis
- PPM 650 State and Regional Economic Development
- PPM 666 Environmental Policy
Public Management Track
In the Public Management Track, students are given the opportunity to focus on organizational management or public financial management.
Organizational Management
Required course:
- PPM 630 Organizational Dynamics
Select an additional 6 credits:
- PPM 513 Law and Public Policy
- PPM 604 Evaluation Methods
- PPM 632 Human Resource Management in Public, Nonprofit, and Health Organizations
- PPM 633 Strategic Planning in the Public and Nonprofit Sector
- PPM 636 Management Information Systems in the Public, Health, and Nonprofit Sectors
- PPM 641 Public Financial Management
Select an additional 3 credits:
- PPM 519 Communication Skills for Public Managers
- PPM 535 Managing in the Nonprofit Sector
- PPM 545 Grant Writing and Financial Management in the Nonprofit Organization
- PPM 622 Applied Policy Analysis
- PPM 637 Intergovernmental Relations
- PPM 639 Topics in Public and Nonprofit Management
Financial Management
Required course:
- PPM 640 Public Budgeting and Finance
Select 9 credits:
- PPM 513 Law and Public Policy
- PPM 545 Grant Writing and Financial Management in the Nonprofit Organization
- PPM 603 Advanced Research Methods
- PPM 630 Organizational Dynamics
- PPM 634 Managing the American City
- PPM 641 Financial Management in Nonprofit Organizations
- PPM 642 Public Financing and Budgeting II
- PPM 649 Applied Research in Finance
- CPD 656 Development Finance
- HPM 634 Health Care Finance I (2 credits)
- LAW 616 State and Local Government
Other Required Courses
- PPM 696 Field Experience
- PPM 699 Capstone
Field Experience
A three-credit field experience is required for pre-service students with little or no prior experience in public or nonprofit organizations. Faculty and staff work with managers and policy makers throughout the region to develop meaningful opportunities. PPM students may also complete their PPM field experience requirement within the Muskie School Research Institutes as long as the assignment is related to professional level experience. Incoming students will be screened by the Admissions Committee as to whether a field experience is required. If the Admissions Committee recommends that a field experience is not required, the student and the Academic Standing Committee will be notified and the student will be given the opportunity to formally petition for a waiver of the field experience requirement from Academic Standing. All PPM students are required to complete and submit a Field Experience Waiver Form by the end of their first semester of enrollment as a matriculated student in the PPM Program. This form will indicate whether or not they intend to petition to waive or complete the Field Experience requirement. In no case shall field experience be waived except by approval of a petition submitted by a student to the Academic Standing Committee. A waiver of the field experience requirement does not reduce the number of credits otherwise required to receive the degree.
Capstone Project
A three-credit capstone project is required for all students. The capstone project experience is intended to integrate educational and applied learning from all program courses, and should be taken in the final year of study, just prior to graduation. Students are required to obtain faculty approval and signature to register for PPM 699 Capstone (whether individual or group experience).
Electives
Beyond the core and track requirements, students take six credits of electives of their choice which may include further courses from the tracks, the beginnings of a certificate, or another combination of courses.
