MPA students concentrating in Economic Policy explore ways in which public policy affects economic and financial decision-making, and vice versa. Students may study these policy issues at the level of international organizations, federal/state/local government, nongovernmental organizations, or the private sector.
Customize Your MPA
By choosing Cornell’s MPA program, you’ll have the choice from a few concentrations, pursuing a dual degree option, or adding a graduate certificate to your MPA coursework.
When you have the opportunity to craft the exact experience you need to pursue the career you want, you become a powerful force in public policy. There's no one-size-fits-all approach to graduate education—especially in public administration. Ready your résumé for your dream career and opportunities you may not see coming.
Concentration Options
MPA students may choose a concentration to develop expertise in a selected area of interest.
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MPA students concentrating in Environmental and Sustainable Policy tailor their courses to gain an understanding of current economic, social, political, technical, and legal issues regarding the restoration and management of our natural environment, as well as engineering, economic, and legal perspectives for analyzing and formulating policy at the national, subnational, and international levels.
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MPA students concentrating in Social Policy: Health, Education, and Inequality focus on human rights, which, although often assumed to be universal, remain controversial in domestic and world politics. Students study policies that support the expansion of human rights and the elimination of all forms of discrimination, such as those based on gender, race, class, religion, ethnicity, caste, sexual orientation, disability, or marital status both domestically and internationally, and work toward ensuring equal opportunities before the law and in society-at-large.
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MPA students concentrating in International Policy and Management are concerned with policy issues, policy formulation, and implementation in developing countries. This concentration helps students understand the broad and specific contexts in which international development decisions are made.
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MPA students concentrating in Public and Nonprofit Management tailor their studies for careers as general managers in the public sector or as leaders of domestic or international nonprofit organizations. In this concentration, students acquire a strong set of budgeting, investment, debt financing, and data-driven analytical skills as well as managerial skills including negotiations, leadership, staffing, and compensation skills.
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The Science and Technology Policy concentration is intended to assist MPA students in developing the knowledge and skills to work in policy/project analysis, project planning, implementation (including financing and construction), and operations in the areas of science, technology, and infrastructure policy. Students can approach the concentration from various perspectives, drawing on Cornell’s strengths in engineering, finance, planning, economics, environmental and resource management, policy analysis, and sustainability studies.
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MPA students in the Data Science concentration develop the capacity to apply advanced data science techniques to analyzing public affairs problems. In addition, these students gain a cutting-edge understanding of current challenges and opportunities surrounding data science in a public sector context, from government applications to ethical and privacy concerns.
Complementary and Dual Degree Programs
Cornell offers a complementary degree option and a dual degree option for competitive, driven MPA students looking to augment their MPA with an additional degree.
Complementary Program of Study
Applicants who wish to pursue a Cornell MBA, MPH, or JD along with their MPA degree may work out a complementary program of study if they apply to and are accepted by both programs. Brooks MPA Students may then apply up to twelve credits of the complementary professional degree program (MBA, MPH, or JD) toward their MPA. Applicants to the MPA Program who have already completed a Cornell MBA, MPH, or JD may apply up to twelve credits from their other degree program toward the MPA degree if these are appropriate for an MPA course of study.
Dual Degree Programs
A dual MPA/MHA program is available for students enrolled at the MPA Program and the Sloan Program in Health Administration. This option enables students to complete both degrees in three years while eliminating duplicate coursework. Students must apply and be accepted to both programs (admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other). The goal of this dual degree program is to enable students to combine training in public administration with training and management tools and their applications to health administration and of the organization of the health care sector, health policy and the tools of public health.
Graduate Certificate Programs
The Brooks MPA Program offers three graduate certificate programs. These certificate programs provide you with specific knowledge and tools for working in the respective area of study. The additional credentials that these certificates provide may offer you a competitive edge in your future careers. Courses that apply to your certification also apply toward your MPA degree requirements
- Environmental Finance and Impact Investing
- Infrastructure Project Management and Finance
- Systems Thinking and Leadership (STML) Certificate
