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    Graduate Programs
    • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
    • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
    • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
    • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
    • PhD in Social Welfare
    • PhD in Urban Planning
    • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
    • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
    • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
    • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
    • PhD in Social Welfare
    • PhD in Urban Planning
    Undergraduate Programs
    • BA in Public Affairs
    • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
    • Minor in Gerontology
    • Minor in Public Affairs
    • BA in Public Affairs
    • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
    • Minor in Gerontology
    • Minor in Public Affairs
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    • Data Analytics Certificate
    • Data Analytics Certificate
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  • Research Centers
    • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL):

      Uses data visualization to improve decision-making for family and child services.

    • Berggruen Governance Index

      Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

    • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

      Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

    • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

      Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

    • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL):

      Uses data visualization to improve decision-making for family and child services.

    • Berggruen Governance Index

      Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

    • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

      Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

    • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

      Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

    • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

      A national leader in transportation policy and mobility research.

    • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

      Advances scholarship addressing displacement and dispossession in Los Angeles and beyond.

    • Latin American Cities Initiative

      Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

    • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

      Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

    • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

      A national leader in transportation policy and mobility research.

    • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

      Advances scholarship addressing displacement and dispossession in Los Angeles and beyond.

    • Latin American Cities Initiative

      Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

    • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

      Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

    • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

      Researches housing, transportation, and economic development in Southern California.

    • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

      Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

    • Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI)

      Focuses on environmental policy, clean energy, and climate justice.

    • UCLA Voting Rights Project

      The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

    • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

      Researches housing, transportation, and economic development in Southern California.

    • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

      Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

    • Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI)

      Focuses on environmental policy, clean energy, and climate justice.

    • UCLA Voting Rights Project

      The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

    All Research Centers
  • Outcomes
Public Policy

Master of Public Policy (MPP)

Develop analytical skills and policy expertise to tackle complex societal challenges through evidence-based decision making.
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  • For Our Students
  • Public Policy Home
  • Our Degrees
  • Admissions
  • Faculty
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
  • For Our Students
Slide for more
Duration
2-Year
Full-time
Degree
Master of Public Policy (MPP)
Cohort Size
~75 Students
Start Date
Fall Quarter

Program Overview

The UCLA Luskin Master of Public Policy (MPP) program prepares the next generation of policy leaders to address complex challenges through rigorous training in economics, quantitative methods, and policy analysis.

Our two-year program combines technical training with hands-on experience, equipping you with the analytical tools and practical skills needed to design, implement, and evaluate effective policies.

  • Top-ranked public policy program: #6 in social policy

  • Small cohort model with personalized attention

  • Access to UCLA’s vast interdisciplinary resources

  • Strong alumni network in government, consulting, and nonprofits

Luskin students sit around a table in the Luskin Commons smiling and talking with laptops on the table.

Curriculum

Program Course Requirements

The MPP program consists of twelve required courses (36 units) which must be taken in sequence as indicated on the Plan of Study. The remaining eleven courses (42 units) are policy-related electives. Students may use electives to build analytic skills through research methods, advanced statistics, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and applied GIS courses, to name a few. Students may also take courses in related substantive areas. Concentrations are optional.

Students enroll in PUB PLC 496 (4 units) internship course during the second year of the MPP program in the quarter they complete their hours of fieldwork. To meet program requirements, students must complete 78 graduate units with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Students must earn a letter grade of C or better to apply coursework towards the degree.

  • FALL – YEAR  1UNITSWINTER – YEAR  1UNITSSPRING – YEAR  1UNITS
    PUB PLC 201: Principles of

    Microeconomic Theory I

    4PUB PLC 204: Principles of

    Microeconomic Theory II

     

    4PUB PLC 202:  Politics & Policymaking4
    PUB PLC 203: Statistical

    Methods of Policy Analysis I

    4PUB PLC 208: Statistical

    Methods of Policy Analysis II

    4PUB PLC 210: Methods of Policy Analysis4
    Elective4Elective4Elective4
    Elective2Elective4
    Total Units Planned12Total Units Planned14Total Units Planned16
    FALL – YEAR  2UNITSWINTER – YEAR  2UNITSSPRING – YEAR  2UNITS
    PUB PLC 298A: Applied Policy Project I1PUB PLC 298B: Applied Policy Project II (IP)3PUB PLC 298D: Applied Policy Project IV1
    Elective4PUB PLC 298C: Applied  Policy Project III2PUB PLC 298E: Applied Policy Project IV1
    Elective4Elective4Elective4
    PUB PLC 496: Internship4Elective4Elective4
    Total Units Planned13Total Units Planned13Total Units Planned10*

    * Students may enroll in 10 units during their final quarter only if completing the program within normative time to degree.

Applied Planning Project

The Applied Policy Project gives UCLA Luskin MPP students the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world policy challenges. Working in teams with public agencies, nonprofit organizations and other community partners, students conduct research, analyze complex issues and develop evidence-based recommendations for clients. Recent projects have addressed critical issues such as housing affordability, climate resilience and healthcare access, providing students with hands-on experience solving the types of challenges they will encounter as future policy professionals.

International Exchange Programs

The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs offers graduate students opportunities to engage in global learning through international exchange programs, summer programs, internships, and comparative policy workshops. These experiences allow students to explore policy challenges across different political and cultural contexts.

  • The University of Tokyo is the most prestigious university in Japan. Its Graduate School of Public Policy–GraSSP–recently signed an exchange agreement with Luskin’s Department of Public Policy. Each year we are entitled to send up to three qualified MPP students to GraSPP during the fall quarter. GraSSP has its own distinguished faculty and also draws faculty from the university’s departments of economics, law, and political science. It offers courses in domestic policy areas as well as in international relations and the global economy. Important public officials from Japan and other countries regularly speak at GraSSP.

    Many GraSSP courses are taught in English. Some courses end before the holiday break in late December while a few others continue into January. Students will receive a list of courses that are taught in English and end before the break. GraSSP has a student advisor who can help with enrollment and housing. The Tokyo arrival date is TBA. The return to Los Angeles is required to be no later than January 6th, the day before winter classes begin.

    GraSSP is housed in a new building on the lovely Hongo campus. It is in one of the oldest parts of Tokyo, near Ueno Park. Downtown Tokyo is fifteen minutes away. Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is a dynamic and fascinating city with nearly ten million people. It combines traditional and post-modern cultures. There are numerous cultural institutions and an excellent system for public transport. Tokyo is a gateway to Asia.

    Exchange students will be enrolled in GraSPP’s international MPP program, the MPP/IP. Its students come from Japan and numerous other parts of the world. GraSSP is located in Japan, but it is a truly global school. It has exchange programs with thirteen other policy schools outside Japan. English is the common language of the MPP/IP program.

  • Initiated in 2011, the Luskin School reciprocal exchange program with the Hertie School in Berlin allows the exchange of up to three graduate students from each institution per year.  The period of exchange is normally in Fall Quarter/Semester. Credits and grades earned at the exchange institution are applied toward the degree requirements at the home institution. Exchange students under this agreement are accorded normal student privileges. Students pay tuition and fees at their home institution, although they will also need to purchase student health insurance at the exchange institution. Students are responsible for travel and living expenses incurred during the exchange program.

    Check the Hertie Course Catalogue and filter for the most recent Fall semesters to see the courses typically offered at Hertie in the Fall. The upcoming Fall Semester course list is not yet available, but reviewing the past offerings will provide insight into the potential courses that Luskin students may take at the Hertie School. 

    Instruction at the Hertie School is in English.

Why UCLA Luskin?

The UCLA Luskin Master of Public Policy program combines rigorous analytical training with the flexibility and interdisciplinary resources of one of the world’s leading public research universities. Students develop expertise in economics, quantitative methods, policy analysis and strategic decision-making while learning to address complex public challenges.

Through a small cohort model, close faculty mentorship and access to UCLA’s extensive academic resources, MPP students build the skills needed to design, implement and evaluate policies that create meaningful impact. The program’s interdisciplinary approach allows students to customize their education through cross-campus coursework, optional concentrations, certificate programs and joint degree opportunities with fields such as law, management, medicine, public health and social welfare.

Students also benefit from opportunities to engage with leading scholars, policymakers and practitioners working across government, nonprofits, research organizations and the private sector.

Common Areas of Concentration

An area of concentration allows MPP students to gain in-depth knowledge of a specific policy interest, all while building their portfolio to become competitive candidates in a particular policy sector upon graduation. It is not required for MPP students to pursue an area of interest.The MPP Area of Concentration handbook provides MPP students with guidance on the type of classes they can pursue under a particular area of concentration, as well as a full listing of the concentrations available.

Economic Policy

Analyze economic impacts and develop evidence-based solutions for fiscal, labor, and market policies

Education Policy

Transform educational systems and improve outcomes for all students

Environmental Policy

Tackle climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice challenges

Health Policy

Address healthcare access, quality, and affordability through innovative policy interventions

International Policy

Shape global development, human rights, and international relations policies

Nonprofit Leadership

Philanthropic strategic planning, organizational management, fundraising, and advocacy

Social Policy

Design policies to reduce inequality and improve social welfare outcomes

Technology Policy

Navigate the complex socio-economic, legal, and ethical dilemmas raised by rapid technological advancements

By The Numbers

Employment within 6 months
%
Average starting salary
$ K
Employer partners
+

Career Outcomes

UCLA Luskin MPP graduates pursue careers as policy leaders across a wide range of sectors, including government, nonprofits, research institutions and private organizations. The program prepares students to analyze complex challenges, develop evidence-based solutions and lead change in communities around the world.

Graduates have gone on to positions with:

  • Federal, state and local government agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Education, Homeland Security and Transportation, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), USAID and California state agencies
  • International organizations and nonprofits, including global development organizations and community-based groups
  • Research and policy institutions, including organizations focused on social policy, economics and public affairs
  • Private-sector organizations, including consulting firms and companies working at the intersection of business and public policy

Through a strong alumni network and connections across sectors, Luskin MPP graduates are equipped to pursue careers addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges.

Learn more about UCLA Luskin

Find contact information and get answers to your questions.

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Academics
Departments
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Undergraduate Program
  • Urban Planning
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Undergraduate Program
  • Urban Planning
Graduate Programs
  • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
  • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
  • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
  • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
  • PhD in Social Welfare
  • PhD in Urban Planning
  • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
  • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
  • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
  • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
  • PhD in Social Welfare
  • PhD in Urban Planning
Undergraduate Programs
  • BA in Public Affairs
  • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
  • Minor in Gerontology
  • Minor in Public Affairs
  • BA in Public Affairs
  • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
  • Minor in Gerontology
  • Minor in Public Affairs
Professional Certificates
  • Data Analytics Certificate
  • Data Analytics Certificate
Admissions
Program Specific Admissions
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
  • Undergraduate Program
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
  • Undergraduate Program
Faculty
Our Faculty
  • All Faculty
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
  • All Faculty
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
Leadership
  • Our Dean
  • Board of Advisors
  • Faculty Executive Committee
  • Our Dean
  • Board of Advisors
  • Faculty Executive Committee
Research Centers
  • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL):

    Uses data visualization to improve decision-making for family and child services.

  • Berggruen Governance Index

    Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

  • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

    Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

  • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

    Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

  • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL):

    Uses data visualization to improve decision-making for family and child services.

  • Berggruen Governance Index

    Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

  • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

    Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

  • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

    Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

  • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

    A national leader in transportation policy and mobility research.

  • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

    Advances scholarship addressing displacement and dispossession in Los Angeles and beyond.

  • Latin American Cities Initiative

    Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

  • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

    Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

  • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

    A national leader in transportation policy and mobility research.

  • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

    Advances scholarship addressing displacement and dispossession in Los Angeles and beyond.

  • Latin American Cities Initiative

    Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

  • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

    Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

  • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

    Researches housing, transportation, and economic development in Southern California.

  • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

    Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

  • Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI)

    Focuses on environmental policy, clean energy, and climate justice.

  • UCLA Voting Rights Project

    The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

  • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

    Researches housing, transportation, and economic development in Southern California.

  • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

    Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

  • Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI)

    Focuses on environmental policy, clean energy, and climate justice.

  • UCLA Voting Rights Project

    The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

All Research Centers
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