Mission

Rooted in the values of a liberal arts education, our mission is to train thoughtful and versatile professionals who can tackle today’s and tomorrow’s most pressing social challenges, from climate change and public health to education equity and economic justice.

What sets our M.A. in Applied Policy Analysis apart is its unique integration of two worlds that are too often kept separate: data analytics and public policy. Although many programs focus on technical data skills or policy theory alone, the interdisciplinary nature of our program bridges the gap by equipping students with the analytical tools to interpret complex data and the policy expertise to apply those insights where they matter most. This rare combination means that students will not just learn how to run the numbers but also learn how to ask the right questions, design effective solutions, and communicate the findings to a wide audience. It’s a program built for those who want to use data not just to understand problems, but to solve them.

At its core, the curriculum blends subject-specific topics with foundational training in causal inference, data ethics, data management, and data visualization. Students learn to collect, analyze, and communicate data in ways that support inclusive evidence-based decision making in a variety of real-world contexts, equipping them to turn complex information into clear and actionable insights that can be effectively communicated across professional, institutional, and public landscapes.

It is our goal to train and prepare students for a wide variety of employment opportunities and help them to confidently enter any situation in which rigorous data analysis is needed. No matter if you are a recent graduate looking to build a meaningful career or an early- or mid-level professional ready to sharpen your skills and expand your impact, the M.A. in Applied Policy Analysis offers a flexible, career-focused pathway to advancement. Designed with both current and returning students in mind, students will receive specialized training in policy content areas with the opportunity to pursue their individual subject-specific interests.

Driven by a commitment to social justice and interdisciplinary learning, this program equips graduates not only to understand policy problems, but also to help solve them, with integrity, creativity, and purpose.

Program Timeline

The program can be completed in two years, but students have up to five years to complete the degree requirements. The pace at which you progress is determined by the number of credits you take per semester. Courses are offered in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.