The Gender, Leadership and Public Policy (GLPP) track of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program prepares students to take on leadership roles in government and nonprofit organizations. This specialization of the MPA combines courses from two existing programs in the McCormack Graduate School for Policy and Global Studies: the traditional MPA program and the graduate certificate program in Gender, Leadership and Public Policy (formerly known as the Program for Women in Politics and Public Policy).
In the first year of the Gender, Leadership, and Public Policy track of the MPA students take six courses as a cohort in the Gender, Leadership and Public Policy certificate program. In year two of the track, students join the traditional MPA cohort for two summer courses and two courses each during the second fall and spring semester. As most students are employed full-time, the program operates on an evening and weekend schedule.
In the first year, the academic program focuses on political structures and processes, the effects of public policies on women, women’s influence in politics, and the formulation and implementation of public policy. The role of gender, race/ethnicity, and class in politics and policymaking is central to the program’s design, goals, and curriculum. Students complete an internship related to their career goals. Courses in the Gender, Leadership, and Public Policy (GLPP) track are grouped into the following areas:
- Women in American Politics and Contemporary Policy Issues
- Organizational Leadership
- Research Methods
MPA courses in year two focus on public administration, management, and analytical skills. Students research a topic of their choosing for their capstone project. Courses in the Master of Public Administration curriculum are grouped into the following areas:
- Public management, organizational behavior, public budgeting, and financial management.
- Analytical, quantitative, and qualitative skills for policy makers and managers
