Master of International Public Policy and Management

Master of International Public Policy and Management

The International Public Policy and Management (MIPM) Master’s Program offers an accelerated and innovative degree for early to mid-career international & U.S. professionals interested in working within global settings.

The MIPM degree curriculum combines the development of analytical skills to inform and assess policy-making and managerial skills to implement programs and lead complex organizations. 

The curriculum consists of 32 units, typically completed in two academic years, but can be accelerated to 18 months.

Students complete 18 units of core courses and 14 units of electives chosen in an area of concentration. The concentrations can be focused on particular sectors (public finance, data analytics, health policy and management, environmental sustainability,  education policy, urban infrastructure management, transportation policy and planning, international economic development, and nonprofit management) or areas of skill development.

The MIPM Degree Program also organizes academic and professional enrichment activities such as:

  • opportunities to engage with international government officials and other distinguished professionals
  • seminars featuring student presentations, under the guidance of faculty mentors
  • career development and team-building activities, 
  • social and cultural activities that feature the countries represented by students in the program

MIPM offers an academic curriculum with a dual emphasis on public policy and management. Students can customize their educational objectives by selecting courses among various concentration areas offered by the Price School, including:

Concentrations for Professional and Career Development:

  • Public Management & Finance
  • Data Science & Analytical Methods
  • Public-Private Partnerships/Collaboration
  • International & Economic Development
  • Health Policy & Management
  • Housing Policy & Real Estate
  • Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Transportation Policy & Planning
  • Education Management & Policy
  • Communication & Media
  • Nonprofit Management/Social Innovation
  • Social Entrepreneurship

The MIPM degree requires students to complete a minimum of 32 units, including 18 units (5 core courses) and 14 units(course number varies) in an area of concentration chosen by the student. The concentration or specialization chosen by a student is then further developed in 4-5 elective courses, the design of relevant projects in core courses, and the completion of a master’s project. Listed below are the core courses and examples of the offered elective courses.

Core courses required for completion (18 units, 5 courses)

  • PPD 570 Applied Statistics for Planning Policy and Management (4 units)
  • PPD 571 International Public Policy and Management Seminar (4 units)
  • PPD 501a Economics for Policy, Planning and Development (2 units) 
  • PPD 542 Policy and Program Evaluation (4 units)
  • PPD 569 Applied International Policy Analysis and Management Project (4 units)

Electives (Select at least 14 units; availability varies by semester and includes courses from other USC schools) 

  • Students can select elective courses from MIPM, other programs in the Price School, and programs in other professional schools at USC as long as the course is relevant to the MIPM degree.
  • The number of units per course varies from 1 to 4 units.
  • Students typically take 4 or 5 elective courses depending on their concentrations and number of units per course.

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