In
collaboration with the Leon & Sylvia Panetta
Institute, the Department of Health, Human Services & Public
Policy offers one of only two public policy graduate
degree programs in the CSU system (the other is offered
at CSU Sacramento). The CSUMB Master of Public Policy
program was designed to meet the 21 st century educational
needs of a range of potential students interested
in the policy making process including:
- Professionals from the public, non-profit, and private sectors who, frustrated by the disconnect between the needs of communities and the responses of public officials, are looking for graduate level training, and the credentials needed for greater professional involvement in local, regional and statewide policy development.
- Graduates of bachelors degree programs, such as political science and community studies that emphasize community involvement, empowerment and social justice, who have worked for two or more years in a community-based organization and are looking for a small, innovative program focused on local community needs and collaborative action.
In 2003, the first MPP class of local professionals and community leaders began classes to develop their knowledge, skills and abilities in public policy analysis, development, implementation, and advocacy, and to gain access to advanced careers in public policy at the local, state, national and international levels. The program brings professionals from a variety of disciplines across campus and community agencies together to collaborate in delivering a program that connects theory and practice, by bridging the gap between service and policy in the real world. Through applied policy analysis research projects, students address public issues by developing new and innovative policies through evidence-based analysis, shared information, enhanced communication and collaboratively developed community-based policy goals and objectives.
Unique Program Development Process
In early 2002, HHSPP faculty and program development staff, in cooperation with the Leon and Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy, conducted a modified DELPHI survey of 150 public policy professionals from the central coast counties of Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito, the State of California, and Washington, D.C. to gather input for the program's development. We asked our respondents to:
- Identify the essential knowledge, skills and abilities our graduates would need for successful careers in the public policy arena.
- Rank order clustered "knowledge, skills and abilities" into core competency areas and prioritize their importance in today's public policy fields.
- Identify policy issues in the fields represented by their particular professional domains.
- List job position titles for graduates of an MPP program.
The resulting data were used to develop the thirteen public policy learning outcomes (PPLOs) for the curriculum. Responses also pointed to the need for a new educational model for public policy training to address issues of importance in 21st century policy analysis and development. These issues include economic inequity, culturally competent services and policy development for diverse communities, new ways to create stable funding for programs, new technologies for utilizing data systems, welfare reform, integrating public health programs into the private sector, the safety of children, affordable housing, regional government, public finance, and ethics in government. The resulting program addresses these issues through faculty- and student-initiated research, case study development, and applied policy analysis research projects which include advocacy, and evaluation, primarily at the local, regional and state levels.
To learn more about the MPP program see:
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