About the Program

Designed for mid-career professionals in the public, private and non-profit sectors, the MPA curriculum focuses on economic analysis, management, strategic thinking, ethical leadership, and negotiations. Students enjoy personal attention in small classes, and join a network of professionals and executives leading the charge to shape government, business and non-profits. 

Classes are taught by top faculty, researchers and practitioners who are on the leading edge of today's most pressing public policy issues: climate change, energy, education, poverty, and the political process.

The centerpiece of the program is a ten-week summer suite of classes offered in the intimate setting of the Goldman School, the top-ranked public policy analysis school in the United States, which can be completed in one summer, or split over two consecutive summers*.​

During the fall and spring semesters, students complete the program by taking courses in-person or online. 

Applying the skills of policy analysis and leadership learned throughout the program, students complete a Capstone Project of their own design. 

The collaborative structure of the MPA program facilitates a space for sharing of expertise and worldviews that not only enriches the academic experience, but also forges bonds that make your network as deep as it is wide.

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Admissions

Admission to the University

Minimum Requirements for Admission

The following minimum requirements apply to all graduate programs and will be verified by the Graduate Division:

1. A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;
2. A grade point average of B or better (3.0);
3. If the applicant comes from a country or political entity (e.g., Quebec) where English is not the official language, adequate proficiency in English to do graduate work, as evidenced by a TOEFL score of at least 90 on the iBT test, 570 on the paper-and-pencil test, or an IELTS Band score of at least 7 (note that individual programs may set higher levels for any of these); and
4. Sufficient undergraduate training to do graduate work in the given field.

Applicants Who Already Hold a Graduate Degree

The Graduate Council views academic degrees not as vocational training certificates, but as evidence of broad training in research methods, independent study, and articulation of learning. Therefore, applicants who already have academic graduate degrees should be able to pursue new subject matter at an advanced level without need to enroll in a related or similar graduate program.

Programs may consider students for an additional academic master’s or professional master’s degree only if the additional degree is in a distinctly different field.

Applicants admitted to a doctoral program that requires a master’s degree to be earned at Berkeley as a prerequisite (even though the applicant already has a master’s degree from another institution in the same or a closely allied field of study) will be permitted to undertake the second master’s degree, despite the overlap in field.

The Graduate Division will admit students for a second doctoral degree only if they meet the following guidelines:

1. Applicants with doctoral degrees may be admitted for an additional doctoral degree only if that degree program is in a general area of knowledge distinctly different from the field in which they earned their original degree. For example, a physics PhD could be admitted to a doctoral degree program in music or history; however, a student with a doctoral degree in mathematics would not be permitted to add a PhD in statistics.
2. Applicants who hold the PhD degree may be admitted to a professional doctorate or professional master’s degree program if there is no duplication of training involved.

Applicants may apply only to one single degree program or one concurrent degree program per admission cycle.

Required Documents for Applications

Please click here for our application requirements.

Admission to the Program

Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume

We are interested in learning about your work and experiential background. Please upload your most current resume or curriculum vitae. If applicable, please also include honors, awards, publications, presentations, languages spoken, and associations you belong to. The admissions committee prefers to receive chronological resumes of 1-2 pages in length.

Essays

Applicants are required to complete two essays.

Statement of Purpose

Our essay question was created to provoke honest, thoughtful responses to help us get to know you. The admissions committee is interested in learning how your professional or other experiences and achievements equip you and motivate you to enroll in the Berkeley MPA. We are especially interested in understanding both your experience in leading, innovating with, inspiring, or managing other people, and your capacity to take full advantage of an intensive, fast-paced degree program.

You should describe what policy/public service issue(s) you are passionate about that motivates you to make an impact on the world. How have these interests shaped your short-and long-term career goals, and how will the Berkeley MPA enable you to build on your prior professional experience and achieve these goals?

Personal History Statement

The personal statement should give concrete evidence of your promise as a member of the academic community, giving the admissions committee an image of you as a person.

This is also where you represent your potential to bring to your academic career a critical perspective rooted in a non-traditional educational background, or your understanding of the experiences of groups historically under-represented in higher education and your commitment to increase participation by a diverse population in higher education.

Two Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation provide the admissions committee with third party, qualitative accounts of your potential for leadership and management.  

We strongly prefer that both letters of recommendation come from a current direct supervisor, former direct supervisor, or other individuals with whom you have had significant professional interaction. Please select individuals who know you well and who will take the time to write thorough and thoughtful letters on your behalf. The title or status of those you select is not important. What does matter is how closely your letter writers have worked with you and whether they can attest to your value as an employee, your professional accomplishments, and your personal qualities. We have found the most helpful letters to be recent, relevant, and written specifically for this application. We discourage letters of recommendation from co-workers, subordinates, family, friends, or professors.

You should obtain one of the recommendations from your current direct supervisor. If you do not provide a letter from your current direct supervisor, you are required to include an explanation in the Supplementary Data section of the online application.

You are responsible for ensuring that both required recommendations are submitted prior to the application deadline.

When completing the online application, you will enter the email address of your recommender and click the appropriate box to have the recommender complete an online recommendation. Your recommender receives an automated email with instructions to log in to the online recommendation form.  

We require two letters of recommendation. However, you may submit up to three if you like. The online application will prompt you for three letters of recommendation.  However, if you are only submitting the required two, just enter your own name into the third space.

GMAT or GRE Exam (optional)

GRE Scores are not required but may help you to demonstrate skills otherwise not present in your application.  If you wish to submit them, they can be either current or expired.

Master's Degree Requirements

To obtain the MPA degree students complete eight core classes, one capstone, and two or more electives, for a total of 27 units. Three-quarters of the courses are in the core curriculum, which emphasizes leadership skills, strategic thinking and multidisciplinary analysis.

During the fall and spring semesters, candidates may complete the program in residence at the Goldman School or by taking courses online.

During the Summer Core, MPA students will take seven required 2-unit courses taken in person and taught on the Berkeley campus. 

Course List

Code	Title	Units
PUB AFF 201	Confronting Public Policy Challenges	2
PUB AFF W202	Policy Analysis Toolkit Course	3
PUB AFF 215	Economics for Public Policy Makers	2
PUB AFF 245	Inferential Statistics for Policy Makers	2
PUB AFF 265	Financial Management and Budgeting	2
PUB AFF 283	Leading People and Organizations	2
PUB AFF 285	Ethical Issues for Policy Leaders	2
PUB AFF 287	Innovation, Strategy and Leadership: Making Change in Public Organizations.	2

Courses

Public Affairs

Faculty and Instructors

Faculty

Daniel J. Acland, Assistant Adjunct Professor. Benefit-Cost Analysis, Behavioral Economics, Behavior Change, Public Health.
Research Profile

Sarah F. Anzia, Assistant Professor. Elections, Government, Politics, State and Local Politics and Policy, Public Sector Unions, Women in Politics, Public Employee Pensions.
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Henry Brady, Professor. Comparative politics, public policy, electoral politics, political participation, survey research, program evaluation, statistical methods in the social sciences, social welfare policy, Soviet Union, inequality in America.
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Jennifer L. Bussell, Assistant Professor. Africa, comparative politics, Latin America, public policy & organization, South Asia.
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Alain de Janvry, Professor. Agriculture, Poverty & Inequality, Rural Development, Quantitative Analysis of Development Policies, Impact Analysis of Social Programs, Technological Innovations in Agriculture, Management of Common Property Resources.
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Sean Farhang, Associate Professor. Law and Political Science, Law and Politics, Courts, Regulation.
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Avi Feller, Assistant Professor. Program Evaluation, Quantitative Methods.
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Lee Friedman, Professor. Economic Organization, Environmental Markets, School Finance, Utility Regulation, Environment, Regulation, Public Finance.
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Alexander Gelber, Assistant Professor. Economic Policy, Labor and Employment, Public Finance, Tax Policy, Social Security, Family Policy.
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Jack Glaser, Associate Professor. Political Psychology, Stereotyping, Prejudice & Discrimination, Research Methods, Social Psychology, Hate Crime, Unconscious Social Cognition, Racial Profiling, Policing.
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Jennifer M. Granholm, Adjunct Professor. Law, Energy, Renewable and Clean Energy, Labor and Employment, Politics, Economics of Industry, Manufacturing and Job Markets.
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Hilary Hoynes, Professor. Tax Policy, Labor and Employment, Youth and Families, Government.
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Solomon Hsiang, Associate Professor. Agriculture, Climate Change, Environment, International, Coupled Natural and Human Systems, Political Economy, Development Economics, Applied Econometrics.
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Rucker Johnson, Associate Professor. Poverty and Inequality, Social Welfare, Labor and Employment, Urban Economics.
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Daniel Kammen, Professor. Climate Change, Engineering, Environment, Energy, Renewable and Clean Energy, Energy Forecasting, Health and Environment, International R&D Policy, Race and Gender, Rural Resource Management.
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David Kirp, Professor. Children, Youth and Families, Education, Race & Ethnicity, Law, Politics, Ethics, Early Childhood Education, Higher Education, Community.
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Amy E. Lerman, Associate Professor. Politics, Criminal Justice, Privatization, Public Opinion, American Bureaucracy, Political Behavior.
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Jane Mauldon, Associate Professor. Demography, Children, Youth and Families, Program Evaluation, Race & Ethnicity, Quantitative Methods, Social Welfare, Health, Poverty.
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Stephen M. Maurer, Adjunct Professor. Homeland Security, Innovation Intellectual Property, Open Source, and Innovation, WMD Terrorism, Biosecurity, Phramaceutical Innovation, Database policy.
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Michael Nacht, Professor. US National Security Policy and International Relations, Science, Technology and Public Policy, Management Strategies for Complex Organizations.
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Janet Napolitano, Professor. Education, Leadership and Management, Politics.
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Michael O'Hare, Professor. Arts Policy, Quantitative Methods, Environment, Public Management.
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Steven Raphael, Professor. Labor and Employment, Race & Ethnicity, Criminal Justice, Quantitative Methods, Economic Policy, Program Evaluation, Housing & Urban Policy, Immigration, Poverty & Inequality, Discrimination, Employment Discrimination, Labor Economics, Racial Inequality, Urban Economics.
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Robert Reich, Professor. Industrial Policy, Labor and Employment, Leadership and Management, Politics, Poverty, Inequality, Leadership and Social Change, Macroeconomic Policy, Social and Economic Policy.
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Larry A. Rosenthal, Assistant Adjunct Professor. Housing and Urban Policy, Law, Land Use, Civic Engagement.
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Jesse Rothstein, Professor. Tax Policy, Economic Policy, Education, Labor and Employment, Program Evaluation, Public Finance, Quantitative Methods.
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Richard M. Scheffler, Professor. Health Policy and Health Economics, Competition and Regulation in Health Insurance Markets, The ACA and Covered California, Accountable Care Organizations and Market Power, Organization and Financing of Mental Health Services, Social Capital and Health, Global Health Workforce, Pay for Performance in the US and Around the Globe.
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Janelle Scott, Associate Professor. Advocacy Politics, Educational Equity, Policy Analysis & Evaluation, Politics of Education, Privatization, Qualitative Methods, Education, Race & Policy, Urban Leadership, Urban Schooling.
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Jennifer Skeem, Professor. Criminal Justice, Health Policy, Children, Youth and Families, Psychology and Law, Risk Reduction, Mental Health.
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Lecturers

Mia Bird, Lecturer. Economic Demography, Criminal Justice Policy, Social Welfare Policy.
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Hector Cardenas, Lecturer. US-Mexico Binational Policy, Data Driven Decision Making, Information Technology Strategy, Public Sector Operations, Regulatory Reform, Criminal Justice Reform.
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Brent Copen, Lecturer.
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Timothy M. Dayonot, Lecturer. Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict Resolution, Legislative Advocacy, Government Management.
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John Decker, Lecturer.
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Daniel Heimpel, Lecturer. Children, Youth and Families, Journalism and Media.
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Saru Jayaraman, Lecturer. Food Policy.
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Dan Lindheim, Lecturer. Housing and Urban Policy, Budget, Finance, Labor and Employment, Poverty and Inequality, City Management, Education Finance & Policy, Police and Criminal Justice, Public Employee Pensions, Public Health.
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Larry Magid, Lecturer. Politics, Transportation Policy, Energy Policy, Strategic Communications.
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Sudha Shetty, Lecturer. International Leadership and International Public Policy, Violence Against Women, International Child Abduction.
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Amy Slater, Lecturer. Negotiation, Conflict Resolution.
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Steven Weissman, Lecturer. Energy, Renewable and Clean Energy, Law, Environment.
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Visiting Faculty

Michael Flaherman, Visiting Scholar. Budget/FinancePublic Employee Pensions.
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Peter H. Schuck, Professor. Torts and Compensation Systems, Immigration, Citizenship and Refugee Policy, Administrative Law and Regulatory Policy,.
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Emeritus Faculty

Eugene Bardach, Professor Emeritus. Leadership and Management, Implementation, Mental Health, Political Skill, Social Regulation.
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Robert M. Berdahl, Professor Emeritus.

John Ellwood, Professor Emeritus. Financial Management, Public Sector Budgeting.
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Michael W. Hanemann, Professor Emeritus. Environment, Water Management, Environment and Resource Economics.
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Arnold Meltsner, Professor Emeritus.

Allan Sindler, Professor Emeritus.
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Eugene Smolensky, Professor Emeritus. Poverty and Inequality, Public Finance, Income Distribution, Public Finance Welfare Reform.
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