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Leaders grounded in service
We are America’s first graduate public service training program and among its most prominent—respected for the excellence of our faculty, our grounding in social science research and quantitative analysis, the real-world policy issues woven throughout our curriculum, and the careers of leadership and impact forged by our alumni.
Our curriculum is rigorous, relevant, interdisciplinary, and hands-on. We train students with a broad range of interests for a wide variety of jobs, equipping them with a toolbox of research, analytical, and management skills that are highly transferable across sectors and issue areas.
For prospective students, please use this calendar to schedule appointments with our admissions team. You may also sign up to chat with current Ford School students and Graduate Admissions Assistants.
Quick facts
MPP | Dual Degree | Joint PhD | Online MPA | MPA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Degree | Two-year Master of Public Policy degree for a professional career in the public, private, and non-profit sectors | Dual-master's degree with other U-M schools and departments including law, business, education, and others | A PhD program that combines public policy studies with disciplinary work in economics, political science, or sociology | Transform your leadership and drive change with the Ford School's Online MPA – a flexible, accessible, and hands-on degree for busy, working professionals | 9-month, mid-career Master of Public Affairs degree for experienced professionals with at least five years of policy-relevant work experience |
Core credits | 24.5 | Varies | Varies | 24 | 16.5 |
Elective credits | 23.5 | Varies | Varies | 6 | 13.5 |
Total credits | 48 | Varies | Varies | 30 | 30 |
Applied learning requirement | Required internship, between 1st and 2nd years | Required internship, summer following the first year of MPP coursework | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Number of students matriculated | 110 | Varies, but often up to 30% of the MPP cohort | 6 | N/A – new program | Varies, up to 25 |