Core curriculum
The Master of Public Policy is a two-year professional master's program that combines rigorous academic study with a paid summer internship and student leadership opportunities.
In your first year, you’ll take seven core half-courses and one elective half-course for a total of four full-course equivalents. In your second year, you’ll take four core half-courses and four half-course electives, for a total of four full-course equivalents. MPP students may complete one of three (3) areas of emphasis as part of their second-year of studies. Students are evaluated through a combination of examinations, term papers, and group projects, as appropriate to each individual course. Courses are offered once a year.
Microeconomics prep course
The microeconomics prep course introduces students to key policy-relevant concepts, terms and analysis, in preparation of the Microeconomics for Policy Analysis (PPG1002H) course. It is offered in the summer before year 1, and is taught as a mix of asynchronous videos, online quizzes and synchronous sessions with the instructor.
Math-Statistics prep course
The MPP program provides students with a strong foundation in quantitative research. In the summer before Year 1, you will take a mandatory math-statistics prep course, which will review the mathematical tools required for the first-year courses in quantitative methods and economics.
Year One core courses
- Governance, Institutions and Public Policy
- Microeconomics for Policy Analysis
- Macroeconomics for Policy Analysis
- Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis
- Social Context of Policy Making
- Implementation of Program Evaluation
- Strategic Policy Implementation
- Elective credit (0.5) from either Sustainability in the World: A Living Lab Course or Decision Making and Strategic Thinking
Summer internship
During the summer between Year 1 and Year 2, we connect you with top-tier employers within the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, with whom you will complete a mandatory paid summer internship. The internship is worth 1 full course, and requires you to write a research report under the supervision of a faculty member.
Year Two courses
- Politics and the Policy Process
- Topics in Applied Economics for Public Policy
- Capstone Course: Integrating Issues in Public Policy
- Choose: 0.5 elective credit from either Ethics and the Public Interest or Moral Foundations of Public Policy
- Choose: 0.5 elective credit from either Comparative Public Policy or an alternate international/global focus course as approved by the MPP program director
- Choose: 1.5 elective credits, of which one elective must be a public policy & governance course and the remaining courses may be taken with other University of Toronto graduate units
- Second year MPP students can choose from a wide variety of elective courses.
- MPP students may complete one of three (3) areas of emphasis as part of their secondyear of studies. The completion of a particular emphasis will be recognized on your transcript at graduation.