Master’s in Public Policy: All about it

Whenever we have Elections, social media, TV, the internet and newspapers are abuzz with the political campaigns of various political parties. The media makes sure they feed you the praiseworthy updates related to their campaigns and public policies they will float in case they come to power.

Amidst all this hullaballoo, you sometimes feel you want to become a part of the administration or work directly with the policymakers. If you are fond of formulating new policies and researching, you could have a rewarding career in Public Policy. Let us discuss everything about a Master’s in Public Policy in this article.

What is a Master’s in Public Policy?

A Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) is a master’s level public policy program that provides courses and training in policy analysis, program evaluation and program formulation.

This program equips students with the necessary skills to understand political, social, and economic issues from various perspectives in the country and the world. They give you many parameters to gauge policies on a broader spectrum and frame and assess policies to address public issues.

Public policy scholars plan the smooth and efficient governance of the state. They assist with everything from allocation of crores of a sum to the Defense expenditure to placing traffic lights to sanitation drives to vaccination drives to education expenditure, and more.

The study of Public Policy will help you critically analyse the working of the state bodies and government and help in ensuring efficient policy formulation and control.

Let me clarify with an example:

There was a need for building toilets in millions of schools in our country. This is because many girls suffered from diseases, and some even dropped out once they started menstruating. The citizens may have always felt that toilets are needed, but ultimately the public policy planners had to create such as a policy to address this issue.

Hence, identification of the need for a policy, creation of a policy beneficial to people at large, and finding ways to distribute the service under the policy in question – all of this comes under the purview of Public Policy.

What Will You Study in Master’s in Public Policy?

This programme aims to groom future public leaders and policymakers with the competence to perform efficiently and formulate the best public policies. You develop quantitative as well as qualitative analytical skills. You also get a lot of exposure to the real-world policy planning and policy-making process and hones your managerial skills.

To give you a more comprehensive understanding of India’s public affairs, during this course, you will study about the following:

• Law

• Governance

• Statistical and Data Analysis

• Economics of Public Policy

• Qualitative Research

• Public Policy Process

• Socio-Cultural Theory in Public Policy

• Political Philosophy

• Policy Analysis

• Policy Assessment in the Global Scenario

You would require to be a graduate in any field to pursue a master’s course in Public Policy. However, this course is usually opted for by the students of Political Science, Public Administration, Economics, Statistics, or other Humanities background. Some universities also require you to have work experience in the government sector and various research organisations.

Difference between Public Policy and Public Administration

Though both seem to be overlapping, there is a difference between them and their curriculum. Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) programs train you in policy analysis, whereas Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) programs train you in program implementation.

MPP programs emphasise more on policy research, analysis and evaluation. On the other hand, MPA programs emphasise on design and implementation of effective programs.

Let me explain this to you with the help of an example. If there is a rise of dengue cases in Delhi, the Public Policymakers need to design new policies for the prevention of dengue, but the Public Administrators shall implement the policies and execute the programs such as spraying of pesticides and launching awareness programmes.

Sure, there is a lot of overlap in the coursework and subjects. Recognising this, a few universities now offer combined degrees, such as Master of Public Policy and Administration or Master of Public Administration and Policy.

What Do Public Policy Makers Do?

After you finish your masters programme, you will be able to perform in complex policy planning environments effectively. This course will equip you with interdisciplinary acumen to address contemporary and complex political, economic, and social issues comprehensively and comprehensively.

Some of the essential duties and functions of a Public Policy Maker are as follows:

• Identifying issues in problematic areas.

• Exploring various areas for developing good policies.

• Creating novel policies to address problems plaguing society.

• Evaluating the existing policies and government programs.

• Analysing the current government policies.

• Assessing the impact of government policies.

• Lobbying or Convincing the decision-makers.

• Monitoring various changes in public policies.

• Monitoring public policy impact.

• Performing market research

Scope of Public Policy

There is a demand for experts in public policy in research organisations, the public sector, non-profit organisations, international organisations, consulting firms, and the government. A few areas where you can work after graduating in Public Policy are as follows:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• United Nations

• Education Sector

• Government and PSUs

• Research and Development

• Think Tanks

• Private Sector

• Management

• Consulting

• Healthcare

• NGOs

• Manufacturing/Construction Sector

If you want to work for society, the local community, or the nation, a career in public policy is your right choice.