Earn your Public Policy master's degree in one year

You already know how you want to make an impact. You just need the skills to level up, and you don't want to put your career on hold to do it.

We've got you covered.

If you have three years or more of relevant professional experience*, our Master of Science in Public Policy and Management: Fast Track program provides the same degree in problem-solving and evidence-based decision making as our traditional master's degree, but in an accelerated format. In this one-year, full-time, professional graduate degree program, students work with industry clients on real-world problems via Capstone Projects, bringing theory into practice. Core instruction in finance, economics, analytics and management combine with experiential classes and policy concentrations to equip you with the ability to implement policy at any level, across any industry.

With a degree from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College, you will come out ready to use your skills to lead meaningful change.

*Certain criteria—including service work and military service—can exempt the professional experience requirement. See our Admissions website for more details.

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Duration: 16 months / 3 semesters (Fall, Spring, Fall)

Admissions Requirements

My Story: Emily

Emily Wazlak is from Queens, New York. She came to Heinz College after building experience in a Washington, D.C., policy office. Now, her platform helps female entrepreneurs.

FAST TRACK CURRICULUM

For detailed curriculum information, please visit the MSPPM Program Handbook.

public policy and management: Fast Track sample schedule

Below is one possible schedule for our Master of Science in Public Policy and Management: Fast Track program. Actual schedules will vary depending on pathway, concentrations, and electives.

Class titles in bold are core courses. Heinz College offers a mix of full-semester (14 weeks) and half-semester courses (7 weeks) for core and elective courses.

FIRST SEMESTER (FALL)

Statistical Reasoning with R
Applied Economic Analysis
Organizational Design and Implementation*
Writing for Public Policy*
Strategic Presentation Skills*
Poverty, Inequality and Social Politics

SECOND SEMESTER (SPRING)

Management Science
Policy & Politics: American or International Perspective
Financial Analysis*
Database Management*
Telling Stories with Data*
Evidence-Based Management*
Policy Innovation Lab: Public Interest Technology*

--OPTIONAL SUMMER INTERNSHIP--

THIRD SEMESTER (FALL)

Public Policy Capstone Project
Policy Analysis in Practice
Geographic Information Systems
U.S. Energy and Climate Policy*
Program Evaluation

*Half-semester courses

Public Policy and Management Tracks

Compare all four Public Policy and Management options at a glance

This program is offered in four distinct modalities—Pittsburgh (Two-Year), Data Analytics, Washington D.C., and Fast Track (Three-Semester). Compare all four and choose the path that best suits your mission.

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YOUR WORK MATTERS