Both the Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) and the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Urban Affairs prepare individuals for leadership roles in government, nonprofit organizations, or business.

The Public Policy degree is appropriate for students who want to focus on the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policy at any level of government, federal, state, or local. Students receive in-depth training in the quantitative aspects of public policy analysis with a strong focus on how to develop a program and how to determine if it is having an impact.

The Urban Affairs degree is a multidisciplinary program that provides students the opportunity to study the forces that shape cities, their neighborhoods, and the problems that urban areas face. It provides students with a better understanding of the complex factors that affect service delivery in urban neighborhoods and how to work in this environment. It is appropriate for students more interested in program implementation, especially in the area of community development.

Full-time students normally complete their respective degree programs in two years. Part-time students generally complete the program in three years depending on the number of courses they choose to take each semester. Both programs require 37 hours of coursework: 11 three-credit courses, plus a four-credit internship or capstone practicum class.

Full-time students normally complete their respective degree program in two years. Part-time students generally complete the program in three years depending on the number of courses they choose to take each semester. Both programs require 37 hours of coursework: 11 three-credit courses, plus a four-credit internship or capstone practicum class.

All required courses are offered in the late afternoon or evening.  Some electives are offered by other departments and may be offered only during daytime hours.  All required courses are taught at the Lake Shore Campus.  Electives in several of the professional schools, such as Social Work or Education, are taught at the Water Tower Campus.

You may transfer up to 6 credit hours from another graduate program in a related discipline. Courses considered for transfer credit should have been taken within the past five years. The Public Policy Program Director must approve of the transfer credits and will decide how to apply the credits to the degree requirements.

For tuition information, please see http://www.luc.edu/bursar/tuition_2012_2013/graduate_as.shtml.

The program can offer very limited financial assistance.  Most students finance their education through student loans or outside employment.  For information on financial aid, see http://www.luc.edu/gradschool/FundingGrad.Education.shtml.

Graduate housing at Loyola University Chicago is available only in Baumhart Hall, located on our Water Tower campus. For more information on graduate student housing, please see http://www.luc.edu/reslife/prospective/.

We look for a combined score of 1000 or higher on the verbal and quantitative sections of the old Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or a combined score of 310 on the revised GRE. Don’t be discouraged from applying to the program if your score is not high. The GRE is required, but it is only one criterion among several used in our admissions decisions. Grade point average, letters of recommendation, and the statement of purpose are also very important parts of the application and will be considered during the admissions decision process.

To coordinate a campus visit or request more information, please contact muapp@luc.edu.