The Field

The UMass Amherst School of Public Policy has world-class faculty who prepare students to solve problems for the common good and become leaders in public service. SPP has been named among the most innovative public service programs in the United States by the independent group Best Value Schools and received the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration's (NASPAA) inaugural Social Equity Award in recognition of its commitment to teaching, research, and service aimed at advancing social justice and social change.

As a public policy major, you will explore the big problems facing our world and learn how to take action to solve them. You will learn about problems from multiple perspectives, how the policy process shapes and reshapes policy solutions, and their implementation. At the core of this major is a focus on your ability to be a change agent.  Our students actively work on solutions to complex public problems.

The Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy is a liberal arts degree based in the social sciences that builds a strong foundation for a career in government, mission-driven nonprofit and social enterprises, and the private sector. As a Public Policy major, you will develop a deep appreciation for complexity in U.S. and international policy-making contexts through a multidisciplinary learning environment focused on understanding, analyzing, and crafting solutions to public problems. For students who want to develop their management skills, the Public Policy program provides public and nonprofit management courses to build students' capacity to lead mission-driven organizations and become leaders for change.  Our graduates are prepared to launch careers in the local, state, national, and international arenas or to pursue graduate education in law school, professional master's programs, and doctoral degree programs.