Program in Public Policy and Urban Development College of Arts and Sciences Stony Brook University, State University of New York

Top Research University Awards M.A. in Public Policy

Stony Brook University is a public research university located on the North Shore of Long Island, New York. Founded in 1957, it was formerly known as the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook and is considered the flagship campus of the SUNY system.

One of the nation's 63 leading research universities in the invitation-only American Association of Universities (AAU), Stony Brook University is recognized for its notable scientific discoveries, world-class research facilities, Nobel Prize winning faculty, and diverse student body. "U.S. News and World Report" consistently ranks the graduate programs at Stony Brook University among the top in the nation. In addition, "Fiske College Guide" and other college guides have named Stony Brook University as a "best buy."

The Master of Arts in Public Policy (M.P.A.A.) program at Stony Brook University is situated within one of the nation's leading political science departments, ranked among the top 5 in research and publications.

Master of Arts in Public Policy Overview

The Master of Arts in Public Policy (M.A.P.P.) degree program at Stony Brook University prepares students to assume a broad range of leadership positions in the expanding field of public policy. These include staff and managerial roles in executive, legislative, or judicial agencies at local, state, national, and international levels; public policy journalism; work in candidate campaigns; advocacy roles within civic organizations, non-profit or government agencies, and the private sector; and advanced graduate study.

Students pursuing the M.A.P.P. degree at Stony Brook hold undergraduate degrees in a wide range of majors, including the arts and sciences; engineering and architecture; and health professions. Many already have experience in government or the professions and are seeking to enhance their skills and credentials.

The M.A.P.P. program's curriculum and course scheduling were developed specifically to accommodate candidates with a broad range of interests and experiences and to permit those already working in the public policy field to continue their careers while earning a graduate degree.

M.P.P.A. Program Curriculum

The M.A.P.P. degree program focuses on teaching advanced skills in political, economic, quantitative, and organizational analysis. With this foundation students build the knowledge required to work on complex public policy problems around education, the environment, healthcare, crime, gerontology, and immigration, to name a few.

Students taking specialized concentrations beyond the core curriculum apply for internships relating to their field of interest. An alternative to an internship can be a primary research project.

The program may be completed in a calendar year by full-time students and within 2 years by students who select a part-time schedule.

M.P.P.A. Course Work Entails 30 Credits

Students enrolled in the master's degree program in public policy take course work including required core courses (12 credits); advanced policy courses (9 credits); an optional policy concentration (3 credits recommended); and a capstone experience of either an internship or a research paper (6 credits).

Concentration options include regional planning, environmental politics and planning, health policy, or a concentration elective chosen by the student and approved by the program chair.

Combine Public Policy and Business for Joint Degree

Acknowledging the growing political and economic interdependence of the private and public sectors, Stony Brook University offers integrated graduate study to prepare students for public policy leadership responsibilities in national and international business settings.

Students may earn a combined degree -- master's in public policy/master of business administration -- to prepare them for careers in the public sector or in the private sector working in industries strongly influenced by government regulation and oversight.

The joint M.A.P.P./M.B.A. program combines public policy course work in the Department of Political Science with course work in the College of Business. The combined degree is more than 20 credits shorter than if both programs are taken independently.

Graduate Public Policy Program Faculty Members

Stony Brook's highly regarded Department of Political Science offers M.A.P.P. program students a superior instructional faculty. These faculty members include nationally recognized scholars and highly experienced public policy professionals.

M.A.P.P. program faculty members include Professor Leonie Huddy, with research interests in political attitudes, socio-political gerontology, and women in politics; Professor Lee Koppelman with research interests in regional and urban planning, environmental planning, and coastal zone planning and analysis; and Professor and Program Director Peter Salins with research interests in higher education policy, housing, economic development, and immigration.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition and fees at Stony Brook, set by the State University of New York, are considerably below those of comparable programs on Long Island and throughout the greater New York metropolitan area.

To apply for need-based aid, including student loans, students should complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Campus and Surroundings

Stony Brook University is situated on 1,362 suburban acres in Stony Brook, New York, on Long Island's North Shore -- about 60 miles east of Manhattan and 60 miles west of Montauk. The university's Research and Development Park is located on 246 acres adjacent to the main campus.

The main campus is divided into 3 distinct parts -- East Campus, West Campus, and South Campus. Residence halls are grouped into quads, with each quad named for a notable figure from New York State. Most of the residence quads are located on West Campus, including apartments for both graduates and undergraduates.

Stony Brook also has branch campuses in Manhattan and Southampton, on Long Island's east coast.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Master of Arts (MA)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 37
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? Not reported
• Evening/weekend programs available? Not reported
• Distance learning programs available? Not reported
• Terminal master's degree available? Not reported

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Not reported
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• AppliedNot Reported
• AcceptedNot Reported
• Acceptance RateNot Reported
• EnrolledNot Reported
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $100
• Application Fee - International $100
• Electronic applications accepted? Not Reported
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Not Reported
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's DegreesNot Reported
• Doctoral's DegreesNot Reported
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesNot Reported

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *$4,685
• Out-of-state tuition *$8,340
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year fees$994.00
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitNot Reported
• Application deadlines for financial awardsNot Reported
• Types of financial support availableNot Reported

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students61
• Female Percentage44%
• Male Percentage56%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students61
• Part-time Percentage31%
• Full-time Percentage69%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino7%
• Black / African American15%
• White / Caucasian45%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native0%
• Asian13%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races4%
• Unknown16%