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Our PPA Programs: An Introduction
Our Graduate Programs
The Capital Campus’s graduate programs in Public Policy and Administration prepare future leaders to address the complex issues that face California. We serve the State and the region by developing leaders with strong analytical tools and a deep commitment to public service.
The department of Public Policy and Administration offers two distinct graduate programs alongside multiple certificates in conjunction with other campus organizations.
- Master of Public Policy and Administration
- Master of Science in Urban Land Development
These highly affordable programs combine training in policy analysis/research (e.g. cost-benefit analysis, criteria-alternative matrix, regression analysis, etc.), political assessment (e.g., agenda setting) and organizational skills (e.g., strategic management).
Master of Public Policy & Administration
The Master of Public Policy and Administration is an interdisciplinary program designed to equip its graduates with conceptual, analytic, and problem-solving skills and experiences enabling them to deal with public sector policy and administrative issues, problems, and opportunities.
The Sacramento State program differs from other similar programs in that it focuses on California state and local levels of government. This attractive feature is facilitated by the proximity of the Sacramento State campus to the main operations of the California state government. The proximity offers significant advantages to students in the program, providing them with a ready "laboratory" for observing the policy and administrative issues they will confront professionally and for gaining experience alongside existing practitioners in public policy and administration. In particular, the program’s internship feature is greatly strengthened by the placements available in California state government, local government and related organizations.
The program’s curricular design and scheduling of courses allow students to complete the program in four semesters if enrolled full-time. In addition, part-time students may complete the program under a five- or six-semester schedule. Classes are scheduled in the late afternoon and evening hours to accommodate the scheduling interests of students who are employed in the daytime or who have other obligations that require evening schedules. While most of our classes are offered on campus, some of our classes are located in downtown Sacramento (about six blocks from the State Capitol).
The Master of Public Policy and Administration program requires a minimum of 36 units. Students may enroll full time or part time. Full time students can expect to complete all degree requirements in about two years; part time students can expect to complete degree requirements in about three years. Normally most of our classes are offered in downtown Sacramento (about six blocks from the State Capitol), some of our classes are offered on the main campus.
Our program is distinguished in a number of ways, including the following.
- It combines training in policy analysis/research (e.g. cost-benefit analysis, criteria-alternative matrix, regression analysis, etc.) and political assessment (e.g., agenda setting) and organizational skills (e.g., strategic management).
- Taking advantage of our proximity to the main operations of California state government, it focuses on the state and local policy and administrative arenas.
- It caters to the working professional, with courses offered at night and the flexibility to enroll as either a full-tim or part-time student.
- It benefits from a strong alumni network, with graduates placed in numerous state agencies, local government agencies, non-profit organizations, and elsewhere.
Successes in MPPA
Read select MPPA alumni profiles or review the MPPA alumni roster. Their past work is collected in our Culminating Project Bank.
Former Capital Fellows and the MPPA
The Center for California Studies administers the Capital Fellows programs. Fellows are normally presumed to be strong candidates for admission to the MPPA program. Former fellows may waive the internship requirement and substitute the six MPPA elective units with six Capital Fellows seminar units if they complete both the fellows program and the MPPA program within the seven year time limit. The seven year time limit is a CSU requirement enforced by the Office of Graduate Studies.
Master of Science in Urban Land Development (No New Applicants)
The Department of Public Policy and Administration offers the Master of Science in Urban Land Development. This program brings together the private and public aspects of real estate development and helps students develop skills related to land development in metropolitan areas. Our interdisciplinary program covers all major aspects of the development process including design, feasibility analysis, land use regulation, market and location analysis, and negotiation. Our graduates bridge the gap between professional training in fields such as city planning and public policy, and business administration. Graduates learn to understand the constraints and incentives faced by both the private and public sectors when making land use recommendations and decisions.
The Master of Science in Urban Land Development program requires 33 semester units of graduate study beyond the baccalaureate degree, depending upon the extent of the student's prior academic preparation. Because the foundation courses provide an academic background of knowledge necessary in the required and elective courses, students with the appropriate background could have the foundation courses waived.
Our program is distinguished in a number of ways, including the following.
- It draws upon business finance, real estate, public policy, and public administration professors to offer the Master’s student both a private and public sector prospective on urban land development (something that is essential for the successful practice of this undertaking in California).
MSULD Successes
Read select MSULD alumni profiles or review the MSULD alumni roster. Their past work is collected in our Culminating Project Bank.
Certificates in Public Policy & Administration
Collaborative Governance Certificate
This certificate is available to graduate students at matriculated Sacramento State in the MPPA and MSULD programs.
To be eligible, students must be 1) currently matriculated MPPA or MSULD students, 2) have successfully completed PPA 200 and PPA 210, and 3) successfully completed the two Collaborative Governance Courses: PPA 270 Collaborative Policy and PPA 272 Collaborative Governance Advanced Practice. Open University students are not eligible. The Collaborative Governance courses can simultaneously fulfill MPPA and MSULD elective requirements.
In the final semester of Collaborative Governance certificate classes, students must file the following paperwork for the certificate to be awarded. Due dates are listed on the forms and Department approval signatures are required.
Judicial Administration certificate
This certificate is offered through the College for Continuing Education in partnership with the Department of Public Policy and Administration.
Applied Policy & Governance certificates
These certificates are awarded to Capital Fellows in the Executive Fellowship Program and the Judicial Administration Fellowship Program at the conclusion of their fellowship.
Apply to One of Our Programs
Students are only admitted in the fall, and that the priority application period is October 1 through December 1. We continue to accept applications through the regular deadline of March 1. (The deadline will be the following business day if it falls on a weekend of holiday.)
- Fall 2022 admission cycle: October 1, 2021 - March 1, 2022
- Fall 2022 priority admission closes: December 1, 2021
- We do not have spring admissions.
Important: Applications to the MSULD program have been suspended for Fall 2022.
Also: The GRE is not a requirement for 2022 admission, and we will not look at it even if done.
Find Out More
Prospective Student Listserv
Prospective students can stay in the loop by joining our Prospective Student Listserv. The messages we send include application deadlines, information and recruitment sessions, and Department social events (for networking!).
Visit a Grad Class
Want to see what happens in a PPA graduate class? Professor Rob Wassmer welcomes prospective students to visit his Fall 2020 Zoom classroom starting in September to see what it's all about.
All Fall 2020 classes at Sacramento State have migrated to an online format. Physically visiting a class is not possible at this time.