Core Coursework (21 Credits)

The core curriculum builds the analytical foundation every MPP student needs, regardless of their policy specialization. Seven required courses develop your quantitative skills, deepen your understanding of how governments and organizations work, and ground your analysis in the social and political realities that shape policy outcomes.

The Toolbox - Quantitative and Empirical Methods - 6 credits

Everything we do in the MPP is grounded in evidence. Before you can evaluate a policy, advocate for a change, or advise a decision-maker, you need to know how to work with data — how to describe it, analyze it, test hypotheses, and communicate what it means. This two-course sequence builds that foundation. Whether you take it through Economics, Political Science, or Sociology, you will graduate with the quantitative skills to do rigorous, credible policy analysis in any professional setting.

Economics
ECON 508: Statistics and Introduction to Econometrics I
ECON 509: Econometrics I

Political Science
POLS 581: Statistics for Social Research
POLS 681: Advanced Statistical Analysis for Social Science Research

Sociology
SOC 581: Advanced Social Statistics I
SOC 582: Advanced Social Statistics II

The Analysis - Economic Analysis of Public Policy - 3 credits

Public policy is ultimately about deciding when and how government should act. ECON 350 gives you the economic framework to make that judgment — examining when markets fail to deliver efficient or equitable outcomes and what policy tools work best in response. From healthcare to education to environmental regulation, this course builds the analytical lens you'll use throughout your career as a policy professional.

ECON 350: Public Economics

The Inner Workings - Organizational Behavior - 3 credits

Policy doesn't implement itself. Even the best analysis fails if the organizations charged with carrying it out can't function effectively. PADM 521 gives you the management and organizational theory you need to work inside public agencies, nonprofits, and healthcare systems — and to understand why change is hard, why institutions resist it, and how skilled policy professionals navigate that reality. The concept of "wicked problems" — challenges too complex and contested for simple solutions — is at the heart of what public policy is all about, and this course gives you tools for addressing them strategically.

Public Administration
PADM 521: Institutional Development and Behavior

Sociology
SOC 595: Special Topics in Sociology (when offered as Organizational Behavior)

The Big Picture - The Political Context - 3 credits

Policy analysis without political context is just math. Understanding how American political institutions work — how legislation gets made, how interest groups shape outcomes, how public opinion interacts with policy decisions — is essential to doing policy work that is realistic and actionable. POLS 510 and POLS 570 give you that foundation, grounding your analytical skills in the political environment where policy actually lives. You will leave these courses understanding not just what good policy looks like, but what it takes to get it adopted.

POLS 510: Pro-Seminar in American Government and Politics

POLS 570: Pro-Seminar in Public Policy

The People - Public Policy and Diversity - 3 credits

Effective policy analysis requires understanding who is affected by policy decisions — and how race, class, gender, and identity shape both the problems people face and their access to solutions. At UNM, that learning happens in one of the most demographically and culturally rich environments in the country. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution located in a majority-minority state with deep Native, Hispanic, and immigrant communities, UNM offers a context for this coursework that few programs can match. Several courses across our departments fulfill this requirement, allowing you to tailor your study to the populations and policy areas most relevant to your work.

Political Science
POLS 511: Research Seminar in American Politics and Government (when topic is relevant to diversity)

Public Administration
PADM 526: Diversity in the Public Sector

Sociology
SOC 520: Racial and Ethnic Relations
SOC 595: Special Topics in Sociology (diversity topics)

Making Every Dollar Count - Financial Management - 3 credits

Sound policy requires sound financial management. PADM 544 gives you the budgeting and financial analysis skills to understand how public resources are allocated, controlled, and reported — and what those decisions mean for the programs and communities you serve. From managing public funds to setting organizational priorities, this course ensures you can follow the money, which is often the most important thing a policy professional can do.

PADM 544: Public Budgeting