UCF is the first university in the State University System to offer a graduate program in public policy, which emphasizes policy research and evaluation and prepares graduates for careers as policy analysts and managers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. The Master of Public Policy program debuts next fall.
The new curriculum will help students develop skills in policy analysis, program evaluation and quantitative methods, as well as study a range of policy domains including energy, health, urban, housing and global policy.
UCF Downtown provides an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in policy analysis and evaluation through interactions with nearby government agencies and nonprofits.
Florida is the third largest state in population but academic programs that focus on the importance of policy analysis and evaluation are limited. With an increased need for public-service leaders who are well-versed in program evaluation and policy analysis, UCF’s Master of Public Policy will contribute to filling that void.
“The interdisciplinary nature of this program prepares graduates to address the most pressing policy issues for the State of Florida and across the globe,” says Naim Kapucu, a Pegasus professor and director of the School of Public Administration.
Ranked as one of the top 100 public administration graduate schools by U.S. News & World Report, the School of Public Administration also offers an 18-credit hour graduate certificate in public policy.
The research-centered program is offered at UCF Downtown, and Abdul-Akeem Sadiq, director of the public policy graduate program and associate professor in the School of Public Administration, says the location provides an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in policy analysis and evaluation through interactions with nearby government agencies and nonprofits.
