Our MPA students build the skills to change the world.

The Master of Public Affairs (MPA) at the Watson Institute is an exciting one-year program. The program begins in June and concludes the following May. Students will develop the analytic, communication, and strategic leadership skills they need to tackle societal challenges. 

MPA students can expect a rigorous and well-rounded curriculum, but also the flexibility to ensure they graduate with the knowledge and experience needed to succeed in their careers. Students can choose from faculty-driven policy specializations, or they create their own, benefiting from our diverse faculty and access to a multitude of Brown graduate offerings.  

Unique to the MPA program is an emphasis on global policy — a two-week trip to an international site is a required component of the program. We are the only program in the country to integrate an international policy experience into our core curriculum. Students meet with elected officials, entrepreneurs, and lawmakers to see policy up close.

We also require a 12-week “Policy in Action” consultancy in the spring. This consultancy, coupled with elective coursework in a policy specialization, provides all our students with the opportunity to develop the ideas, knowledge, and skills needed to make a difference.