Online Master’s Degree in Public Policy

An Online Master’s Degree in Public Policy allows the recipient to pursue a broad spectrum of careers in government. One of the most important functions of any governing body is to enact public policy, establish laws, determine economic priorities, and set regulatory measures. With an online master’s in public policy, students can work at the local, state or federal level to influence decision making for residents of a specific area, as well as pursue a wide assortment of other opportunities.

Online Master’s Degrees in Public Policy Requirements

There are several key skills that are necessary to obtaining an online master’s in public policy at one of the best online colleges. Most important of these skills is the ability to analyze a situation and determine the appropriate approach to resolve any public policy issues. Another important skill is management in both personal time and with any group of government employees. Finally, it is important to have leadership skills to act as an effective and trusted government employee.

Many students will have a bachelor’s degree in one of the following prior to beginning an online masters degree in public policy program:

• Public Administration
• Speech
• Pre-Law
• Criminal Justice

The best online master’s programs in public policy will also frequently accept applicants serving in a related career field such as a police officer, politician or paralegal.

Online Public Policy Master’s Degree Education

Good online master’s degree programs in Public Policy typically take between 2 to 3 years to complete. The types of Public Policy degrees offered by the best Public Policy master’s programs online include:

• Master of Science in Public Policy (MS in Public Policy)
• Master of Arts in Public Policy (MA in Public Policy)

Information on Public Policy Courses

Top online masters programs in public policy focus on leadership and research while implementing a strong course load in international studies to prepare students for international relations at the state and federal level. Courses students can expect include:

• International Security
  International security courses include a historical perspective on international security concerns like terrorism and war.
• US Constitution
  Accredited online masters degrees in public policy also often include a course on the US Constitution and the document’s importance to United States law and policy.
• Global Environmental Politics
  This course emphasizes the importance to understand the environment as a political and policy matter. Global environmental politics focuses on the management of resources in the environment and environmental policy, primarily as it relates to major governing bodies such as the European Union.
• Business, Government and Society
  A good online master’s in public policy recognize the importance of business in politics and its influence on society with this course. Business, government and society relates leadership in politics to leadership within corporations. This course also examines the impact of social values and ethics on modern businesses and government.

Specializations and Concentrations

Because public policy is a broad field, in order to become an expert in a specific niche, some online master’s students will pursue specialties or concentrations in areas including:

• Nonprofit Organization Policy
• Public Management
• Public Policy Analysis
• Financial Management
• International Policy
• Education Policy
• Social Policy
• Health Policy

Careers in Public Policy

Most careers in public policy involve intensive research or being elected to office to represent the people. Other possibilities include:

• Political Scientist
  A political scientist is a professional that studies the origins and development of political systems. Some of the broad areas of study performed in this career can include the relationship between the United States and other countries and the study of election results. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a political scientist in 2009 was $101,050.
• Lobbyist
  With an online master’s in public policy, you can pursue a career as a lobbyist. Lobbyists are primarily responsible for influencing politicians on behalf of organizations or social interest groups. A lobbyist’s salary depends entirely on the group that they are working for. However, the average 2009 salary for a lobbyist was $96,933.
• Conservationist
  Around 68% of conservationists are employed by local, state or federal governments. With online master’s degrees in public policy, you can obtain a career as a researcher or teacher in conservation. The projected employment growth in conservation is expected to reach a 12% increase over the next 8 years. Conservationists can expect to earn around $58,720 per year.
• Policy Analyst
  A policy analyst will study statistics and surveys to determine effective ways to implement policies for special interest groups. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a policy analyst is $40,000 to $60,000.
• Politician
  People that hold a public policy master’s degree online can also pursue a career as a politician where they act as leaders of local, state and federal government bodies. Politicians are elected by residents of their area and can act as positions such as governors and mayors. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the salary of a politician can range from $71,000 to $160,000 based on the position that they hold.

For those graduating with a master’s degree in public policy, career opportunities can be plentiful, with much room for advancement