MPAff

Program Contacts

Location

Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
The University of Texas at Austin
2300 Red River St.
Sid Richardson Hall, Unit 3
Austin, TX 78712-1536

Main Phone
512-471-3200

Overview

Mission Statement: The Master of Public Affairs (MPAff) program prepares leaders with the knowledge and skills to address critical public policy challenges in city, state, and federal government, private businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Drawing upon world-renowned multidisciplinary faculty, a global network of alumni, and the resources of The University of Texas, our graduates are uniquely qualified to shape 21st century public policy.

“We have a school of public affairs…which will try to produce thinkers and doers: people who dream of progress and will try to turn those dreams into achievements” – Lyndon B. Johnson

The Master of Public Affairs (MPAff) degree is the oldest and largest degree offered by the LBJ School. It was one of the first graduate degree programs to blend academic theory with practical experience. The founding principles of the School emphasize practical and interdisciplinary training of students. The School consciously chose the title of public affairs to address a broader audience of public servants, including those in elected office, special interest organizations, and government agencies.

Many, if not all, the health issues Dell Medical school educates its students on have substantial public policy implications. There is a great need to train physician-leaders who have expertise in health education, health policy and public affairs. This is critical given the changing landscape of the United States modern health care system. Medical and public affairs students will benefit greatly by the diverse perspectives and training each have received and are brought into the classroom.

The MD/MPAff dual degree will leverage each programs’ leadership and expertise in its respective fields to provide training in both health educations and public policy. The program will combine classroom theory and practical knowledge with hands-on connection to the medical field, for profit, non-profit and government sectors.

Through coursework, workshops, internships, and guest lectures, students will learn professional skills and concepts that will prepare them for a successful career. These include:

1. Leadership and ethics

2. Facility at working with diverse populations

3. Communication – writing, public speaking and presenting materials effectively

4. Negotiation skills

5. Decision making with varying levels of evidence

6. Research design and analytical approaches (quantitative and qualitative)

7. Problem solving

8. Managing people/human resources

9. Innovations in new analytic and management technologies

10. Performance measures and contracting

11. Project management

12. Budgeting/financial management/contracting

13. Teamwork and collaboration

14. Foundations of policymaking and history of public policy

15. Campaigning/swaying public opinion

Virtual Information Session

Click here to view the recorded information session delivered to MS1 students on March 1, 2021. (Click SSO (domain: utexas) and log in with your UT EID.)

Curriculum

Courses:

Common Core (6 courses)

• Introductory Empirical Methods

• Applied Microeconomics for Policy Analysis

• Policy Development

• Public Financial Management

• Public Management

• Communications

Flexible Core (2 courses)

Choice of 2 advanced courses from four areas: 1) economics, 2) empirical methods, 3) public financial management and 4) public management

Policy Research Project (1 course)

Research practicum carried out by a group of 10 to 15 students under faculty direction for a public policy client

Sample Schedule: 

The internship requirement is waived for MD/MPAff dual degree students. 

Degree Format

The MPAff degree program is typically delivered in an in-person format. 

Degree Requirements

The MPAff degree requires completion of 48 credit hours of coursework. Of the required credit hours, 27 hours are core coursework and 21 additional hours are self-selected electives. Students in the MD/MPAff dual-degree program can utilize various medical school courses noted in the DMS four-year curriculum under Leadership, Interprofessional Education, Multidisciplinary electives, to fulfill requirements for both degrees, thus decreasing the overall number of hours required to obtain the MPAff degree within the dual degree arrangement by 15 credit hours (for a total of 33 credit hours).  

Tuition and Fees

See the Tuition page for more information.

Application Instructions

This program is only for third-year Dell Medical School students who are accepted into the Public Affairs dual degree program. In order to apply for the MD/MPAff dual degree program, students must be in good academic standing at Dell Medical School.  

1. Please navigate to https://lbj.utexas.edu/mpaff-how-to-apply and follow the application instructions listed there.

2. MD/MPAff dual degree applicants are exempt from taking the GRE exam. Please email LBJAdmit@austin.utexas.edu with your EID when you have completed the application, so they can manually wave the GRE requirement as it appears in your ‘required documents’.

Orientation

When known, the orientation date will be listed in the DMS MS3 Academic calendar.

Graduation

See the Graduation page for more information.