An MPP Built on Human Dignity and the Common Good
Study public policy in the heart of Washington, DC, where Catholic Social Teaching meets technical, data-driven training.
Who the MPP Program Is For
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You Want Data-Driven, Applied Policy Training
Build technical skills like machine learning and impact evaluation, alongside a values-driven policy education.
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You're Early in Your Public Policy Career
Whether you're straight out of undergrad or already working in policy, our program meets you where you are.
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You Want a Close-Knit Community
With a small, close-knit cohort and a Catholic identity at its core, you'll be known here, not just enrolled.
Why Students Choose the Catholic University MPP
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The only program of its kind in DC: CUA's MPP is the only graduate public policy program in the Washington, DC area that puts human flourishing and the common good at the center of its curriculum.
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Real, applied skills training: Beyond policy theory, dedicated 1-credit courses build practical skills like grant writing, public speaking, and social media engagement.
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A capstone built around your goals: Choose an internship-based capstone or a faculty-guided research project, both culminating in a paper and a formal presentation.
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Scholarships available to admitted students: Merit scholarships are awarded automatically upon acceptance to both domestic and international students; no extra application is required.
to complete the degree
to customize your degree
from a dedicated faculty advisor
Frequently Asked Questions
Family and Social Policy, Science and Technology Policy, Development and Sustainability Policy, National Security and Intelligence Policy, Advanced Policy Analysis, and Health Policy. Health Policy was developed jointly with CUA's Conway School of Nursing.
You'll choose between an internship-based capstone or a faculty-guided research project, both ending in a paper and a formal presentation to a faculty panel.
Yes. Merit scholarships are awarded automatically upon acceptance for both domestic and international students. Additional funding, like the Froehlich Scholarship, is available by application.
CUA's MPP offers rolling admission, so you can apply and start at multiple points throughout the academic year.
It's explicitly grounded in Catholic Social Teaching and centered on human dignity and the common good, while still offering the technical, data-driven training (such as machine learning and impact evaluation) that many values-driven programs don't provide.