McCourt School of Public Policy
McCourt School of Public Policy

EMPL Curriculum

The Executive Master of Policy Leadership is a 30-credit, interdisciplinary degree program that weaves economics and political science with public policy and administration. The Executive Master of Policy Leadership curriculum is divided into seven core courses, a policy capstone project and two electives. It can be completed on a standard (15 months) or extended (three years) schedule.

Type of DegreeFormatLength
Master’s DegreeOn-Campus, Standard15 months
Master’s DegreeOn-Campus, Extended3 years

Executive Master of Policy Leadership Program Format

Our two format options were built to accommodate your preferred balance of career advancement with academic pursuit. In-person courses take place one week at a time, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Most students choose to combine vacation days and professional development leave to accommodate this schedule. Students completing the standard curriculum schedule can complete the degree in four semesters, including summer, while students completing the extended curriculum take nine semesters to complete.

Standard EMPL Curriculum Schedule

The standard Executive Master of Policy Leadership curriculum lasts 15 months. Students take a one-week in-person course every six to eight weeks.

Year 1

SemesterDatesCourseCredits
SummerJune 6 – 7, 2025McCourt Foundations Course0
–June 9 – 13, 2025The Politics of Policymaking3
–July 28 – August 1, 2025Strategic Management of Policy Reform3
FallSeptember 15 – 19, 2025Decision Making for Executives3
–November 3 – 7, 2025Budgeting and Financial Management3
–December 15 – 19, 2025Economic Analysis for Executives3
SpringJanuary 26 – 30, 2026Program Evaluation for Executives3
–March 2 – 26, 2026Elective3
–April 20 – 24, 2026Ethical Issues in Policymaking3

Year 2

SemesterDatesCourseCredits
SummerJune 22 – 26, 2026Elective3
–August 3 –  7, 2026Capstone Policy Project3

Extended EMPL Curriculum Schedule

The extended curriculum for the Executive Master of Policy Leadership occurs over the course of three years. Students take a one-week in-person course approximately 1-2 times a semester, including summers.

Year 1

SemesterDatesCourseCredits
SummerJune 6 –  7, 2025McCourt Foundation Course0
–June 9 – 13, 2025The Politics of Policymaking3
–July 28 – August 1, 2025Strategic Management of Policy Reform3
FallDecember 15 – 19, 2025Economic Analysis for Executives3
SpringJanuary 26 – 30,2026Program Evaluation for Executives3

Year 2

SemesterDatesCourseCredits
SummerJune 22 – 26, 2026Elective3
FallSeptember 14 – 18, 2026Decision Making for Executives3
SpringApril 19 – 23, 2027Ethical Issues in Policymaking3

Year 3

SemesterDatesCourseCredits
SummerJune 21 – 25, 2027Elective3
–August 2 – 6, 2027Capstone3
FallNovember 1 – 5, 2027Budgeting and Financial Management3

EMPL Core Courses 

All students are required to take these seven core courses to complete the Executive Master of Policy Leadership.

Georgetown Course Catalog

EMPL Capstone Project

Students extend their knowledge gained in the classroom to an applied policy project that integrates analytic, management, and advocacy considerations to address a specific public policy issue in their current workplace or within a policy organization of their choosing.

Electives 

Students will select two electives for the Executive Master of Policy Leadership coursework. Elective offerings are subject to change each semester. This is a selection of relevant policy electives previously offered.

Georgetown Course Catalog

McCourt’s Foundational Skill Set

McCourt’s Curriculum Innovation Committee has developed a set of core competencies based on extensive research and outreach for all of our degree programs. By integrating these core competencies across our academic offerings, all McCourt students graduate with these foundational skills:

  1. Collaboration
  2. Critical Thinking
  3. Economic Analysis
  4. Engaging with Bias
  5. Ethical Leadership and Management
  6. Evaluation
  7. Policy Analysis
  8. Political Analysis
  9. Quantitative Reasoning
  10. Strategic Communication
McCourt’s Foundational Skill Set