McCourt School Offers New Executive-Level Policy Degree

The McCourt School of Public Policy this fall will offer a new graduate degree- the Executive Master of Policy Leadership (EMPL). The EMPL program will develop and enhance students’ leadership skills and knowledge to address public policy issues and problems.

The EMPL program is an advanced degree for experienced policy professionals, designed to help them hone and enhance their leadership skills in the policymaking arena. Through classes like Economic Analysis for Executives, Policy & Program Evaluation, Public Budgeting & Financial Management, and Negotiation & Conflict Management, the degree will address executive-level skills required for today’s policy professionals.

Specifically, the curriculum is designed with attention to many of the Executive Core Qualifications for the Senior Executive Service, identified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

“The EMPL curriculum is based on real-life work in the public policy community,” said McCourt School Dean Edward Montgomery. “Graduates of our EMPL program will leave the McCourt School with practical skills to perform better at their jobs from day one.”

An employer based, cohort model program, the EMPL is offered to employers who want to sponsor a cohort of students in an advanced policy leadership degree. Individual enrollment is not available at this time though we do hope to launch such a program by fall 2015.

Students in the Executive Master of Policy Leadership typically take ten classes (30 credits) over an 18-month period. The standard delivery consists of ten in-person, intensive week-long courses with some online work, assignments, and reading taking place in between meetings. However, depending on the needs and profiles of the sponsoring organization and students, alternative deliveries of the courses can be arranged. Employers can also customize the elective curriculum.

Learn more about the EMPL program.