Neither can be neglected. In our curriculum, we do not stress quantitative techniques over qualitative analysis, nor do we stress policy analysis over public management. Instead, we encourage learning in each of these areas. With the curriculum as a foundation, Columbia Executive MPA students are in an excellent position to develop and advance as professionals and organizational leaders. The program achieves its objectives through a three-pronged curriculum of core, context, and concentration courses.
Core courses provide the essential tools of public management and policy analysis.
Context courses enable students to gain a deeper perspective on the governmental, political, historical, social, and economic context of public policy. Finally, analytic concentration courses allow students to advance their knowledge of sophisticated management and analytic techniques. An important element of our approach is the emphasis on the real world. Most of our faculty members have served in government, the nonprofit sector, or in the parts of the private sector that deal with government. Many have worked in all three sectors.