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Whether you are accelerating your career in public policy or boosting your professional qualifications, the Hobby School of Public Affairs graduate programs offer interdisciplinary coursework, blending social sciences, critical thinking and qualitative and quantitative analysis to support creative, solutions-oriented public policy to work for the world. The Hobby School is one of 16 colleges and schools at UH offering graduate-level degrees and programs.

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree, graduate dual degree programs and accelerated pathway programs (4+1 undergraduate/graduate programs), and graduate certificate programs educate students in advanced quantitative and qualitative analyses for placement in many areas of the public, private and nonprofit sectors leading to higher level analytic and decision-making positions. In addition, graduates are also prepared to enter a Ph.D. program with a quantitative emphasis.

Dual Degrees and Graduate Certificate Programs

The dual degrees provide enhanced interdisciplinary study, combining public policy with such areas as economics, law, social work, psychology, business and a UH Honors College option.

The six graduate certificate programs in data analytics, energy policy, ethics, health care policy, public policy and public administration address professional development opportunities to add credible academic credentials to your qualifications, increase your marketability and increase your career options.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

Graduates can expect to secure employment with federal, state and local governments; educational institutions, nonprofit organizations and private corporations. The types of positions that graduates obtain include:

• Policy Analysts
• Statisticians
• Research Associates
• Public Relations Specialists
• Financial Advisor
• Chief of Staff
• Grant Writer
• Journalist
• Program Manager
• Program Director

The average starting salary of a MPP graduate will vary greatly by sector, geography and work experience. For example, entry-level policy analysts average over $50,000, and executive positions can earn over $100,000.

Recent employers of Hobby School MPP alumni include the following:

• Air Alliance Houston
• American International Group Inc.
• British Consulate General Houston
• CHILDREN AT RISK
• Drug Enforcement Agency
• Environmental Defense Fund
• Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management
• Harris County Budget Management
• Harris County Public Health
• Harris County District Attorney's Office
• Houston-Galveston Area Council
• Institute for Human Rights and Business
• Invesco
• Texas Legislative Budget Board
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation
• Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Office of Texas State Representative Mary Gonzalez
• Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research
• Texas Civil Rights Project
• Texana Center
• United Healthcare
• U.S. Department of Commerce
• U.S. Federal Trade Commission

Mission Statement for the Hobby School's Master of Public Policy Program

The University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs Master of Public Policy will actively prepare graduates for professions by providing a leading-edge education encompassing policy and political analysis, ethics, quantitative analysis, and the development and implementation of leadership skills with a focus on real-world solutions. Students will be prepared through in-class education and meaningful experiential learning opportunities in the diverse city of Houston and beyond. Our students will demonstrate integrity, cross-disciplinary competence, strong communication skills, and a commitment to diversity.