School of Public Policy

Executive Master of Public Policy

The Executive Master of Public Policy (EMPP) at Oregon State University is designed for mid-career professionals with 5+ years in the public and nonprofit sectors who are interested in moving up in their positions or who are looking to transition from the private sector to a career in public service. Students can move through the program at their own pace and all coursework is available online through OSU Ecampus. The EMPP is a 45-credit (quarter) program with interdisciplinary core coursework, five policy concentrations, and a final Applied Policy Capstone Project. For more information, please contact Hilary Boudet, Public Policy Graduate Program Director 

• Public Policy Graduate Program Handbook
• Admissions Information
• Mission and Learning Outcomes
• Example Capstone Projects
• Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (full-time)
• Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (part-time)
• Satisfactory Academic Progress Form

Graduate Certificates (all offered via distance education)

• OSU Graduate Certificate in Energy Policy (18 credits)
• OSU Graduate Certificate in Rural Policy (18 credits)
• OSU Graduate Certificate in Forests and Climate Change (19 credits)
• OSU Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science (GIScience; 19 credits)
• OSU Graduate Certificate in Public Health (20 credits)
• OSU Graduate Certificate in Marine Resource Management (18 credits)
• OSU Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Natural Resources (18 credits)
• OSU Graduate Certificate in Urban Forestry (18 credits)
• OSU Graduate Certificate in Water Conflict Management and Transformation (18 credits)
• OSU Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics (18 credits)
• PSU Graduate Certificate in Collaborative Governance (16 credits)

Applied Policy Capstone Project (4 credits)

An Applied Policy Capstone Project is required of all EMPP students (PPOL 501). The capstone project will focus on a policy issue/problem of relevance to the student’s current position or a policy area where the student has career or public service aspirations. Capstone projects will be judged on how well the following five goals are addressed:

1. Illustrates an in-depth, detailed, and nuanced understanding of a specific issue, topic or question in the field.
2. Illustrates an awareness of the theoretical issues and arguments raised and discussed in the literature on the subject.
3. Expresses the ideas, concepts, and arguments advanced in the paper with precision and rigor.
4. Enlarges the reader's understanding of the issue and topic.
5. Proposes policy recommendations to address the issue/problem.

The Capstone project should strive to be equivalent in content, sophistication and technical expertise to a publishable paper in a respected scholarly journal. The project can be on any subject in public policy, as agreed upon by the student’s committee. There are no limitations or preferences for a particular theoretical or methodological approach. 

Oral Examination

A final oral examination is required of all master's candidates. The examination is intended to test the candidate's ability to integrate and interpret material in the major and supporting fields with emphasis on the work presented in the Capstone Project.  It is permissible for the student and/or committee members to participate in the oral examination from a remote location.