Education Policy (M.P.P.)

Dive deep into policy decision-making and how those decisions influence today’s educational systems in a nationally recognized, top-ranked program that fosters knowledge of the social, economic, political, and historical contexts for education policy and practice.

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Master's in Education Policy Program Overview

Peabody's M.P.P. degree program follows a cohort-based model that enables you to share a common interest in education policy and form strong connections with fellow students. It is unique in its policy focus specifically on education, but the degree (compared to the M.Ed. degree) signals analytical and policy-analysis skills that are in high demand on the job market. An M.P.P. carries a high value within organizations that are thinking about large-scale changes.

Choose among three tracks that allow you to tailor your classes to meet your specific interests. These tracks provide an in-depth look at K-12 education policy, higher education policy, or quantitative analysis in education.

Joint degree programs are also available with both Vanderbilt Law School and the Owen Graduate School of Management.

 

Careers in Education Policy

Of job-seeking graduates, 92% were employed or attending graduate school within four months of graduation. Recent education policy career placements:

  • Associate Legislative Research Analyst, Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Nashville, Tennessee
  • Director of Policy, Texas Aspires, Austin, Texas
  • Director of School Partnerships, OneGoal, New York, New York
  • K-12 Data and Policy Analyst, Education Trust, Washington, D.C.
  • National Policy Associate, Centerstone, Nashville, Tennessee
  • School Governance Liaison, Atlanta Public Schools, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Vice President of Policy, Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Nashville, Tennessee
  • #1

    Best Education Policy Program, U.S. News & World Report 2025

Laura Moore

"My Peabody degree prepared me to be a critical consumer of research and data to inform the initiatives that we lead."

Laura Moore
M.P.P, Chief of Staff, Office of the CEO at Obama Foundation

Explore education policy, leadership and administration, and the right path for you.

M.P.P. Program Facts

Program Director: Jennifer Russell
Program Coordinator: Kashiri Favors
Admission Term: Fall
Credit Hours: 36

Application Deadlines

  • Priority Decision 1

    January 3*

  • Priority Decision 2

    February 3

  • Rolling Decision

    After February 3

*For more information on application dates and requirements, and the benefits of Priority Decision, see the How to Apply page.

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M.P.P. Program Program Curriculum

The master's in Education Policy includes a sequence of core requirements and a suite of courses in research and data analysis. You will take specialized courses, based on your interests, plus a field-based practicum in which you'll address a meaningful policy problem.

The M.P.P. is a two-year program of study with a policy core, broad foundations, policy making, research methods and data analysis, and elective courses to build a concentration that aligns with your chosen career path. You can accelerate and complete the program within one year by enrolling in online and summer course offerings. 

Concentrations in Education Policy

  • K-12 Policy
  • Higher Education Policy
  • Quantitative Methods in Education Policy

Coursework

  • Courses by Specialization

    K-12 POLICY OR HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY CONCENTRATION

    Education Policy Core: 12 hours

    • EDP 6110 Politics and Policymaking
    • EDP 6120 Education Policy and School Reform*
    • EDP 6130 American Educational History and Policy*
    • EDP 6140 Economics of Education

    *Students specializing in Higher Education Policy may substitute a Higher Education Policy course with advisor approval.

     

    Required Methods and Data Analysis:  9 hours

    • LPO 7860 Research Design and Data Analysis I
    • LPO 7870 Research Design and Data Analysis II
    • EDP 7880 Education Policy and Program Evaluation

     

    Practicum and Policy Writing: 3 hours

    • EDP 7950 Practicum in Education Policy

     

    Policy Electives: 12 hours

    The following represents a sample list of elective courses. You'll work with your advisor to identify courses that best align with your intellectual and professional goals. Transfer hours can be applied only toward elective credit.

    • EDP 6210 Teacher Policy
    • EDP 6220 Urban Education and Social Policy
    • EDP 7500 Education Law
    • LPO 7200 Grants Policy and Administration
    • HEA 6010 College and University Management
    • HEA 6300 Postsecondary Access and Opportunity
    • HEA 6310 College and University Finance
    • IEPM 6120 International Issues in K-12 Policy Reform
    • IEPM 6130 Comparative Issues in Higher Ed. Policy**
    • ELP 8210 Resource Allocation and Deployment (Ed.D.)**
    • ELP 8220 Ed. Accountability and Assessment (Ed.D.)**
    • HLP 8220 Public Policy and Higher Education (Ed.D.)

    ** Ed.D.-level weekend courses. Students must secure advisor and instructor approval before enrolling in Ed.D. courses.

     

    QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN EDUCATION POLICY CONCENTRATION

    Education Policy Core: 12 hours

    • EDP 6110 Politics and Policymaking
    • EDP 6120 Education Policy and School Reform
    • EDP 6130 American Educational History and Policy
    • EDP 6140 Economics of Education

     

    Required Methods and Data Analysis: 15 hours

    • LPO 8810 Research Design/Methods of Education Policy
    • PSY GS 8861 Statistical Inference
    • LPO 8851 Regression I
    • LPO 7810 Causal Inference
    • LPO 8852 Regression II

     

    Practicum: 0 hours

    • EDP 7950 Practicum in Education Policy

     

    Policy Electives: 9 hours

    The following represents a sample list of elective courses. You'll work with your advisor to identify courses that best align with your intellectual and professional goals. Transfer hours can be applied only toward elective credit.

    • EDP 6210 Teacher Policy
    • EDP 6220 Urban Education and Social Policy
    • EDP 7500 Education Law
    • LPO 7200 Grants Policy and Administration
    • HEA 6010 College and University Management
    • HEA 6300 Postsecondary Access and Opportunity
    • HEA 6310 College and University Finance
    • IEPM 6120 International Issues in K-12 Policy Reform
    • IEPM 6130 Comparative Issues in Higher Ed. Policy**
    • ELP 8210 Resource Allocation and Deployment (Ed.D.)**
    • ELP 8220 Ed. Accountability and Assessment (Ed.D.)**
    • HLP 8220 Public Policy and Higher Education (Ed.D.)

    ** Ed.D.-level weekend courses. Students must secure adviser and instructor approval before enrolling in Ed.D. courses.

Selected Faculty Research

Joanne Golann

Joanne Golann

Associate Professor of Public Policy and Eduction,
Associate Professor of Sociology, Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations

Trained as a sociologist and an ethnographer, Professor Golann seeks to understand how culture shapes educational policy and practice. Based on 18 months of fieldwork inside a high-performing "no-excuses" charter school, her book, Scripting the Moves: Class, Control, and Urban School Reform (Princeton University Press, 2021), considers what it takes-and what it costs-to equalize opportunities for low-income students of color.

Matthew Shaw

Matthew Shaw

Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Education

Professor Shaw is a sociologist of law whose research focuses on educational institutions and the students, educators, and communities who engage with them. His current projects are on laws which shape the experiences of undocumented youth as they transition from high school to college, Title IX as directive on educational institutions, and funding challenges experienced by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Education Policy (M.P.P.)

Education Policy Frequently Asked Questions

  • How is the program structured?

    Our program is four semesters and 36-credit hours with three possible areas of concentration: K-12, Higher Education, or Quantitative Methods. Most classes meet for 3 hours once a week. You will be introduced to public and education policymaking through a policy core and research and data analysis sequence. All MPP students complete a field-based practicum to apply the content knowledge and analytical skills derived from academic coursework to professionally based policy work. A policy writing component completes the practicum field experience.

    Examples of course offerings include:

    • American Education History and Policy
    • Urban Education and Social Policy
    • Research Design and Data Analysis
    • Politics of Policymaking
    • Economics of Education
    • Program and Policy Evaluation
    • State and Federal Government in Higher Education
    • Policies to Support Healthy Child Development 
    • Education Policy and Global Human Development
    • Statistical Inference
    • Experimental Design

    ...and many more!

  • What background or experiences do I need to apply?

    We are not a licensure program so there are no pre-requisites to apply. Our students come to us with experiences in environments that include, but are not limited to, teaching, research, policy, politics, or higher education settings. The MPP is designed to blend theory, analytics, and practical knowledge at the intersection of education and policy.

  • What kind of student thrives in this program?

    We welcome applicants with a range of backgrounds, experiences, and post-graduation goals. Students who thrive are curious, committed to their long-term goals, and eager to grow as education policy professionals. We review each application with an open mind, looking for individuals who are ready to engage deeply and make an impact in the field of education policy.

  • What does a typical week look like?

    For full-time students, a typical week includes at least three courses. Seminar-style courses, meet once per week for three hours. Data analysis courses sometimes meet twice per week. Many courses are offered in the late afternoon or early evening, to accommodate engagement in work experiences. You’ll engage in discussion-based classes, practical projects, and targeted readings designed to deepen your understanding and expand your skills in our interdisciplinary field.

  • What types of jobs can I get after graduation?

    Of job-seeking graduates, 92% were employed or attending graduate school within four months of graduation. Recent education policy career placements:

    • Associate Legislative Research Analyst, Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Nashville, Tennessee
    • Director of Policy, Texas Aspires, Austin, Texas
    • Director of School Partnerships, OneGoal, New York, New York
    • K-12 Data and Policy Analyst, Education Trust, Washington, D.C.
    • National Policy Associate, Centerstone, Nashville, Tennessee
    • School Governance Liaison, Atlanta Public Schools, Atlanta, Georgia
    • Vice President of Policy, Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Nashville, Tennessee
  • How do I apply?

    You can start your application now through our application portal. Our admissions page can give you more information about our community at the Peabody College of Education and Human Development and . When you apply for admittance to the program, you’ll automatically be considered for a merit-based scholarship to support your studies.

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