University of Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs

Students come to the Hubert Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota with a commitment to spend their professional lives striving to make the world a better place. They have opportunities to jump-start their careers through internships and professional experiences in Washington, D.C., and other U.S. locations, and abroad. Humphrey School graduates pursue careers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors with a shared goal of advancing the common good.

The school’s Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree brings together political science, economics, statistics, management, and the social sciences. Most students in the program’s Global Policy area select one of three tracks: U.S. Foreign and International Security Policy; International Development; or Global Human Rights and Humanitarianism.

A new Master of Human Rights (MHR) program prepares students to engage in global human rights challenges through research, policy analysis, and advocacy. The interdisciplinary program, supported jointly by the Humphrey School and the university’s College of Liberal Arts, is designed to support emerging leaders with the ability to draw upon diverse knowledge and experiences in a field that demands innovative responses to complex challenges.

The Humphrey School also offers a Master of Development Practice (MDP) administered jointly with the university’s Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change. The MDP program provides training in policy analysis and management, health and education, natural sciences, social sciences, and interdisciplinary research methods. It also requires an international field experience and a capstone workshop in development practice.

The MS in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (MS–STEP) focuses on public issues that shape economic development, environmental sustainability, human health, and well-being.

“Our curriculum combines core courses in policy analysis with an array of academic offerings and opportunities to learn from practitioners,” says Eric Schwartz, dean of the Humphrey School since 2011. Schwartz previously served as U.S. assistant secretary of state for population, refugees, and migration. He spent 25 years in leadership positions with the U.S. Department of State, National Security Council, United Nations, U.S. Congress, and in the foundation and NGO communities.

“I continually draw on my professional experiences in my teaching and in my efforts to help students find meaningful work after they graduate,” says Schwartz, who teaches “Managing Global Crises,” a course that focuses on international humanitarianism.

The Humphrey School has recently formed a partnership with the Washington, D.C.–based Stimson Center, one of the country’s most highly regarded global policy think tanks. In addition to providing internship opportunities for students, the partnership facilitates research and collaboration between Humphrey School faculty and Stimson experts.