Skip to main content

Department of Political and Global Affairs

Department of Political and Global Affairs

What is Public Policy and Management?

Welcome to the Political Science – Public Policy and Management (PPM) concentration!

Already a student? Use the drop down menu above to find news & resources.

Interested in the program? Great! Read below for information on our program offerings and the PGA department, scholarships, and more.

What is PPM?

The Public Policy and Management (PPM) concentration is a strong fit for students seeking careers in government, public service, and nonprofit work. You can see more on our Career & Job Info page. You can see some examples of career journeys by visiting our Spotlight on Graduates and Virtual Mentors page which highlights our graduates’ accomplishments.

By choosing to study PPM, you will explore government and the public policy process from different angles.

You can learn about how policy is made, how to research and analyze policies and law, and how to communicate complex ideas effectively. All of these skills (and more!) are important for careers in policy making, public service, and government at all levels.

If you want to make a difference in the world, public policy is a great way to do it. Studying public policy gives you the tools to analyze problems and create solutions that can improve society as a whole. You’ll learn how to research, advocate for, and implement policies that can have a real impact on people’s lives.

Public Policy & Management Classes

In the Political Science & PPM courses, you can learn about the law and legal system, political communication, political interest groups, urban affairs, civil rights, immigration law, urban planning, workers rights, education policy, health care and health policy, labor rights, the environment, and much more. We also routinely offer electives in specialized topics such as Global Issues in Human Trafficking, Human Rights, and Civil Rights.

Just some of our PPM classes include:

We offer a diverse selection of courses in the Department of Political & Global Affairs. These include classes in Political Science, International Relations, Global Studies, Human Geography, and regional studies. The flexibility and interdisciplinary nature of this degree allows for selection of classes outside of the department, usually through your cognate area.

Cognate Areas of Specialization/Emphasis

As a PPM major, you will choose a cognate area, which is an area of specialization or emphasis. You can choose from:

  • Housing & Community Development
  • Food, Health, and Security
  • Inequality
  • Workplace Diversity
  • Communication
  • Law
  • Economics & Finance
  • Leadership, Management, and Organizations,
  • Non-Profits and NGOs

Through your cognate area, you can take classes such as World Food and Society, Social Inequality, Strategic Communication Writing for Public Relations, Legal Environment of Business, Financial Reporting for Governmental and Not-for-Profit Entities, Communication in the Global Workplace, and Housing, among many others.

PPM Faculty

Our PGA faculty have decades of professional experience that includes working in non-profits, the public sector, community service, city management, federal and state government, and in research-intensive positions around the world.

PGA will often bring in guest speakers from different career paths, allowing students to get a glimpse of the variety of opportunities available to pursue. We also coordinate with MTSU departments and external partners to provide students with workshops, seminars, and hands-on activities related to their professional development.

You can view our faculty here.

Professional Work Experience

MTSU is located about 35 miles from Nashville, allowing for students to be centrally linked to the state capital for internships and work opportunities as well as events. We are also situated centrally to thriving workforce economies in Murfreesboro, Franklin, Brentwood, and Chattanooga.

PPM students are especially encouraged to pursue our Tennessee Legislative Internship Program, which allows them to work full-time at the State Capitol in Nashville, Tennessee, as well as our Washington Center Internship Program which allows for full-time work in Washington, DC. These programs, in addition to our local internship options with entities such as the City of Murfreesboro and the Rutherford County government, provide a valuable supplement to your education.

Students are also appropriately prepared for continued education at the postgraduate level. Many of our PGA graduates go on to study PPM in postgraduate schools across the world, including Washington, DC, London, New York City, Chicago, Nashville, and in our own MA in International Affairs program at MTSU.

Events & Community

The Department of Political & Global Affairs fosters a diverse, inclusive, and open community for all students to thrive. MTSU often hosts events and opportunities for professional and academic development, as well as for social and community involvement. PGA encourages students to get involved with our departmental student groups and competitive teams, independent and collaborative research, studying or interning abroad, volunteering, civic engagement, and taking care of your mental & physical health.

We often sponsor fun activities for students, such as an Annual PGA Bike Ride in Nashville, outings to sports events, intercultural potlucks, and more.

Various departments across MTSU and the College of Liberal Arts will bring in speakers and guest lecturers. We share information relevant to PGA students on our social media pages and via email. See some past examples below.

Find More Information

If you are a current student in PPM, please use the drop down menu to see important news and resources available to you.

If you are a prospective PPM student, feel free to look through the available tabs and to contact us with any questions you have regarding the program, PGA, and MTSU.

Full Program Requirements can be found here.
Political Science Scholarships can be found here.
Faculty can be found here. The current Program Director is Dr. Steve Livingston.
A list of PPM careers can be found here.
You can submit a request for more information here.

We can be reached at pga@mtsu.edu or you may visit this page to learn how to apply today!

Our social media accounts are under the handle @mtsupga. You can follow us for daily updates and news.

Support Political and Global Affairs
College of Liberal Arts
Advising

Social Media