Maxwell’s MPA Program Launches Data Analytics Area of Study and Internship Options

The Maxwell School’s consistently top-ranked Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) program has launched a new area of study in data analytics for public policy, reaffirming the program’s tradition of excellence in preparing graduates with the management and analytic skills to tackle new and emerging public-sector challenges.

Modern technologies are generating tremendous amounts of real-time data, and computer algorithms and sophisticated metrics help convert these data into actionable information. Expertise in extracting, storing and managing data, as well as an understanding of ways in which data can be analyzed to inform government decision-making, is increasingly in demand by employers who work with or serve the public sector. In addition, the availability and sensitivity of data, as well as a growing reliance on algorithms to drive decisions, raise a host of public policy issues that governments need to address.

“Maxwell M.P.A. alumni enjoy meaningful careers in data science and data analysis at institutions like the World Bank, the Government Accountability Office and the NYS Department of Education, and in private companies and in academic research settings,” says Associate Dean, Chair and Professor of Public Administration and International Affairs Robert Bifulco. “Codifying data analytics for public policy as an area of study will allow us to deepen and expand our relationships with top employers in this area and ensure that Maxwell remains at the leading edge of this rapidly evolving field.”

Current and new coursework related to data analytics for public policy include:

• PAI 724: Data-Driven Decision Making with Matt Young, assistant professor of public administration and international affairs
• PAI 774: Public Policy & Program Evaluation with Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs
• PAI 789: Policy and Decision Analysis with Peter Wilcoxen, professor of public administration and international affairs, Ajello Professor in Energy and Environmental Policy, and Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence
• PAI 793: Public Sector Predictive Analytics with Len Lopoo, Maxwell Advisory Board Professor of Public Policy, director of the Center for Policy Research and co-founder and director of Maxwell X Lab (new in Fall 2020)

A new component of the M.P.A. program, available across all eight areas of study, is an internship option that allows students to further tailor their degree based on their career goals and prior professional experiences. Students may complete their degree either through the traditional 12-month course of study or via a conveniently structured 18-month option that includes an internship. Internships are completed over the summer term in federal agencies, state and local governments, non-profits/NGOs, international organizations, or in related private sector companies within the US or abroad.

“The internship option is particularly beneficial for students in the early stages of their career or who are transitioning to rapidly evolving fields like data analytics,” says Kelli Young, director of the Palmer Career Center. “In addition to valuable hands-on experiences that complement what they are learning in the classroom, participants benefit from the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, build their resumes and tap into networks that can be critical to securing top jobs.”

Apply by Feb. 1, 2019 for priority consideration. To request information about Maxwell’s professional degree programs, contact Megan Begert via email at msbegert@syr.edu or visit https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/paia/request-info/ .