Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy

The Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey seeks to improve our increasingly urbanized and interconnected world by exploring planning approaches and public policy solutions that are healthier, greener, fairer, and generate greater prosperity than do current practices. It pursues equitable and efficient solutions to public problems at multiple levels from the global to the local and emphasizes the professional perspectives of urban planning, public policy, and public health. Within each of these domains, the school advances its aspiration to be a global leader in teaching, research, and service by engaging society’s challenges with focused programs that align current strengths with emerging needs.

Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP):

Our Urban Planning master’s program is ranked #3 in the US by Planetizen.com. We are one of the few schools offering a 3-year dual MCRP-MPP degree. The Master of City and Regional Planning (M.C.R.P.) degree is generally recognized as the professional degree in the field. The M.C.R.P. program prepares students for practice in planning as well as policy and program development through a curriculum designed to develop an understanding of the linkages between the social, economic, and political factors of urban society and the physical and environmental framework of regions and communities. Faculty in the program are nationally and internationally renowned scholars who are actively involved in shaping the field. We offer concentration areas in Community Development and Housing, Design and Development/Redevelopment, Environmental Planning, International Development, Transportation Policy and Planning and Urban Informatics. Previous work experience is not required for this program.

Master of Public Policy (MPP):

We are proud to announce that for the third year in a row, the Bloustein School's MPP program was ranked #3 by Graduateprograms.com for our high caliber instruction, student support and smaller, more personal cohort-based class sizes. Our program prepares students for careers in government, politics, and public affairs within the public, private, nonprofit, or private for-profit sectors. Our MPP concentration areas include Budget and Finance, Economics, Education, Environment, Health, International Development, Labor and Workforce Management, Methods, Non-Profit Management , Political Processes and Institutions, Public Informatics, Social Justice and Advocacy, Social Policy and Women’s Issues, Urban Policy and Community Development. These new skills enable our graduates to make positive and lasting impacts on the world. Previous work experience is not required for this program.

Students can also choose to pursue a Certificate in Public Policy at the Bloustein School. The 12-credit graduate Certificate in Public Policy was created for non-matriculated students, who have completed an undergraduate degree from a nationally/internationally accredited program, to enhance their knowledge and skills in the applied and interdisciplinary field of public policy. This certificate is appropriate for professionals who are starting their careers or who are transitioning into a policy-related field. Mid-career professionals in related professional fields such as education, health, public advocacy and social work will find that this certificate program will help them upgrade and advance their skills. If a student chooses to apply to the Master of Public Policy program following completion of the certificate, the credits will be transferred over towards the MPP degree program, provided that a minimum grade of a B was achieved in each class.

Master of Health Administration (MHA):

The Master of Health Administration program is tailored for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree and who work or plan to work in the health care industry. The MHA is also suitable for those seeking to make a career change or the health practice professional moving into a management position. We offer two tracks within the MHA Program: a Traditional MHA and also an Executive MHA. The Traditional Master of Health Administration track provides students with an interdisciplinary education focused on improving population health, health care, health systems, and policy. While students receive rigorous training in economics, ethics, law, leadership and disciplines similar to those in an MBA curriculum, the Rutgers MHA is specifically tailored to the health care sector. Work experience is not required for the Traditional MHA. The school also offers an Executive Master of Health Administration track for health professionals who aspire to advance into executive leadership roles. Tailored for the health professional with at least five years of experience, the Exec MHA curriculum presents information in four sequential, 9-credit modules or clusters—courses grouped together in common themes and two experiential summers. The Executive MHA assures the foundation for growth and advancement in one’s career, aligning business training with the specialized knowledge and skills needed for success in the healthcare industry. The Executive MHA program ONLY admits students for the spring semester.

Master of Public Informatics (MPI)

The Master of Public Informatics program is designed specifically for students with undergraduate degrees in a wide range of fields, while demonstrating competency in one or more programming languages and holding skills in data management, via coursework, work experience, or a combination thereof. The Master of Public Informatics is a STEM-designated degree. The MPI degree will provide the vehicle for educating professional student cohorts in the competencies needed in public informatics: context, statistics, programming, data management, data analysis, visualization, spatial analysis, applications and the integration of these skills. Graduates of this program will bring a critical voice and a deep understanding of context to the emerging field. Participants complete the 36-credit program at their own pace, full or part time. Reflecting the school’s philosophy of providing an interdisciplinary approach for each students. Previous work experience is not required for this program.

The Bloustein School also offers a Certificate in Public and Urban Informatics. The 12-credit graduate certificate was created for non-matriculated students, who have completed an undergraduate degree from a nationally/internationally accredited program, to enhance their data and informatics skills to the application of urban planning and public policy topics. Upon successful completion of the 12-credit curriculum, students may wish to then apply to the Bloustein School’s 36-credit Master of Public Informatics degree program. As an added incentive, credits from the certificate can be transferred over towards the 36-credits MPI degree program, provided that a minimum grade of B was achieved in each class, so that no time is lost towards completion of the master's degree.  

Doctoral Program in Planning and Public Policy (Ph.D)

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Planning and Public Policy, offered through the School of Graduate Studies, is an advanced scholarly degree appropriate for students seeking a career in university teaching and research or a leadership position in planning and public policy in the public, private or non-profit sector.

“A graduate degree in public policy from the Bloustein School prepares students to work skillfully and productively in the exciting field of public policy, whether as a public servant in government, an analyst at a think tank, an advocate at a non-profit, or in a variety of other roles. Students learn to identify public problems, analyze alternatives, and make decisions using tools from many disciplines. When added to the motivation and commitment our students bring to the program, these new skills enable our graduates to make positive and lasting impacts on the world.”

—Andrea Hetling, Director, Program in Public Policy