Program

Curriculum, Pedagogy & Structure

1st Year – Foundational and Analytical Courses

2nd Year- Advanced Coursework, Electives, Internship and a Capstone Project

Duration – 2 Years

Master in Public Policy

  • Master in Public Policy is a 81-credit program consisting of core courses, electives, policy tracks, practicums, internships, and capstone project. The program is structured to be completed within two years. Courseworks and academic activities provide training in critical thinking, design thinking, complexity thinking, and futures thinking in public policy analysis.

Curriculum, Pedagogy & Structure

Curriculum Overview

The MPP program at KIIT School of Public Policy is a two-year, full-time, interdisciplinary degree designed to develop leaders equipped to tackle complex policy challenges. With 81 credits spread across four semesters, the curriculum blends theory and practice through core courses, specialized policy tracks, professional electives, labs, fieldwork, and a capstone project. Students explore foundational subjects like economics, governance, and research methods, and specialize in one of four tracks: Social Policy, Sustainable Development, Urban Governance, or Data and Policy Analytics. Practical training through internships, policy simulations, and labs—such as the Policy Praxis Lab, Data Analytics Lab, and Communications Lab—ensures students graduate with both depth and applied experience.

  • Foundation & Core Courses – 8 courses | 35 credits

    Includes courses in Public Policy, Social Research, Economics, Governance, Law, Sustainability, and Ethics.

  • Policy Electives – 4 courses | 16 credits

    Students choose from a wide list of electives across domains such as Digital Policy, Human Rights, Behavioral Economics, and Police & Prison Reforms.

  • Open Elective (Outside the School) – 1 course | 3 credits Encourages interdisciplinary learning by allowing students to take a course from another KIIT school (e.g., Law, Management, Computer Science).

  • Practicum & Sessional Labs – 9 modules | 11 credits

    Practical learning through labs in Policy Writing, Data Analysis, Parliamentary Practice, and Communication Skills.

  • Summer Internship – 1 project | 4 credits

    A 6-week field internship with government bodies, NGOs, or policy think tanks after the first year.
  • Capstone Project (Thesis) – 1 project | 12 credits

    A year-long research or client-based project under faculty supervision culminating in a policy report or academic dissertation.

Specialization Tracks

Students opt for one of four Policy Tracks to develop domain expertise, starting from Semester I

  • Social Policy & Human Development – Focus on education, health, labour, rural development, and inclusion.

  • Sustainable Development & Environmental Policy – Covers ESG, climate change, energy policy, and public finance.

  • Governance, Urban & Regional Policy – Addresses urban planning, local governance, smart cities, and administrative reform.

  • Data & Policy Analytics – Emphasizes AI policy, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and impact evaluation.

Semester-wise Structure

  • Semester I

    Builds foundations in public policy, research methods, economics, and social justice. Introduces students to their chosen track through two introductory courses. Includes a skill lab on strategic communication and advocacy.

  • Semester II

    Deepens knowledge of governance, constitutional law, and sustainability. Students continue their specialization through two more track courses and choose two general electives. Includes a “Policy as Experiment” practicum focused on policy design and innovation.

  • Summer Term

    A mandatory internship (6 credits) with practical exposure, supervised by faculty and assessed through an impact report and seminar in the following semester.

  • Semester III

    Emphasizes advanced topics like public finance, program evaluation, poverty and rights. Includes electives, an open elective from other KIIT schools, and labs in AI applications and legislative practice. Capstone planning begins here.

  • Semester IV

    Devoted to the Capstone Project (12 credits). Minimal coursework, allowing students to focus on thesis research or a policy consultancy assignment with an organization.

Pedagogical Approach

The pedagogy emphasizes active learning through case studies, policy labs, simulations, writing workshops, and stakeholder engagements. Each course is designed with continuous assessment and real-world relevance in mind. Through small cohort interactions, mentorship, and global-local linkages, students gain critical thinking skills, policy writing expertise, ethical grounding, and interdisciplinary fluency. This rigorous academic environment empowers students to become ethical, innovative, and impact-driven public policy professionals.

  • Interactive Classrooms Blended learning using flipped classrooms, Q&A, and in-class case discussions.

  • Real-World Case Studies & Simulations Regular use of Indian and international policy case studies. Simulations include parliamentary debates, mock policymaking sessions, and crisis response scenarios.

  • Labs & Practicum Modules

    • Policy Writing & Communication Labs – Writing briefs, op-eds, and conducting mock media interviews.
    • Data Labs – Use of R, SPSS, STATA for real-time data analysis and visualization.
    • Parliamentary Practice Lab – Role-play legislative procedures and draft bills.

  • Continuous Assessment Evaluation through participation, group projects, assignments, presentations, and open-book/online quizzes.

  • Guest Lectures & Practitioner Inputs

    Regular talks and workshops by civil servants, policy experts, NGO leaders, international faculty, and think-tank professionals.

  • Field Exposure

    Each semester includes field visits such as assembly sessions, village panchayats, CSR project sites, or state departments.

  • Mentorship & LMS Support

    Every student is assigned a faculty mentor. Course materials, assessments, and discussions are supported through an LMS platform