Applications are being accepted for the Master's in Public Policy program at CSU Monterey Bay.

The MPP program is a partnership between the university's Department of Health, Human Services and Public Policy and the Panetta Institute for Public Policy. Application deadline for priority consideration is Feb.1, 2010, and the final deadline (if space remains available) is March 12 for the class that starts next fall. Classes are small, interactive, academically rigorous and professionally focused.

Courses are offered in the evenings to encourage working professionals to attend. Recent college graduates are also encouraged to apply. Among the courses offered are:

• Congressional and Presidential Politics and Policy

• Separate courses on Budget Policy, Health Policy and Social Policy

• Money, Media and Influence in Policymaking Environments

• Policy Analysis and Public Action in Diverse Communities

• Collaborative Leadership and Ethical Policymaking

Students currently enrolled in the program come from the management ranks of local governments, educational institutions and non-profit organizations; the broad range of professional backgrounds creates a dynamic learning environment.