Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy

    Stuart Shapiro, Interim Dean

    GRADUATE ADMISSIONS CONTACT
    Dr. Lynn Astorga, Associate Director of Student Recruitment

    Email: lastorga@rutgers.edu

    NEW BRUNSWICK – HOME TO RUTGERS – BLOUSTEIN SCHOOL
    Building—nearly 20 years ago realized Dr. Bloustein’s vision that Rutgers University would one day occupy a physical position in the cultural and economic hub of New Brunswick, New Jersey—the host city of Rutgers’ flagship campus. New Brunswick is one of the state's most significant areas for education, health care, and the arts. The city is home to Rutgers' historic Old Queen's campus; Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Saint Peter's University Hospital, and the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. The Bloustein School itself is located in New Brunswick’s thriving cultural area, with The State Theater, Crossroads Theatre, and the George Street Playhouse just steps away. Downtown New Brunswick offers something for every taste through a spicy menu of restaurants and entertainment venues. 

    The school continually strives to maintain and enhance its technological capabilities for both research and instructional needs. Bloustein School students also have 24/7 access to 88 workstation-class computers in two labs designated solely for student use, a project collaboration room, a newly-renovated student lounge, and a new dedicated “quiet” space complete with comfortable seating and a laptop bar. 

    At Rutgers University–New Brunswick, you can have it all—a community of five distinct and lively campuses, the urban vibe of the city of New Brunswick, and the ivy-covered buildings and verdant open spaces of a university with a history going back to Colonial times (1766, to be precise). The campus, with facilities in the city of New Brunswick, the township of Piscataway, and several surrounding municipalities, offers something for everyone. Top-notch recreational facilities. Art galleries, theaters, and coffeehouses. The roaring crowds at High Point Solutions Stadium. Hiking trails, a golf course, and even a farm. When you live in New Brunswick, you’re living in the gateway to New Jersey.

    ABOUT THE SCHOOL
    The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy serves as one of the nation’s key centers for the theory and practice of planning and public policy scholarship and analysis. As part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, the school capitalizes on the strength and resources of this major research university. The Bloustein School reaches to the larger world beyond the realm of academia to contribute to the regional, national, and international communities.

    Edward J. Bloustein—Rutgers president, constitutional scholar, active citizen, philosopher, and teacher—lived a life of civic engagement that the school's ethic seeks to perpetuate. Research, teaching, and outreach at the Bloustein School aim for intellectual originality and practical rigor in an atmosphere of spirited and open debate. Bloustein activities are rooted in diversity of experience and thought. They create settings where individuals and communities can flourish. 

    EDUCATION
    The School supports a wide variety of educational activities, from undergraduate and masters and doctoral degree programs to continuing education courses and conferences for professionals and alumni. The School also hosts international fellows programs, which provide education and professional development opportunities for individuals from nations around the world. The core purpose of all our educational programs is to enhance students’ understanding of the theories, methods, and practice of planning and public policy. The School’s educational programs encourage open discussion of all viewpoints, the application of quantitative methods for analysis, the careful study of history, and a thorough consideration of economic and demographic trends and political institutions and processes. 

    Full- and part-time students examine theories and methods in a wide variety of concentrations, including community and economic development, public health, workforce development, land use, housing, transportation, urban design, education, social policy, science and technology policy, and environmental policy. 

    RESEARCH 
    The School serves as an intellectual focal point at Rutgers University for the examination of societal problems and solutions. Research undertakings are governed by a strong commitment to quality through the use of sound social science theory and methods and to full dissemination of results and peer review of findings. Research is carried out on a wide variety of challenging topics. Specialized centers, established by the University’s Board of Governors, carry out large-scale projects and are supported by external funding. The centers support the educational and public-service mission by focusing research in the substantive areas of the School's strength and by supporting students, faculty, and staff in those areas. 

    SERVICE
    The School is committed to addressing community, regional, state, national, and international needs. Faculty, staff, and students fulfill this commitment in a variety of ways, by preparing students for careers in public service; through continuing education courses and seminars; by serving as advisors to public officials and community organizations; by working to strengthen the capacity of governmental and nonprofit organizations through education and training; and by undertaking research projects that address the pressing needs and concerns of our society. 

    PUBLIC POLICY MASTERS PROGRAM

    • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
    • Master of Public Affairs & Politics (MPAP)
    • Master of Public Policy & Urban Planning (MPP/MCRP)
    • Master of Public Policy & Public Informatics (MPP/MPI)
    • Master of Public Policy & Master of Social Work (MPP/MSW)
    • Juris Doctor & Master of Public Affairs and Politics (JD/MPAP)
    • Master of Business Administration & Master of Public Policy (MBA/MPP)
    • Master of Science with Graduate School-Newark, Division of Global Affairs & Master of Public Policy (MPP/MS)
    • Master of Public Health & Master of Public Policy (MPH/MPP)

    The primary objective of the MPP program is to prepare students for careers in government, politics, and public affairs within public, non-profit, or private sectors. The MPP is normally a two-year degree for full-time students. Applicants directly from their bachelor's degree or with a few years of work experience are encouraged to apply to the MPP 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.

    URBAN PLANNING MASTERS PROGRAM

    • Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP)
    • Master of City and Regional Studies (MCRS)
    • Master of Urban Planning & Master of Public Policy (MCRP/MPP)
    • Master of Urban Planning & Master of Public Informatics (MCRP/MPI)
    • Master of Urban Planning & Juris Doctor (MCRP/JD)
    • Master of Urban Planning & Master of Business Administration (MCRP/MBA)
    • Master of Urban Planning & Maser of Infrastructure Planning (MCRP/MIP)
    • Master of Urban Planning or Master of City & Regional Studies & Master of Science in Food & Business Economics (MCRP or MCRS/MS)

    The Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) degree is generally recognized as the professional degree in the field. The MCRP 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. 

    The program requires two years of full-time coursework, with a total of 48 credits earned during that time. Reflecting the school's philosophy of providing an interdisciplinary approach for each student, a minimum of 24 elective credits is included in the 48-credit total. 

    URBAN PLANNING AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES

    The Graduate Certificate in Transportation Studies
    This certificate is a cross-disciplinary graduate program administered by the School of Engineering and the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. The certificate is open to matriculated graduate students in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and in the two graduate programs (Urban Planning and Policy Development, and Public Policy) of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. In general, students are enrolled at the masters level and receive the transportation studies certificate signifying completion of the program at graduation.

    The Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Sciences 
    This certificate is a cross disciplinary graduate program administered by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy; the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources; Department of Geography; and the Department of Landscape Architecture. This certificate program is open to graduate students enrolled in and working towards completion of any of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey’s, graduate masters or Ph.D. programs.

    The Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation
    This certificate is a cross-disciplinary graduate program administered by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and the Department of Art History. This certificate program is open to graduate students enrolled in and working towards completion of any of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey’s, graduate masters or Ph.D. programs.

    The Graduate Certificate in Public Policy
    This certificate is a cross-disciplinary graduate program administered by the Programs in Planning and Public Policy within the Edward J. Bloustein School. This certificate program is only open to graduate students enrolled in and working towards completion of the MCRP program. There is a symmetrical Urban Planning certificate available to Public Policy graduate students.

    HEALTH ADMINISTRATION MASTERS PROGRAM
    • Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA)
    • Traditional Master of Health Administration (MHA)

    Health Administration is rapidly growing throughout the country. Many leaders are retiring, leaving a void of leadership in hospitals, nursing homes, physician offices, pharmaceutical companies. A career in Health Administration can lead to a leadership position that will guide the next generation of healthcare providers into a new and reformed age. One of the biggest advantages of the Rutgers MHA program is our faculty. We have selected world-class professionals in the healthcare industry that all have substantial real-world experience. Most are actively advancing healthcare every day. Furthermore, as an RI research university, Rutgers has developed close relationships with organizations throughout the region, putting us ahead of our competitors. Our senior faculty recommends an MHA if your goal is to be a healthcare leader. The Rutgers MHA degree will give you a competitive edge over your peers. Our courses are designed to equip students with practical formulas to address today’s most prevalent healthcare issues.

    The Rutgers MHA offers a flexible approach that focuses on developing a range of core competencies. You’ll learn from the best too: our expert faculty includes leaders who are helping to solve real-world problems health care organizations grapple with every day. They know how to find solutions, and bring that knowledge to the classroom.

    The Executive MHA Program is tailored for the health professional with at least five years of experience. Our newly designed curriculum presents information in four sequential, 9-credit modules or clusters—courses grouped together in common themes and two experiential summers. At the start of each module, cohorts take on a complex health care problem and collaboratively create innovative solutions.

    The Traditional Master of Health Administration degree at the Bloustein School provides students with an interdisciplinary education focused on improving health care, health systems, and policy. While you’ll have the same rigorous training in economics, law, ethics, leadership and other disciplines that you’d get in an MBA curriculum, the Rutgers MHA is specifically tailored to the health care sector.

    GRE scores are not required for applying to both the Traditional and Executive MHA programs.

    PUBLIC INFORMATICS MASTERS PROGRAM
    • Master of Public Informatics (MPI)

    The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the 2014-24 job outlook for data analysts is expected to grow by 30% (much faster than the average), with almost 28,000 new jobs needing to be filled in this area. Management analysts will add an additional 103,400 jobs (a 14% increase). A report by the National Science and Technology Council of the Executive Office of the President stated “…a national Big Data innovation ecosystem needs a strong community of practitioners across Federal agencies to facilitate rapid innovation, ensure long-term propagation of ideas, and provide maximal return on research investments.” 

    In addition, prospective employers routinely express interest in students to fill positions related to public informatics. The following organizations have recently posted job openings with the Bloustein School’s Student and Academic Services Office and Rutgers University that require a public informatics background:

    AARP
    • Applied Energy Group
    • Deloitte
    • Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
    • Federal Transit Administration
    • Johnson and Johnson

    • Mathematica Policy Research
    • MDRC
    • Port Authority of New York New Jersey
    • United Nations
    • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
    • WSP USA

    The Bloustein School’s Master of Public Informatics program provides the vehicle for educating professional student cohorts in the competencies needed in public informatics: context, statistics, programming, data management, data analytics, visualization, spatial analysis, applications and the integration of these skills. Graduates of the new program will bring a critical voice and a deep understanding of context to an emerging field.

    The Master of Public Informatics program is suitable for students with undergraduate degrees in any field. Applicants must demonstrate competency in one or more programming languages and skills in data management (with coursework, work experience, or by examination). Students with appropriate backgrounds may substitute more advanced courses* for topics already mastered.

    It is anticipated that full-time students may complete the 36 credit hours required for the degree in three (3) semesters (18 months).

    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
    • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

    The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Planning and Public Policy, offered through the Graduate School-New Brunswick, 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.

    Admission to the Ph.D. program requires a formal application with supporting documents, a full resume, and evidence of research ability. All applications are reviewed by the Faculty of the Doctoral Program. In most cases, only applicants who have completed a master’s degree or its equivalent are considered for admission. In rare instances, exceptional students may be considered after they receive their bachelor’s degree or, for students enrolled in Bloustein School master’s programs, after completion of twelve credits of graduate coursework.

    The number of students admitted to doctoral study is dependent on 1) the number of applicants who display a high level of performance and 2) the faculty’s capacity to provide high quality supervision in the students’ areas of interest. Completion of the doctoral degree generally takes a minimum of four to five years. Student progress toward the degree is reviewed each semester by the doctoral faculty as part of a broad program of student advising, networking, and mentoring between faculty and students and among doctoral student peers. There is no requirement for full-time residency and no language requirement, except at the discretion of the student’s dissertation committee. However, each semester prior to their qualifying examinations, students must register for at least six course work credits (usually equivalent to two classes).

    Bloustein School doctoral students have received a wide variety of awards and fellowships and graduates have obtained senior positions in universities, research centers, governments, non-profit organizations, and the private sector.

    DEGREES
    M.C.R.P.: City & Regional Planning

    M.H.A.: Health Administration

    M.P.P.: Public Policy

    M.P.I.: Master of Public Informatics

    Ph.D.: Planning & Public Policy

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