Master of Applied Public Policy (MAPP)

Overview

The College of Idaho’s Master of Applied Public Policy (MAPP) program is designed for the next generation of leaders who want to shape, implement, and evaluate public policy on a regional and global scale. With an interdisciplinary curriculum, hands-on experience, and strong industry connections, the College’s MAPP prepares graduates to influence change in the public and private sectors alike.

Focus on real-world applications of public policy through current issues facing the Intermountain West. Solve today’s problems using data-centric methods. Collaborate with state and local government agencies, corporations and nonprofits to promote change.

Our program is 36 credit hours and offers a bespoke curriculum through 10 uniquely crafted courses focused on current issues facing the Intermountain West and a two-course practicum series through which students will apply the tenets of economics, public policy and data analytics to a specific issue in their field or employment.

• Foundations of Policy Analysis
• Ethics in a Polarized Body Politic
• State & Local Policy I
• State & Local Policy II
• Data Science & Public Policy
• Evidence-Based Decision Making
• State & Local Policy: Finance
• Data Visualization for Analysis & Communication
• Leadership in Public Policy
• Policy, Power & Voice
• Policy Practicum I: Policy Analysis
• Policy Practice II: Advocacy Plan

Throughout the program, students will engage with policy professionals on current Intermountain West issues and have the opportunity to interact with state and local lawmakers, lobbyists, leaders of nonprofit organizations, corporations and government agencies, and citizens around current policy issues.

Admission

The Admission Office is responsible for managing the admission process for prospective students. Admission is granted on a selective basis. The Admission Committee, consisting of College administrators, faculty and staff, reviews policy set by the Admission Office to admit students who show promise of success at the College. The College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, age, religion, disability, national and ethnic origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity in administration of its admission and financial aid policies.

Selection of Applicants

Applicants for the next start date are reviewed on an ongoing basis by the MAPP Admission Committee. The committee reserves the right to accept, reject, or defer an application. Applicants receiving a letter of acceptance are granted a specific time period to notify the program of their intention to enroll.

Enrollment Deposit

The College of Idaho requires a $300 deposit before enrolling. This one-time, non-refundable deposit reserves a student’s place in the graduate program and will be applied to their first term’s tuition.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Applicants seeking a Master of Applied Public Policy (MAPP) come from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds. No required major, employment position or specific expertise is a barrier to entry.

To qualify for admission, applicants must meet all application requirements listed below no later than August 15th to be considered for the next fall cohort, which starts each year in Fall Block 2 (see academic calendar below).

1. Complete the online MAPP application.
   1. Upload a current resume or curriculum vitae (CV).
   2. Complete a 500- to 1,000-word personal statement (similar to a letter of interest). This personal statement should reveal something about you as an applicant, the reason you want to pursue this graduate degree and how it will advance your future goals.
2. Hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
   1. If your cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0, in order to be considered for the program, you must include: (i) an explanation of GPA statement; and (ii) an additional letter of recommendation.
3. Submit transcripts from qualifying degree institution(s).
4. Demonstrate the ability to meet The College of Idaho’s technology requirements for the duration of the graduate program.
5. Submit a letter of recommendation from a professor, instructor, employer or work colleague. This letter should highlight your academic or professional experiences relevant to admission to this graduate degree program and evaluate your leadership, interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and judgement as well as your ability and capability to complete a graduate degree.
   1. If your cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0, in order to be considered for the program, you must submit a second letter of recommendation.
6. Graduate Entrance Exam (optional)—No graduate entrance exam is required for the MAPP program. If you wish to include a score (GRE, MAT, LSAT or GMAT), it will be considered. It may be helpful to include a score if you have a GPA below a 3.0 or if you would otherwise like to bolster your application.

Tuition and Fees

The hybrid Master of Applied Public Policy program consists of 36 credit hours and is completed in 18 months over six 10-week blocks.

2025-2026 Tuition: $29,880 or $830 per credit hour
Graduate Program and Technology Fee: $75 per 10-week block

Note: The College of Idaho’s MAPP tuition and fees are due before or on the first day of the semester. The MAPP program is a semester-based program (Fall: July-December and Spring: January-May). Each 20-week semester is broken into two 10-week course blocks. If you begin the degree program in the second 10-week block, tuition and fees will be due on or before the first day of class for your initial term, but then will be due on or before the first day of the semester thereafter (i.e. all courses taken in Spring Block 1 and Spring Block 2 must be paid on the first day of the spring semester).

MAPP Academic Calendar

Registration and Enrollment

Upon receipt of a student’s enrollment deposit, the College will enroll the student in the courses for the MAPP program for the 2025-2026 academic year and any future academic year until program completion. To complete enrollment, the student must be registered full-time for the semester/term and must either be paid in full for the semester/term or on a payment plan (see Payment Options) on or before the first day of class.

Full-time enrollment for the MAPP program is 6 credits per block/term (and within the program, there are two blocks per semester). To remain eligible for financial assistance, students must be enrolled in at least five (5) credit hours each semester.

Failure to make satisfactory payment arrangements by the stated deadline will result in expulsion from classes and charges calculated according to the refund rate for withdrawal (see Institutional Refund Policy).

Graduation Requirements

To earn a MAPP degree at The College of Idaho, all students must complete all prescribed courses and pass all courses with a grade of B or better. This in turn requires all students to graduate with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Grading

Students must achieve a minimum of 80 percent to pass each course with a grade of a B in accordance with the grading policy outlined in the syllabus for each course.

Students are permitted to repeat a course once in which they have earned a grade of B- or lower. Both attempts appear on the student’s transcript. Only the most recent grade will be used in calculation of the cumulative GPA, and only one attempt may be counted toward meeting degree requirements.

Students who wish to file an academic appeal concerning a course grade should review the Grade Change Policy.