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Lead Your Organization.

Accelerate Your Impact.

The Harris Public Policy Evening Master's Program (EMP) is a four-quarter program designed for working mid-career professionals to gain a solid foundation in the fundamentals of data analytics, economic analysis, leadership, and the strategic foundations of public policy. Graduates are prepared to use this toolkit to drive organizations forward and tackle leadership challenges.

The EMP is comprised of professionals from all industries, including nonprofits, law, education, consulting, healthcare, and more. Our part-time program is designed to accommodate the challenges of family and work unique to mid-career professionals.

Start with Policy. Lead with Purpose.

Graduate ready to shape change across sectors.

Serious training for serious leaders.

Think critically. Lead with evidence.

Data and Economics at the Core

Learn the fundamentals. Make smarter decisions.

Accelerated pathway to degree.

Earn your Master's in Public Policy in just 15 months.

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Dami Rosanwo

In my role, I saw the need for a policy foundation to address systemic issues. However, I didn’t want to gain that policy foundation by sacrificing my ability to participate in the impact-related work I was already doing. The Harris Evening Master's Program (EMP) presented the ideal structure to help me achieve this goal.”

DAMI ROSANWO, AM'23

Senior Director of Strategy at The Harris Poll
Read Dami's profile.

Rigorous Curriculum

Real-World Experience

In the Evening Master's program, students take the core curriculum—with classes in data analytics, economic analysis, public finance & budgeting, analytical politics, and leadership & negotiations.

The core curriculum equips students with critical thinking and analytical skills to solve problems across sectors and lead measurable impact throughout their career. 

Curriculum
AUTUMN WINTER SPRING AUTUMN
Data Analytics I Data Analytics II Analytical Politics I: Foundations Analytical Politics I: Foundations
Public Finance and Budgeting I Economic Analysis I: Microeconomics Economic Analysis II: Intro to Cost Benefit Analysis Leadership & Negotiations
Current Topics in Policy I Current Topics in Policy II Current Topics in Public Policy III Current Topics in Public Policy IV

*Current Topics in Public Policy courses explore a variety of subjects such as energy policy, health policy, education policy,social policy, child development, conflict and security, economic and political development, or electoral administration.

Shape policy.

Lead with evidence.

Request Information

WHERE EMP STUDENTS WORK

Professional Exposure

Policy Experience

At Harris, your coursework develops the skills necessary to ask the hard questions, ground your answers in evidence, and make a real and lasting impact. You will combine a strong foundation in data analytics by exploring a variety of disciplines and fields including economics, statistics, political science, and organizational theory, among others. Through learning the methods and theories of these disciplines and fields, you will be able to use each as an analytical lens to dissect and tackle challenges. 

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Centers & Institutes

Harris research centers and institutes act as catalysts for rigorous inquiry and principled engagement with the policy community, supporting cross-sector partnerships and high-impact initiatives.

 

Learn more about Centers & Institutes 

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Cohort Experience

The EMP cohort is a tight-knit group of peer leaders in a collaborative learning environment to develop leadership skills and expand perspectives.

 

Learn more about Cohorts

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Alumni Network

Access a network of over 180,000 University of Chicago alumni making a difference across sectors around the globe.

 

 

Learn more about the University of Chicago alumni network

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“The quantitative skills I’m gaining applied immediately to my work with the Veteran's Restorative Justice Project. The ability to pull and incorporate data into a narrative is critical in policy making.”

Greg Sanchez, EMP'24

Assistant Director, University of Chicago Office for Military Affiliated Communities
Read Greg's student profile.

Gain Real-World Experience.

Build a Network that Lasts.

Request Info

World-Class Scholars

Real-World Impact

Learn from world-renowned scholars whose research is shaping the future of policy.
At Harris, your faculty aren’t just leading academics—they’re industry leaders tackling today’s most urgent global challenges.

John Burrows 2024

Senior Lecturer & Academic Director, Part-Time Programs

John Burrows

 

Focused on leadership, negotiations, decision-making, strategy, and organizational psychology.

 

Read John Burrows' Bio

Justin Marlowe

Research Professor & Director, Center for Municipal Finance


Justin Marlowe

 

Focused on public finance, public capital markets, infrastructure finance, state and local budgeting, and financial disclosure.

 

Read Justin Marlowe's Bio

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Assistant Instructional Professor

 

Yukiko Asai

 

Focused on labor economics and personnel economics, specifically the effects of family leave and child care policies.

 

Read Yukiko Asai's Bio

sheng hao lo

Assistant Instructional Professor

 

Sheng-Hao Lo

 

Focused on applied microeconomics and applied econometrics, and health policy.

 

 

Read Sheng Hao Lo's Bio

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Assistant Instructional Professor

 

Navin Kumar

 

Focused on the impact of public policies and natural disasters.

 

 

 

Read Navin Kumar's Bio

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Assistant Professor

 

Adam Zelizer

 

Focused on legislative politics. His research examines how legislators make decisions and the effects of individual decision-making processes on policy outcomes. 

 

Read Adam Zelizer's Bio

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Addressing today’s global, interconnected challenges takes rigorous inquiry. It takes serious people, able to face the facts—to gather and understand the data of how things are—in order to make things better. That’s why we’re here—and why you belong here.”

ETHAN BUENO DE MESQUITA

Dean and Sydney Stein Professor,Harris School of Public Policy