Advocacy & Political Action Specialization
Develop the background you need to maximize your influence and drive meaningful change.
Program Overview
An MPA-PNP degree with an advocacy and political action specialization equips you to lead campaigns and movements that drive meaningful social change.
Whether you aim to work in advocacy organizations, community groups, electoral campaigns, or policy reform, this program provides the skills needed to influence policy, organize communities, and shape public debate. At NYU Wagner, you’ll join a community of change-makers, with opportunities to create real-world impact in New York City and beyond.
Unlock Your Potential with a Career in Advocacy & Political Action
An MPA-PNP advocacy specialization opens doors to diverse and impactful careers. With practical skills in organizing, campaign strategy, and policymaking, our alumni are driving change at local, national, and global levels, leading advocacy efforts and shaping the future of public policy.
Here are some of the roles NYU Wagner grads may pursue with this specialization:
- Community or Labor Organizer
- Electoral Campaign Staff
- Legislative Aide
- Lobbyist
- Program or Policy Director
- Foundation Program Officer
Skills You'll Gain With an Advocacy & Political Action Specialization
Through a combination of coursework and hands-on experience, you'll develop expertise in organizing, policy advocacy, and campaign strategy that will serve as the foundation for your career in public service.
Graduates of the program hone the following skills:
Mobilize communities and coalitions to advocate for social change.
Plan and execute successful electoral and issue-based campaigns.
Engage stakeholders in the decision-making process to ensure inclusive policy outcomes.
Involve diverse groups to ensure policies reflect the needs and perspectives of the community.
Leverage media platforms to shape public opinion and influence policy discussions.
Present complex data in clear and compelling ways to support advocacy campaigns.
Understand and navigate legislative systems to advocate for policy change.
What Our Graduates Say
Rachel Bhalla (MPA 2023)
Government Affairs, Everytown for Gun Safety
“The Advocacy & Political Action Specialization gave me the insights and tools to be an effective government affairs professional. In my career, I have worked with elected officials and broad coalitions of stakeholders. Having the tools that my specialization gave me to understand not only policy and politics but also how to build trust and collaborate with diverse groups of people has allowed me to be effective in making change.”
Curriculum Overview
Our 45-credit program includes a blend of foundational courses, specializations, electives, and a capstone project. This comprehensive curriculum provides you with the critical skills and knowledge needed for leadership in public and nonprofit management and policy.
Learn More About the Curriculum
Program Requirements
Below is an overview of the required coursework. For detailed information, view the program checksheet.
Students must complete the following core courses:
CORE-GP.1011, Statistical Methods
CORE-GP.1018, Microeconomics
CORE-GP.1020, Management and Leadership
CORE-GP.1021, Financial Management
CORE-GP.1022, Introduction to Public Policy
Students complete the following specialization courses:
PADM-GP.2106, Community Organizing
PADM-GP.2407, Advocacy Lab
PADM-GP.2411, Policy Formation and Policy Analysis
The capstone program, which is a year-long consulting or research project, puts you out in the world to resolve a problem or conduct an analysis for a client organization. All students must complete the following courses in conjunction with their capstone experience.
CAP-GP.3401 & 3402 Capstone: Advanced Projects in Policy, Management, Finance, and Advocacy I & II
-or-
CAP-GP 3148 & 3149 Capstone: Advanced Research Projects in Quantitative Analysis I & II
Focus Areas
These are optional clusters of courses designed to guide your elective choices.
Choosing electives within specialized focus areas allows you to deepen your expertise and develop more advanced skills. To gain in-depth knowledge in a focus area, we recommend completing nine credits. Alternatively, you can opt for a broader approach by choosing electives across different focus areas.
Develop the core elements of successful advocacy campaigns, including research, strategic planning, and data-driven decision-making. These courses provide the essential frameworks needed to plan and execute effective advocacy efforts.
Gain specialized knowledge in key issue areas like criminal justice, human rights, or environmental policy. These courses prepare you to apply your expertise to advocacy campaigns and political action.
In addition to the courses in the specialization-related elective focus areas above, to gain a breadth of knowledge and skills, you may also wish to choose electives from across course offerings, including from the school-wide focus areas or a different specialization.
Additional MPA Program Degree Specializations
Why Choose NYU Wagner?
Your chosen MPA program sets the foundation for a successful career in public and nonprofit management and policy. Our interdisciplinary approach, expert faculty, and prime New York City location offer unparalleled learning, growth, and professional development opportunities.
Here’s what sets us apart:
Convenience & Flexibility
Our program offers flexible scheduling for both full-time and part-time students, with start terms available in both the Fall and Spring. Full-time students who begin in the Fall can complete the program in as little as two years. Part-time students typically finish in three to four years.
Distinguished Faculty
Learn from premier scholars in a variety of disciplines, including economics, finance, management, political science, law, planning, and healthcare. These highly-accomplished industry leaders will prepare you to effectively address issues across sectors and policy arenas.
Real-World Experience
A year-long capstone project is the pinnacle of your graduate experience, offering an opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge to real-world challenges. Collaborating with peers and expert faculty mentors, you'll take on pressing issues facing communities both locally and globally.
Tangible Career Outcomes
MPA graduates work in government agencies, nonprofits, international organizations, corporate social responsibility departments, and a multitude of other sectors. This includes organizations such as the American Red Cross, APCO Worldwide, Ernst & Young, Everytown for Gun Safety, NY Green Bank, United Nations, and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Advocacy and Political Action Faculty
How to Apply
Ready to take the next step? Explore the application process, admissions criteria, and deadlines for our MPA-PNP Advocacy & Political Action Specialization.
Submit your online application, including two essays (with an optional video essay), your resume or curriculum vitae, two letters of recommendation from academic or professional settings, transcripts from colleges or universities, and standardized test scores. You’ll also need to submit the $85 application fee and review any requirements specific to international applicants. To make sure you have everything you need, we created a complete application checklist.
We invite students from all majors and backgrounds to apply who demonstrate aptitude in both quantitative and qualitative coursework, along with strong written and verbal communication skills. We value a deep commitment to public service, whether shown through academic studies, work experience, or volunteer efforts, and we encourage career changers to explore our program as well. Our admissions process is focused on identifying candidates with the potential to make a significant impact, regardless of scope, and who appreciate professional experience from all sectors to enrich the learning environment.
While we prefer applicants to have about two years of relevant professional experience, such as full-time, part-time, internship, or volunteer work, it is not a requirement for admission. Students without two years of full-time, degree-relevant experience will participate in the Professional Experience Requirement (PER) to enhance their understanding of the public service field.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Find out detailed information about the cost of attendance, and access resources to finance your education—including federal loan programs and merit-based fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships.
Tuition is calculated on a per-credit basis. Your tuition costs are customized based on the total number of credits you enroll in each term.
Per-Credit Tuition Costs (2024-2025)
| FALL 2024 | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Tuition per point/credit |
$2,395 |
$2,395 |
$2,395 |
PER-SEMESTER TUITION COSTS (2024-2025)
| Credits | Tuition |
|---|---|
6 credits |
$14,370 |
9 credits |
$21,555 |
12 credits |
$28,740 |
View the tuition and fee calculator at the NYU Bursar's website.
*For Executive Masters students, fees also include a one-time $1,758 EMPA program fee. The program fee will be split across two semesters:
- EXEC-GP 100 = $879 (Fall 2024)
- EXEC-GP 101 = $879 (Spring 2025)
**A typical part-time student enrolls in 6 credits per fall and spring semester each academic year. A typical full-time student enrolls in 12 credits per fall and spring semester each academic year.
|
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
Housing |
$23,588 |
||
Food |
$6,450 |
||
Books |
$1,510 |
||
Transportation |
$2,342 |
||
Personal Expenses |
$3,000 |
||
Student Basic Health Insurance** |
$4,346 |
||
ESTIMATED TOTAL |
$41,236 |
*Please note that these expenses, based on 2024-2025 rates, are discretionary for students and are included here to assist you in planning your budget.
**Based on Basic Plan. For more information on student health insurance options, including premiums, enrollment, and waivers, please visit the NYU Student Health Insurance website.
Most NYU Wagner students fund their studies through a variety of means—private or federal student loans, college work-study, or student employment. You can seek out supplementary funding by applying to external merit-based or need-based scholarship programs that award students pursuing a degree program in public service.
Federal Student Loans
Federal student loan programs offer low-interest student loan options for US Citizens and Permanent Residents. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid. Graduate financial aid programs available to students who study in New York State include:
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Federal Grad/Professional Plus Loans
- Federal Work Study
Compare the different types of federal loan programs.
How to Apply
If you are a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and you wish to be considered for need-based federal financial aid, you must complete the current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). List "New York University" as a recipient and include our federal school code number 002785. Deadline: You should submit the FAFSA no later than October 1 for spring-start students or February 1 for fall-start students. While the FAFSA is accepted after these deadlines, late submission will cause a delay in the determination (and notification) of your aid eligibility (but it does not impact the amount of funding for which you are eligibile).
Private Loan Programs
A variety of additional, private (non-federal) alternative loans are also available from individual lending institutions. Please think carefully about your obligations as a borrower before pursuing any educational loan. Consider your educational investment at NYU, as well as your long-term financial commitments when borrowing.
See a reference list of private lenders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, NYU Wagner offers a number of merit-based scholarships. All part-time and full-time students are considered.
The best degree for advocacy depends on your career goals. Degrees in public administration, law, and political science are common paths that can provide a strong foundation in policy and social justice. For those looking to specialize, NYU Wagner’s MPA concentration in advocacy and political action offers focused training in organizing, lobbying, and participatory policymaking.
Yes, careers in advocacy can be both impactful and financially rewarding. Roles such as lobbyists, political consultants, and program directors often come with competitive salaries in both nonprofit and governmental organizations.
A career in advocacy involves shaping public policy, organizing campaigns, and driving social change. Graduates may work as community organizers, lobbyists, legislative aides, and program directors, among other positions.