MPP Virtual Open House

All About Batten

Welcome to the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy! While we hope to someday welcome you to our beautiful campus in person, we are pleased to offer you this interactive Masters of Public Policy Virtual Open House option to explore all Batten has to offer. We invite you to look through the videos and resources below at your own pace.  

Please also visit our Graduate Admissions and FAQ pages for additional information. If you have questions, you can contact us via email at battenadmissions@virginia.edu, and make sure to fill out our Prospective Student Inquiry Form so we can keep you posted on all things Batten.

At UVA’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, we are committed to solving the world’s toughest policy challenges. We know the complex issues of our time demand innovative, collaborative, cross-sector relationships within our walls and beyond.

Our multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving and emphasis on ethics reinforce our focus on how leadership works, why context matters in decision-making and which actions lead to tangible results.

 

 

More about Batten

Interested in Seeing More: Batten MPP Student Life Panel    

 

 

 Meet our MPP Ambassador Sarah Boches
Batten School student

Email: vkp2td@virginia.edu 

Hometown: Abington, PA | Short Hills, NJ  

Undergraduate Institution and Major/Minor: University of Rochester with a major in International Relations and a minor in History  

Why I Chose Batten: The people. The faculty and staff met with me before I even committed, to answer any questions I had. Their commitment to everyone, not just those who had already committed, demonstrated their level of care, dedication, and vested interest regardless of where a student went. Since then, I have been blown away at how much Batten truly feels like a family  

Favorite Batten Project or Class: So many to choose from! LPPA 6150/LPPA 7160: Research Methods and Data Analysis I and II, LPPA 6100/LPPA 7110: Economics of Public Policy I and II, LPPP 6250: Introduction to Policy Analysis, and LPPP 7559: Geopolitical Underpinnings of Foreign Policy  

Fun Fact About Me: I got stitches because a boat light flew off and hit me in the head! 

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Hear from Admissions: What is the Batten MPP: Why is the Batten MPP Different? 

Get in touch with Jeff Chidester, External Director of External Affairs 

434.924.7300 

Jchidester@virginia.edu 

Make an Appointment  

Prospective Student Inquiry Form 

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And if after all this you’re interested in visiting Batten in person, Estrella, Batten's Admissions Coordinator, would love to help you coordinate an in-person visit! 

 
 
Picture of Garrett Hall

Located in beautiful Charlottesville, Virginia, the Batten School is one of twelve schools at the University of Virginia. Attending the Batten School is not just about spending time inside the classroom, but also exploring and engaging in the vibrant local community. 

Explore our campus virtually: 

Explore Charlottesville:

Batten Students Love to Give Back!
Students with shovels volunteering

 

Batten Builds is an annual day of service, where MPP and undergraduate Batten students come together to organize and give back to our local community. This annual event provides an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to help nonprofits and other community-based organizations in the area complete projects they need assistance with. 

Read more about our 2022 Batten Builds here! 

 

MPP Grad Outcomes

Hear from our Career Services Team:

To explore our 2022 career outcomes and see where past Batten alumni have ended up, check out our Employment Outcomes Page 

Alumni Spotlight: Maggie Anderson MPP ‘18 
MPP Alum Spotlight

Margaret “Maggie” Anderson is the current Chief of Staff in the Office of Mayor Levar Stoney (Richmond, VA), where she has worked since 2018. She began her journey as a Policy Analyst, but quickly rose to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff and then as the Mayor’s Chief of Staff. As Chief of Staff, Maggie is the quarterback of the Mayor’s Office, helping communicate and implement the Mayor’s vision and goals for the City of Richmond. Maggie has assisted with the completion of numerous initiatives that have propelled Richmond forward. These include working with the Human Rights Campaign to raise the city’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI) score to a perfect 100, managing the Mayor’s Task Force on Reimagining Public Safety, establishing the city’s first Equity Agenda, formalizing the city’s comprehensive Gun Violence Prevention and Intervention Framework, and shepherding the city’s $155 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds into a strategic spend plan–all initiatives that made Richmond safer, healthier, and more inclusive for its residents. 

To read more check out Batten Alumni RJ Rhode’s feature on Maggie here! 

 
MPP Curriculum Structure

Watch Here: Batten MPP Curriculum Overview: How is the MPP Curriculum Structured

Our two-year, full-time Master of Public Policy program offers more than the typical policy research and data analysis education found at other public policy schools. We focus on the result of policy — solving society’s most pressing problems. We stand distinguished by teaching and cultivating effective, value-based leadership so our graduates can make significant strides toward becoming the dynamic leaders the world demands. 

The program’s core curriculum combines rigorous data analysis with hands-on policy experience and a foundation in the concepts of leadership — how it works, why context matters in decision-making, and which actions lead to tangible results. 

The culmination of the program is an Applied Policy Project that challenges students to perform a professional-quality study for a real-world client. For the truly vigorous, it may even lead to a post-graduation position. 

See our full curriculum here

Learn From Our Professors:

Batten's MPP Summer Internship
Map of summer internships

Learn more about the MPP required internship! 

 

Graduate study is a major investment in your personal and professional future. At the Batten School, we are committed to working with each student to explore all funding options.  Many students are able to secure funding through fellowships, scholarships, internship stipends, grants, work-study positions, graduate teaching assistantships, grader positions, research, and more. 

For Academic Year 2023-2024, tuition and fees for in-state students is $32,630 and for out-of-state students is $58,778. In addition to tuition and fees, students must also consider the cost of books and supplies, housing, and other living expenses. You can review the Estimated Graduate Cost of Attendance during an academic year (nine months) and learn more about general financial aid from the University of Virginia on Student Financial Services’ website. This financial support can take several forms, including loans

Video Resources:

Want to Learn More? Here are next steps to get you started: