image of Erin Dwyer in a public policy class

The MPP Capstone (PLCY 8127) is a semester-length project that students complete towards the end of their time in the MPP program. They produce an original, full-length public policy project for a real-world client. Students attend a weekly seminar to report on their progress at each stage in the development of their project, receive feedback from other seminar participants, and provide advice to other students in the seminar. In addition to practical experience in using the analytic tools they have learned in other MPP courses, the goals of the capstone include giving students experience in organizing and working on team projects and in managing client relations.

Clients who have benefitted from Temple MPP Capstone teams include:

Spring 2023

  • City of Philadelphia, Fire Department
  • City of Philadelphia, Office of Innovation and Technology, Smart City PHL
  • Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
  • Pew Charitable Trusts
  • The Enterprise Center

Spring 2022

  • Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
  • Diverse Chambers of Commerce Coalition
  • The Graduate! Network
  • Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
  • Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC)

Spring 2021

  • Beyond Literacy
  • Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
  • Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
  • Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Fair Labor Division
  • City of Philadelphia, Office of Transportation Infrastructure and Sustainability, Office of the Managing Director

Spring 2020

  • Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Policy and Planning
  • School District of Philadelphia, Office of Research and Evaluation and Office of Prevention and Intervention
  • City of Philadelphia, Office of the Managing Director, Office of Health and Human Services
  • City of Philadelphia, City Council, Office of the President, Technical Staff

Fall 2019

  • City of Philadelphia, Office of Transportation Infrastructure and Sustainability, Office of the Managing Director

Spring 2019

  • Committee of 70, Policy Director
  • Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), Chief Strategy and Communications Officer
  • Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Director of Innovation and Director of Legislative and Community Affairs

Fall 2018

  • City of Philadelphia, Mayor’s Policy Office, Planning and Development, and Chief Administrative Office, City of Philadelphia

Spring 2018

  • Center City District
  • Public Citizens for Children and Youth, Health Policy Director
  • City of Philadelphia, Office of the Mayor, Director of Policy

Past Capstone Projects