MA in Public Policy with concentration in Philosophy & Social Policy
This long-established interdisciplinary Master of Arts program aims to provide students with the philosophical background needed to examine ethical and social-philosophical dimensions of issues of public policy while also equipping students with some of the standard tools of policy analysis (including political science, economics, and statistics). Students are expected to have completed the prerequisites to graduate courses.
Two options are available at the discretion of the faculty:
Option 1: minimum 24 credits, plus thesis (6 credits)
PHIL 6998: Thesis Research (3 credits)
PHIL 6999: Thesis Research(3 credits)
Option 2: 36 credits, no thesis
Philosophy Core
All students must choose four courses from the following:
PHIL 6230: Ethical Issues in Policy Arguments
PHIL 6231: Economic Justice
PHIL 6238: Feminist Ethics and Policy Implications
PHIL 6242: Philosophy, Law, and Social Policy
PHIL 6250: Topics in Health Policy
PHIL 6255: Philosophy of Social Science
PHIL 6262: Normative Issues in Foreign Policy
PHIL 6281: Environmental Philosophy and Policy
Public Policy Core
All students must choose four courses, one from each of the following groups:
A.
PSC 8229: Politics and Public Policy
PSC 8212: Urban Policy Problems
PSC 6224: Domestic Policy Analysis—Selected Topics
B.
ECON 6217: Survey of Economics ECON 6221: Economics in Policy Analysis
ECON 6237: Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources
ECON 6248: Health Economics
C.
PSC 6103: Approaches to Public Policy Analysis
WSTU 6240: Women and Public Policy
ENRP 6298: Seminar in Environmental and Resource Policy
HIST 6011: Seminar: History and Public Policy
D. PPA 6002 Research Methods and Applied Statistics (equivalent as approved by the advisor)
Electives
Electives may focus on a particular policy area (e.g., biomedical/health care, urban/welfare, or environmental policy), or may explore varied approaches and policy issues. There are a very large number of substantive policy courses in a wide variety of policy fields from which to choose electives.
Comprehensive Exam
Each candidate must pass a Master's Comprehensive Examination based on the particular interdisciplinary composition of the student's program of study.
How does this program differ from the MPP?
The core curriculum for this Master of Arts program draws heavily on philosophy courses, with an interdisciplinary approach to the public policy core coursework.
The Master of Public Policy core curriculum consists of courses in the interdisciplinary field of public policy; students can pursue a field of study in philosophy and social policy. Students can also opt to fulfill the philosophical and historical approaches to public policy requirement with a philosophy course. The MPP does not require a comprehensive exam, or a thesis; it does require completion of the Capstone Seminar (PPPA 6019).
