Faculty
Professors: Kurt Beron,
Brian J.L. Berry, Lloyd Jeff Dumas, Euel Elliott, Donald Hicks, Paul Jargowsky, Murray Leaf, Robert Lowry, James Marquart, Todd Sandler, Richard Scotch, Barry Seldon, Paul Tracy
Associate Professors: Bobby
Alexander, Marie Chevrier, Simon Fass,
Bruce Jacobs, Jennifer Holmes, Susan McElroy, Kevin Siqueira,
John Worrall
Assistant Professors: Melinda Kane,
Karen Hayslett-McCall, Sheryl Skaggs
Mission
The Mission of the Master of Science in Public Policy is to offer students an
interdisciplinary graduate education designed to develop skill sets critical
for a career in which a solid understanding of the public policy process and
the analysis and evaluation of public policies are essential. Students will be
prepared for analytical and administrative positions and responsibilities in a
wide array of professional settings in the public, non-profit, and private
sectors. Specific skills include knowledge of the policy process and related ethical
concerns, rigorous research skills that provide students with an essential
grounding in statistical and data analysis and research design, and effective
communication skills.
Objectives
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Students will understand and analyze
the principal policy making institutions and the ways in which they formulate,
debate and implement public policies at the national, sub-national and local levels.: Students will examine legislative, executive, and
non-governmental roles in policy formation at different levels of government.
They will analyze the ways in which the various institutions interact and set
policy priorities. They will study policy implementation and the interrelated
functions of levels of governments, non-profit and corporate entities in policy
implementation.
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Students will learn and apply
quantitative skills and economic theories to measure and evaluate public
policies. They will learn when to apply appropriate techniques to complex
policies. They will demonstrate an understanding of techniques to examine the
preferred outcomes of policy alternatives to advise senior officials. Students
will acquire skills in applying statistical measures of projected policy
outcomes. Students will learn economic theories and acquire skills in applying
those theories appropriately to establish policy objectives and outcomes.
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Students will understand the role of
and learn appropriate, rigorous ways to design research to increase knowledge
of public policy and citizen welfare. Students will learn ways to
quantitatively and qualitatively design research projects that address
important public policy questions and concerns.
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Students will learn and understand
the unique role of ethical theories and behavior as it applies to the public
and non-profit sectors. Students will understand the ethical obligation of
elected and appointed governmental officials to the body politic. Students will
understand the functions of internal and public oversight of the formation and
implementation of public policies.
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Students will develop expertise in a
substantive area of public policy and learn how to effectively communicate new
findings and innovative policies to senior decision makers and the general public.: Students will study one of three major public
policy disciplines--social policy, health policy or the business-government
relationship. Students will understand the theories and scientific principles
that support these substantive policy areas and the ways in which those
theories are tested. Students will understand how these policy areas contribute
to the well-being of citizens to enhance the quality of life.
Qualified
students are encouraged to consider the Ph.D. in Public Policy and Political
Economy (PPPE). Such students should meet with Program Director of PPPE as soon
as possible to discussion options.
Facilities
Students have access to the computing facilities in the School of Economic,
Political and Policy Sciences and the University�s Computing Center. The School
has two computing laboratories that have over 50 computers that are network
linked and equipped with major social science software packages, including
E-Views, R. Rats, SPSS, and STATA. A computerized geographic information
system, the Lexis Nexis Database and WestLaw are also available for student use. The
University�s Computing Center provides personal computers and UNIX
Workstations. Many important data and reference materials are also available
online via the library and school�s memberships in numerous organizations.
Admissions
Requirement
The University�s general admission requirements are discussed here.
The
master�s program in Public Policy seeks applications from students with a
baccalaureate degree from an accredited university of college. A 3.0 undergraduate grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), and a
combined verbal and quantitative score of at least 1200 on the Graduate Records
Examination (GRE). Students may also wish to consider submitting their
score from the writing component of the GRE test as additional evidence of
their writing skills. Standardized test scores are only one of the factors
taken into account in determining admission. Students should also submit all
transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a one-page essay outlining
the applicant�s background, education, and professional objectives.
Prerequisites
While there are no specific course prerequisites, entering students will benefit
from exposure to undergraduate courses in the Economic, Political and Policy
Sciences, college algebra, and research design.
Degree Requirements
Students seeking a Masters in Public Policy must complete at least 36 semester
credit hours of graduate coursework in the program. The program has three
components:
1.
Twenty-one
semester hours of required coursework
2.
Nine
semester hours of prescribed electives
3.
Six
hours of free electives
Students must
maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average to graduate.
I.
Required Core Courses
1.
Policymaking
and Institutions (Six hours)
POEC/PA
5303 Public Policymaking and Institutions
POEC/PA 5308 Ethics, Culture, and Public Responsibility
2.
Methodology
[Statistics, Research Design, and related � nine hours]
POEC/PA
5313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
POEC 5316 Advanced Regression Analysis
Select
one of the following:
POEC
5310 Research Design I
POEC 6352 Evaluation Research
3.
Economics
(Three hours)
POEC/PA
5307 Economics for Public Policy
4.
Policy
Workshop or Prescribed Elective (Three hours)
Select
one of the following:
POEC
7V47 Policy Research Workshop in Health Care Policy
POEC 7V62 Policy Research Workshop in Social Policy
II.
Prescribed Electives
Students complete nine hours in ONE of the following options.
All courses must be approved by the Program Director.
A.
Business and Public Policy
B.
Criminology
C.
Domestic Social Policy
D.
Health
Students should consult the graduate catalog, and the Program Director, for
additional information regarding those courses that would best satisfy the
�Prescribed Electives� requirement.
III.
Free Electives
Students may select six hours of 5000 level or higher
courses. Students may choose courses that are not selected under �Core Courses�
to fulfill this requirement.