Master of Public Policy
http://www.utdallas.edu/epps/pppe/
Faculty
Professors: Sheila Amin de Gutiérrez de Piñeres, Kurt
Beron, Brian J.L. Berry, Lloyd J. Dumas, Euel W. Elliott, Donald A. Hicks, Murray
J. Leaf, Richard K. Scotch,
Associate Professors: Bobby C. Alexander, Simon M. Fass,
Jennifer S. Holmes, Sheryl L. Skaggs
Mission
The
Mission of the Master of Public Policy is to offer students an
interdisciplinary graduate education designed to develop skills for careers 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 as well as
advanced study for careers in research. 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
•
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.
•
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.
•
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.
•
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.
•
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 the school’s
memberships in numerous organizations.
Admissions Requirement
The master’s program in Public
Policy seeks applications from students with a baccalaureate degree from an
accredited university or college. Although applications will be reviewed
holistically, in general, entering students have earned a 3.0 undergraduate grade
point average (on a 4.0 scale), and a combined verbal and quantitative score of
1100 or greater on the Graduate Records Examination (GRE). 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 economics, political sciences, sociology, college algebra, statistics,
public policy, and research design.
Grading Policy
In
order to qualify for graduation, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade
point average in their degree program’s core courses plus an aggregate grade
point average of 3.0 for all graduate courses taken in the student’s degree
program at U.T. Dallas.
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 (B) grade point
average to graduate.
I.
Required Core Courses
1. Policymaking and Institutions (6 hours)
POEC 6323/PSCI 6313 Public Policymaking and Institutions
POEC 6329 Ethics, Culture, and Public Policy
or POEC 7318
Ethics, Culture and Public Responsibility
2. Methodology [Statistics, Research Design, and related – 9 hours]
Methods Core (Algebra-based or
Calculus based)
Algebra-based series
EPPS 6313 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
EPPS 6316 Applied Regression
Or
Calculus based series
EPPS 7313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
EPPS 7316 Regression and Multivariate Analysis
Select one of the following:
EPPS 6310 Research Design I
EPPS 6352 Evaluation Research Methods in the Economic,
Political and Policy Sciences
3. Economics (Three hours)
ECON 6306 Applied Microeconomics or POEC 6390 Innovation and
Public
Policy
4. A
POEC Policy Research Workshop or another
course, internship or elective approved as a substitution as approved by the
Program Direction. (3 hours)
.
II.
Prescribed Electives
Students
complete nine hours in ONE of the following areas of
concentration. All courses must be approved by the Program Director.
A. Domestic
Social Policy
B. Security
Studies
C. Geographic Information
Systems (GIS)
D. Quantitative
Methods
Other concentration proposed by the student and approved by
the Director
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
6000 level or higher courses. Students may choose courses that are not selected
under “Core Courses” to fulfill this requirement and may choose courses outside
the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.