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2013-2014 University Catalog
Public Policy, MPP
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Banner Code: PP-MPP-PUBP
Phone: 703-993-2280
Web: policy.gmu.edu
The master’s program in public policy leads to a degree for aspiring or experienced professionals who seek career advancement through cutting-edge education and training in policy analysis and development in increasingly technical and global environments. The program prepares students to be reflective practitioners who develop, implement, manage, analyze, evaluate, and effect innovative change in the public and private sectors through a course of study that emphasizes the fundamentals of policy development; the role of technology, analytic assessment, and modeling for policy evaluation; and the implications of international and global perspectives on policy formation.
The MPP without concentration affords students the opportunity to tailor their program towards one or more substantive policy area(s). The freedom to choose an emphasis area provides students with some flexibility in selecting a focus for their program.
In addition to the MPP without concentration, the school offers an MPP with a concentration in international security. This concentration takes a “policy-in-execution” approach to security studies where students learn to integrate all resources of the state and tools of government to achieve policy objectives.
Courses are offered primarily in late afternoon and evening to fit the schedules of busy professionals.
Admission Requirements
Please see the Graduate Admission Policies section in this catalog for general information on graduate admission to George Mason University. Specific information on application requirements and deadlines for the Master in Public Policy program may be found on the School of Public Policy admissions web site.
Completed applications for fall and spring semesters are reviewed on a rolling basis, with late applications considered on a space-available basis. Students may be admitted for nondegree study and apply a limited number of credits toward the master’s degree should they choose to apply to the degree program later, in accordance with university policy.
Academic Policies
Students admitted to an SPP program will be terminated from SPP upon receiving one grade of F and are no longer eligible to take courses in SPP. Per university regulation students are dismissed from the university after accumulating grades of F in two courses or 9 credits of unsatisfactory grades in graduate courses. The catalog contains additional information on university graduate academic policies . |
Degree Requirements
Students must complete 39 to 42 credits of course work through a combination of core courses, electives, and a professional experience requirement. Appropriate professional experience can be demonstrated through previous employment or a supervised internship. Students will also be exposed to the global nature of public policy activity through the core requirement of international comparative policy assessment. The plan of study includes the following: MPP without Concentration
SPP Common Core (4 credits)
Required Public Policy Courses (20 credits)
Electives (15 credits)
Electives are chosen from one of the following policy emphasis areas. One of the courses in the emphasis sequence should have an international focus.
- Global Medical and Health Policy
- International Governance and Institutions
- National Security and Public Policy
- Public Finance and Budgeting
- Regional Economic Development
- Science and Technology Policy
- Social Policy
- Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption
- Transportation Policy
- Urban Policy and Development
- US Government Institutions and Policy Management
Professional Experience Requirement (0-3 credits)
Certification that the student has experience in the public policy process outside the classroom and is ready to take leadership responsibilities must be exhibited by one of two ways: relevant professional experience, approved by the program director, or an approved internship. ▲ International Security Concentration
The SPP international security concentration takes a grand strategic approach to the training of both civilian and military professionals. Grand strategy is “policy in execution.” It is the highest and most complex level of strategy, involving all the resources of the state (political, cultural, military, economic, etc.), and integrating all the tools of government (diplomacy, economic ties, development aid, public diplomacy, trade, military force, etc.) to achieve the objectives of policy. The curriculum is designed for security professionals who wish to work in many areas of global security, from charitable NGOs and private companies to international organizations and the American military and intelligence agencies.
The plan of study includes the following: SPP Common Core (4 credits)
Required Public Policy Courses (20 credits)
Individual sections of some core courses may be designated for students in the international security concentration. Electives (15 credits)
Elective coursework for the international security concentration focuses on such areas as non-traditional security threats, human trafficking, the intelligence community, terrorism, illicit trade, political violence, and national security management. Courses are selected with the assistance of and should be approved by the program advisor. Professional Experience Requirement (0-3 credits)
Certification that the student has experience in the public policy process outside the classroom and is ready to take leadership responsibilities must be exhibited by one of two ways: relevant professional experience, approved by the program director, or an approved internship. |
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