Master of
Public Policy (MPP) – 2005-07 Catalog
Political Science Department
Faculty Office Bldg. (47), Room 14-A
805 756-2984
General
Characteristics
The
Master of Public Policy degree program (MPP) is professionally oriented, and
open to students who wish to pursue analytic careers in government and
nonprofit organizations or in organizations related to public policy
regulations. The program is structured to prepare graduates with competence to
function in a general context of policy, as well as in analysis. The core
courses cover statistics, public policy, public policy analysis, quantitative
methods, public finance, policy internship, and graduate seminar.
The MPP program is designed to
meet the needs of those who have earned baccalaureate degrees in a variety of
disciplines, including, but not limited to, economics, history, political
science, social sciences, psychology, city and regional planning, business
administration, education, environmental studies, and natural resource
management.
The program is two years in
duration for students taking 8 or more units per term. It consists of 55
approved units (not including courses necessary to compensate for
deficiencies). Because of the sequencing of courses, students admitted to the
program are expected to begin study in the fall quarter. The degree culminates
in the second year with a two-term seminar (POLS 590) where analytical projects
will be undertaken. Both group reports and individual papers will be developed,
presented, and discussed. The program offers students opportunities to develop
close working relationships with faculty. Self-directed study, tailored to
student interest and needs, is encouraged.
Prerequisites
Students entering the program
are expected to bring with them backgrounds in certain basic subject areas or
to make up deficiencies in these areas after admission. These include the
following Cal Poly course or its equivalent: STAT 221 Introduction to
Probability and Statistics (4 units).
Admission
Requirements
1.
Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited
college or university;
2.
A grade point average of not less than 2.75 in all
undergraduate coursework or not less than 3.00 in all upper division
coursework;
3.
Related undergraduate coursework or work experience;
4.
The quality of previous educational and professional
experiences measured by:
a. Biographical and career data
(resumes, examples of reports, letters of recommendation, etc.), and
b. Professional training in fields such
as budgeting, management, and supervision in the public, health, or nonprofit
sectors.
5.
For applicants whose preparatory education is
principally in a language other than English, a TOEFL score of 550 or higher
(or 213 on the new conversation scale for the computer-based TOEFL exam).
Program
of Study
Graduate students must file a
formal study plan with their major professor, graduate committee, department, college and university graduate studies office no later than
the end of the quarter in which the twelfth unit of approved courses is
completed. The formal program of study must include a minimum of 55 units (at
least 43 of which must be at the 500 level).
|
Required Courses |
Units |
|
STAT
512 Statistical Methods |
4 |
|
POLS
515 Public Policy |
4 |
|
POLS
516 Public Finance |
4 |
|
POLS
518 Public Policy Analysis |
4 |
|
POLS
560 Quantitative Methods |
5 |
|
POLS 586 Policy Internship |
8 |
|
POLS
590 Graduate Seminar |
8 |
|
Electives |
18 |
|
Additional 400 and
500-level courses, to be selected with graduate adviser’s approval. |
|
|
|
___ |