The master of 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. Courses are offered primarily in the late afternoon and evening, as well as online, to fit the schedules of busy professionals.
Admissions
Requirements
See Graduate Admission Policies for general information on graduate admission to George Mason University. Specific information on application requirements and deadlines may be found with Schar Admissions. 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.
Policies
Termination from Program
Students admitted to a Schar program will be terminated from Schar upon receiving one grade of F and are no longer eligible to take courses in Schar. Per university regulation, students are terminated from the university after accumulating grades of F in two courses or 9 credits of unsatisfactory grades in graduate courses. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see Graduate Policies.
Program Requirements
Students must complete 36 to 39 credits of coursework 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.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 36-39
Required Public Policy Courses
Students take one required course and one elective in each of the four elements below.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Practice Element | ||
| Required Course | 3 | |
| Theory and Practice in Public Policy | ||
| Choose one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Advocacy and Lobbying | ||
| Policy Writing Fundamentals | ||
| US Institutions and the Policy Process | ||
| Analysis Element | ||
| Required Course | 3 | |
| Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government | ||
| Choose one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| The Scientific Method and Research Design | ||
| Advanced Data Analysis for Policy and Government | ||
| Policy and Program Evaluation | ||
| Big Data Analytics for Policy and Government | ||
| Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis for Public Policy | ||
| Advanced Field Research for Policy: Theory and Method | ||
| Governance Element | ||
| Required Course | 3 | |
| National Budgeting | ||
| Choose one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Technology, Culture and Commerce | ||
| Culture, Organization, and Technology | ||
| Social Entrepreneurship and Public Policy | ||
| Economics Element | ||
| Required Course | 3 | |
| Microeconomics for Public Policy | ||
| Choose of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Macroeconomic Policy in the Global Economy | ||
| Labor Markets and Policies | ||
| Public Sector Economics for Public Policy | ||
| Advanced Economic Analysis for Policy Research | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
- 1
POGO 750: Topics in Policy and Government, as approved by advisor.
Electives
Electives are chosen from one of the following policy emphasis areas. One of the courses in the emphasis sequence should have an international focus.
- Economic Policy
- Education Policy
- 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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credits from the following in consultation with the student's advisor: 2 | 12 | |
| Grand Strategy | ||
| Ethics and the Use of Force | ||
| International Conflict and Crisis Response | ||
| Peace and Stabilization Operations | ||
| Topics in Public Policy | ||
| Transportation Economics | ||
| Metropolitan Transportation Policy | ||
| Telecommunications Policy | ||
| US Institutions and the Policy Process | ||
| Urban Politics and Policy | ||
| Cases and Concepts in E-Government | ||
| Media and Public Policy | ||
| Transportation Safety and Security | ||
| National Security Management and Policy | ||
| Air Transportation Policy, Operations and Logistics | ||
| Public Transportation Policy, Operations and Logistics | ||
| History of Military Operations Other than War | ||
| International Police Operations | ||
| Ethics in Public Policy | ||
| Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis for Public Policy | ||
| National Security Decision-Making Policy | ||
| Public Policy in Global Health and Medical Practice | ||
| Global Threats and Medical Policies | ||
| National Security Law and Public Policy | ||
| Science and Technology Policy in the 21st Century | ||
| Social Institutions and Public Policy | ||
| Illicit Trade | ||
| Transnational Crime and Corruption | ||
| Human Smuggling and Trafficking | ||
| Modern Counterinsurgency: Theory and Practice | ||
| Education and Public Policy (Topic Varies) | ||
| Political Violence and Terrorism | ||
| Critical Infrastructure Protection: Policy and Practice | ||
| Global Governance | ||
| Issues in Public Management | ||
| Global Development and Human Security | ||
| Global Business and Policy | ||
| Country Risk Analysis | ||
| Directed Readings and Research | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government | ||
| Issues in International Security | ||
| Issues in International Management | ||
| Issues in Public Policy | ||
| Issues in Local Government Administration | ||
| Issues in Public Financial Management | ||
| Global Financial Crises and Institutions | ||
| Global Trade Relations | ||
| Special Topics in International Commerce and Policy | ||
| Special Topics in International Commerce and Policy: Study Abroad | ||
| International Business Transactions: Finance and Investment | ||
| World Trade Organization and Global Trade | ||
| Trade and Regulatory Compliance | ||
| European Political and Economic Union | ||
| Political Economy and Integration in Latin America | ||
| International Telecommunications | ||
| Introduction to Conflict Analysis and Resolution | ||
| Comparative International Health Systems | ||
| Introduction to the U.S. Health System | ||
| Integrated Health Systems Management | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 2
Other courses must be approved by the advisor or program director.
Professional Experience Requirement
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Up to three credits of | 0-3 | |
| Internship | ||
| Total Credits | 0-3 | |
Bachelor's Degree (any)/Public Policy, Accelerated MPP
Overview
Highly-qualified undergraduates in any major may apply to the accelerated Master of Public Policy (MPP) program. If accepted, students will be able to earn a bachelor’s degree in their current undergraduate major and a Schar School master’s degree within a reduced timeframe. More information on bachelor's/accelerated master's programs may be found in AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees.
Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master's degree. See AP.6.9 Requirements for Master's Degrees.
Admission
Please see the Graduate Admissions Policies for general information on graduate admissions to George Mason University. Information specific to the accelerated master’s program may be found on the Schar School BAM website.
To be considered for this accelerated master's program, applicants must have completed a minimum of 60 credits, including 12 credits of Government and/or Economics courses, and have a minimum GPA of 3.50 in all coursework applied to the degree.
Accelerated Option Requirements
While undergraduate students, accelerated master's students may complete up to fifteen graduate credits of which twelve may be counted toward both the bachelor's and master's degrees. Remaining credits may be held as reserve graduate credit and count only toward the master's degree.. The student must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in each course. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in these courses and in coursework applied to their major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 500 | The Scientific Method and Research Design | 3 |
| POGO 511 | Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government | 3 |
| POGO 611 | Advanced Data Analysis for Policy and Government | 3 |
| or POGO 646 | Policy and Program Evaluation | |
| PUAD 662 | National Budgeting | 3 |
| PUBP 500 | Theory and Practice in Public Policy | 3 |
| PUBP 503 | Culture, Organization, and Technology | 3 |
| PUBP 570 | Policy Writing Fundamentals | 3 |
Upon completion and conferral of the undergraduate degree in the semester indicated in the application, students must submit the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition Form to apply credits to the master's degree. Students must begin their master's program the semester immediately following conferral of the undergraduate degree (excluding summer).
Joint Degree in Law & Public Policy
The JD/MPP Joint Degree Program in Law and Public Policy provides students with an opportunity to master the fundamentals of legal and policy analysis. It provides students with full legal training and a solid understanding of public policy, preparing them for careers in legal academia, government and policymaking. Upon completion of the graduation requirements of both schools, students of the joint degree program will receive both a JD from the Scalia Law School and an MPP from the Schar School of Policy and Government (Schar). Both degrees can be achieved on a full-time basis in approximately four years, instead of the five years that would be required if each degree were pursued sequentially.
Credit Requirements for the JD
The JD requires a total of 89 credit hours. Students must complete 40 credits of required curriculum (see table below) and 49 additional elective credits of upper-level coursework. Students completing the joint degree program may request at the beginning of their final year of study to have the number of required elective credits reduced from 49 to 40.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Law School's Original Curriculum Required Courses | 40 | |
| Intro to Lgl Res Writ | ||
| Contracts I | ||
| Torts | ||
| Economics for Lawyers | ||
| Property | ||
| Trial-Level Writing | ||
| Contracts II | ||
| Civil Procedure | ||
| Legislation Statutory Interp | ||
| Criminal Law | ||
| Appellate Writing | ||
| Const Law I-Structure of Gov't | ||
| Legal Drafting | ||
| Professional Responsibility | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 49 credits of elective courses: 1 | 49 | |
| Total Credits | 89 | |
- 1
Students completing the joint degree program may request at the beginning of their final year of study to have the number of required electives reduced from 49 to 40, as the joint degree program reduces the total number of credit hours needed for graduation.
Credit Requirements for the MPP
The MPP requires a total of 36credit hours. Joint degree students must complete all 24 credits of the required curriculum (see accompanying table). Twelve additional policy credits are required in upper division coursework in order to complete the MPP. Any student entering the program without relevant work experience will also be expected to complete a three credit policy related internship.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Schar's Original Curriculum Required Courses (24 credits) | ||
| PUBP 500 | Theory and Practice in Public Policy | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Policy Writing Fundamentals | ||
| US Institutions and the Policy Process | ||
| Advocacy and Lobbying | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government ((Project Management)) | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government ((Public Sector Leadership)) | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government ((Policy Communication)) | ||
| POGO 511 | Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Scientific Method and Research Design | ||
| Advanced Data Analysis for Policy and Government | ||
| Policy and Program Evaluation | ||
| Big Data Analytics for Policy and Government | ||
| Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis for Public Policy | ||
| Advanced Field Research for Policy: Theory and Method | ||
| PUBP 720 | Microeconomics for Public Policy | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Macroeconomic Policy in the Global Economy | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government ((Advanced Macroeconomic and Econometric Methods for Policy Analysis)) | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government ((Global Tax Policy)) | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government ((Economics of Education)) | ||
| Labor Markets and Policies | ||
| Advanced Economic Analysis for Policy Research | ||
| PUAD 662 | National Budgeting | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Culture, Organization, and Technology | ||
| Social Entrepreneurship and Public Policy | ||
| Technology, Culture and Commerce | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government ((Social Media Privacy and Innovation)) | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government (Biological and Environmental Data Science for Policy)) | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 12 credits of elective courses 2 | 12 | |
| Professional Experience (as needed) 3 | 0-3 | |
| Total Credits | 36-39 | |
- 2
Students completing the joint degree program may request at the beginning of their final year of study to have the number of required electives reduced from 12 to 9, as the joint degree program reduces the total number of credit hours needed for graduation.
- 3
Students who do not meet the professional work experience requirement of the Schar School of Policy and Government will be expected to complete a 3 credit internship that does not count towards the 36 credit degree completion total.
Additional Requirements
Students will have five years from matriculation in the Law School to complete the JD requirements and six years from matriculation in the Schar School of Policy and Government to complete the MPP requirements.
At the beginning of the final year of study, the student must seek approval from the law school for a reduced electives course load, as the joint degree program reduces the total number of credit hours needed for graduation from 125 (89 law, 36 public policy (39 if an internship is required)) to 113 (80 law, 33 public policy (36 if an internship is required)).
Students in the joint degree program will not receive a cumulative GPA, but instead will have two separate transcripts maintained by the separate departments. If a student decides at any point to abandon the joint degree program and pursue one degree or the other, the credit reduction will not remain and students will be expected to complete the entire credit load to receive the degree (89 hours for the JD and 36 hours for the MPP (39 hours if an internship is required)).