UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy Launches New Master of Public Policy

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A two-year degree program, the Master of Public Policy at the School of Global Policy and Strategy offers a unique opportunity for students to study U.S. policy-making within a global context.

The School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) at the University of California, San Diego has expanded its roster of globally renowned degree programs with the launch of a new Master of Public Policy.

A two-year degree program, the Master of Public Policy offers a unique opportunity for students to study U.S. policy-making within a global context. Students in the program will learn how to do rigorous analysis of such pressing issues as economic growth and opportunity, energy, the environment, public health, public finance and security and will also learn from best practices around the world. The program is designed to meet the rapidly growing need for skilled professionals capable of understanding and recommending policy options addressing society’s most pressing problems.

Students in the Master of Public Policy program can choose to focus on American politics and policy, international business and regulation or to cultivate skills in program design and evaluation. No matter which specialization is chosen, graduates of the program will be experts in analyzing and applying best practices in regulation and policymaking domestically and internationally.

“Best practice approaches to public policy problems now require analysis through a global lens,” said Peter F. Cowhey, dean of the School of Global Policy and Strategy. “Better solutions are emerging in every corner of the world. But the feasibility of these ideas requires a rigorous understanding of local and national economic, technical and political conditions.”

This degree is unique as it goes beyond the U.S.-centric view, while offering technically demanding training and analysis of public policy, Cowhey added. 

At its core, the curriculum focuses on the need for a comprehensive worldview, with a strong understanding of how public policy, management and international interactions shape strategic decision-making. Courses range from policy and political decision-making in the U.S. to policy analysis and theory, as well as managerial economics, public finance and quantitative methods.

“The Master of Public Policy degree offers specializations in internationally relevant areas, including energy and the environment, global public health and security policy,” said Wendy Hunter Barker, assistant dean of academic programs at GPS. “Students can also choose to focus on American politics and policy, international business and regulation or to cultivate skills in program design and evaluation. No matter which specialization is chosen, our graduates will be experts in analyzing and applying best practices in regulation and policymaking domestically and internationally.”

The Master of Public Policy degree will be taught in close collaboration with UC San Diego’s departments of political science and economics, both within the Division of Social Sciences. Leveraging UC San Diego’s social-science policy expertise, as well as its strengths in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and health sciences, the degree enables students to draw upon the many assets of UC San Diego, which is recognized as one of the top 15 research universities worldwide.

“Students will have the opportunity to work side by side with faculty to analyze and address global challenges,” Cowhey said. “They will receive state-of-the-art training in the evaluation and design of policy interventions. Students will have the opportunity to assess the political and administrative feasibility of proposed solutions to pressing problems and understand the growing role of non-profits in tackling societal challenges.”

The Master of Public Policy is accepting applications for fall 2016. The 92-unit degree program can be completed in two years. For more information, visit gps.ucsd.edu.