Public Policy (MPP)

Graduate Program in Public Policy

http://www.uni.edu/csbs/publicpolicy/
30 Baker Hall
Cedar Falls, IA 50614

Head: Dr. Allen Hays
Phone: (319) 273-2910
E-mail: Allen.Hays@uni.edu

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. R. Allen Hays Jr.
Phone: (319) 273-2910
E-mail: Allen.Hays@uni.edu

Read the UNI Catalog description:

The Master of Public Policy is a professional interdisciplinary degree program providing specialized and advanced training for students wishing to assume roles as policy analysts, principally in the governmental and nonprofit sectors of society.

Students interested in this program must submit a completed Application for Admission to Graduate Study and a Masters in Public Policy Application Form. Both forms may be found at www.uni.edu/publicpolicy. Complete undergraduate transcripts are also required for admission review.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.

Core courses in the program provide thorough coverage of the contributions of political science, economics, and history to the analysis of public policy. The core also includes methods courses that provide training in the rigorous methods of policy analysis required of professionals in the field.

Focus courses allow a student to develop an understanding of a particular substantive or methodological area of policy analysis. Continuing participation in seminars allows discussion of current practice and development, provides a forum for on-going discussion, and includes philosophical orientation to the ethical questions which arise in policy contexts. An internship with a public policy organization introduces the student to the professional environment and allows application of theory and methods to actual policy problems.

Only graduate courses (course numbers 5000 or above) will apply to a graduate degree, even if the undergraduate course number (4999 or less) is listed. No exceptions will be made.

Admission to the M.P.P. program is competitive. Entering students are expected to have acquired introductory level knowledge, from their undergraduate training, of statistical methods, micro-economics, and American governmental process. Courses are available outside the degree program, for students who lack such background (e.g., ECON 1051 (920:054) , POL AMER 1014 (942:014) , and SOC 2020 (980:080) ). The M.P.P. is available on the non-thesis option, and requires 41-45 semester hours. A minimum of 12 hours of 200/6000-level course work is required.

M.P.P. students, in consultation with their faculty advisors, select a focus area and the course work needed to complete their study of public policy. They may choose either a substantive area of public policy (for example, urban policy, environmental policy, human services policy, criminal justice policy) or courses that provide them with additional training in public policy or methods of policy analysis.

In PUBPOL 6208 (950:208) , with the support of the instructor and benefiting from interaction with other students, each student prepares a research paper within the focus area.

If focus courses have prerequisites which instructors choose not to waive, these courses will be in addition to the above degree requirements.

The internship may be undertaken during the summer following the first or second year of classes or during any other approved period.

Successful completion of a final written and oral comprehensive examination is required.

Accelerated Master of Public Policy Program

The Accelerated Master of Public Policy program provides the opportunity for qualified UNI undergraduates to reduce the number of hours required for completion of the Master of Public Policy degree by meeting certain preparatory requirements prior to completing the B.A. degree.

1. Upon declaration of an undergraduate major, any UNI student may apply to the director of the program for entry into the preparatory phase of the Accelerated M.P.P. program. A student must have at least a 3.00 GPA in order to be considered for this program. Upon acceptance into the preparatory phase, the student signs an agreement with the director, which spells out the requirements for this phase of the program.
2. The following four courses are included in the preparatory phase of the program:

All of these courses have prerequisites which must be completed before the student may enroll in them.

1. In order to count one of these courses toward admission to the accelerated M.P.P. program, the student must sign a contract with the instructor to do the same extra work that is required by that instructor for students to receive graduate credit for the course. No graduate credit will be awarded, but completion of the course in this manner contributes toward eligibility for the accelerated M.P.P. program.
2. In order to count one of these courses toward admission to the accelerated M.P.P. program, the student must receive a minimum grade of B in the class. In addition, to be considered for admission into the accelerated M.P.P. program, students must maintain a minimum of 3.00 GPA in all of their undergraduate work.
3. After completion of the preparatory phase, the student will be considered for admission to the accelerated M.P.P. program. Students who have completed three out of the four preparatory courses may also be considered for admission to the accelerated M.P.P.; however, the fourth course must be added as a graduate level course to the total hours required for the accelerated program. Enrollment in the accelerated program requires the completion of the B.A. degree.
4. In order to complete the accelerated M.P.P. in one additional year after the B.A., students will also need to enroll in a minimum of 7 hours of graduate work during their senior year, as provided for in this University Catalog (see policies and procedures for Graduate Credit for Undergraduate Students). With the permission of the director, students may enroll in additional graduate hours during their senior year.
5. All other degree requirements for the regular M.P.P. program also apply to the Accelerated M.P.P. program.

The Accelerated M.P.P. requires 33 semester hours, including a minimum of 12 hours of 200/6000-level course work.

Courses required for the Accelerated M.P.P. program