Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) and J.D.

Admission to the Program

Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of both the Department of Public Administration and Policy (DPAP)/SPA and Washington College of Law (WCL). Admission criteria are the same as those for the M.P.P. However, students who have been admitted to WC will not be required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students may begin their studies in SPA after completing one year or the equivalent of full-time study at WCL. Admission to either the M.P.P. or J.D. program does not guarantee admission to the other.

M.P.P. Degree Requirements

• 39 credits hours of approved graduate course work including at least 24 credit hours of M.P.P. course work in SPA, and up to 15 credit hours from WCL.
• Assignments in the practicum course (PUAD 688), including a major policy analysis paper for a client and a “48-hour exercise,” fulfill the university requirement for a comprehensive examination.

The research requirement is satisfied by completing two of the following courses with grades of B or better:

• PUAD-601 Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis I
  
• PUAD-602 Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis II
• PUAD-604 Public Program Evaluation
• PUAD-607 Economics and Politics of Public Policy
• PUAD-670 Economics for Policy Analysis
• LAW-516 Legal Rhetoric I

• LAW-517 Legal Rhetoric II

Course Requirements:

• PUAD-601 Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis I (3)

• PUAD-602 Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis II (3)
• PUAD-603 Policy Process (3)
• PUAD-606 Foundations of Policy Analysis (3)
• PUAD-670 Economics for Policy Analysis (3)
• PUAD-631 Financing Government Services (3)
• PUAD-684 Organizational Analysis (3)
• PUAD-688 Policy Practicum (3)

One course from the following:

• PUAD-604 Public Program Evaluation (3)
• PUAD-607 Economics and Politics of Public Policy (3)
• PUAD-671 Cost Benefit Analysis (3)

Area of Concentration

Credit hours in an area of concentration usually completed with WCL courses, as long as 24 credit hours for the M.P.P are taken in approved SPA courses.

Students without a significant professional work background participate in an internship, which may be taken for credit (PUAD-691). For students already employed, a formal internship is optional.

J.D. Degree Requirements

• 80 credit hours of course work required for the J.D.
• LAW-601 Administrative Law (3-4)

Apply to SPA Graduate Programs

Click below to start or continue your School of Public Affairs application.