Georgia Institute of TechnologyIvan Allen CollegeSchool of Public Policy
Students in classMaster of Science in Public Policy






Current MSPP Curriculum

Core Courses for the Master of Science in Public Policy

PUBP 6001 Introduction to Public Policy
PUBP 6010 Ethics, Epistemology, and Public Policy
PUBP 6012 Fundamentals of Policy Processes
PUBP 6112 Research Design in Policy Science
PUBP 6114* Applied Policy Methods and Data Analysis
PUBP 6116 Microeconomics in Policy Analysis
PUBP 6118 Public Finance and Policy
PUBP 6201 Public Policy Analysis

Students must also take one of the following three classes:
PUBP 6014 Organization Theory
PUBP 6017 Public Management
PUBP 6018 Policy Implementation and Administration

Students requiring additional statistical preparation should take the following course:
PUBP 4113 Statistical Analysis in Public Policy
This class may be required for some students dependent upon their previous coursework at the undergraduate level. This class serves as a introduction to applied probability and statistics in a public policy context. Courses offered at Georgia Tech that cover similar topics, although with somewhat different emphases, include CP 6022 and MSci 3100.

Areas of Concentration

For the MSPP, students are encouraged to pursue one or more concentrations. A concentration consists of at least three 3-credit courses, of which at least one is the School of Public Policy. Students can pursue concentrations within groups already developed by the faculty (see below). Or, students can pursue an individualized concentration, with the written approval of the proposed concentration program of study by their advisor.

While students can focus all of their electives in a particular concentration area, they are advised that over-specialization may narrow available employment opportunities. Students should consider pursuing courses in areas outside of their specialized interests, including courses in the more general public management concentration. Based on the expertise and resources existing in the School, the following concentrations have been designated. As the School develops, these concentrations may be changed or added to.

Environmental Policy
Students may select electives from the following:

PUBP 6300 Earth Systems
PUBP 6310 Environmental Issues Seminar
PUBP 6312 Economics of Environmental Policy
PUBP 6314 Policy Tools for Managing the Environment
PUBP 6320 Sustainable Systems: Concepts and Measures
PUBP 6324 Environmental and Technological Risk Management
PUBP 6326 Environmental Values and Policy Goals
PUBP 6329 Environmental Policy and Implementation
PUBP 6330 Environmental Law
PUBP 6530 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

Science and Technology Policy
Students may select electives from the following:

PUBP 6401 Science, Technology, and Public Policy
PUBP 6402 Research Policy and Management
PUBP 6414 Technological Innovation and Government Policy
PUBP 6415 Regions, Technology, and Policy
PUBP 6417 Critical Perspectives on Science and Technology
PUBP 6421 Development of Large-Scale Socio-Technical Systems
PUBP 6608 Management of Technology: External Environment
PUBP 6753 Comparative Science and Technology Policy
PUBP 6777 Analysis of Emerging Technologies

Urban and Regional Economic Development Policy
Students may select electives from the following:

PUBP 6600 Local Economic Development Planning and Policy PUBP
PUBP 6602 Economic Development Analysis and Practice
PUBP 6604 Methods of Urban Policy Analysis and Planning
PUBP 6606 Methods of Urban Policy Analysis and Planning
PUBP 6740 Innovation and the State
PUBP 6741 Geographies of Innovation: Regions, Development, and Labor Markets
PUBP 6415 Regions, Technology, and Policy
PUBP 8803/CP 8663 Special Topics: Community Development
PUBP 8550 Advanced Topics in Urban and Regional Economic Development (PhD Capstone)
CP 6432 Industrial Restructuring and Its Planning Implications
CP 6442 Equity, Social Justice, and Economic Development

Plus selected courses from the City Planning Program

Information and Communications Policy.
Students may select electives from the following:

PUBP 6501 Information Policy and Management
PUBP 6513 The Politics of Communication Policy
PUBP 6514 Mass Communications Policy
PUBP 6534 Public Information Systems
PUBP 6780 Knowledge Management

Policy Evaluation.
Students may select electives from the following:

One economics policy-based core course, beyond core requirement (e.g. Economics of Environmental Policy; other courses to be listed).

One analytically oriented policy evaluation course from existing courses (e.g. Policy Tools for Managing the Environment, Policy and Program Evaluation).

Two substantive policy courses, one of which must deal with some element of social (health, education, welfare policy, among others) the other of which must be technologically oriented, including environmental policy, information and communications, economic development, or science and technology policy.

Public Management.
Students may select electives from the following:

A course in personnel management (either a course in public policy or a course from management may be substituted) or a course in organizational behavior (selected from approved list).

Two substantive policy courses, one of which must deal with some element of social (health, education, welfare policy, among others) the other of which must be technologically oriented, including environmental policy, information and communications, economic development, or science and technology policy