MS 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

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Students may select electives from the following:

  • PUBP 8540  Advanced Topics in Environmental Policy.
  • PUBP 6300  Earth Systems
  • PUBP 6310  Environmental Issues Seminar
  • PUBP 6312  Economics of Environmental Policy
  • PUBP 6314  Policy Tools for Managing the Environment
  • PUBP 6326  Environmental Values and Policy Goals
  • PUBP 6320  Sustainable Systems
  • PUBP 6330  Environmental Law
  • PUBP 6701  Energy Technology and Policy
  • PUBP 6760  Negotiation & Conflict Management
  • PUBP 8803  Special Topics

Science and Technology Policy

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Students may select electives from the following: 

  • PUBP 6111  Internet & Public Policy
  • PUBP 6401  Science, Technology & Public Policy
  • PUBP 6402  Research Policy & Mgt
  • PUBP 6403 Scientific Careers and Workplaces
  • PUBP 6414  Tech Innovation & Gov Policy
  • PUBP 6415  Technology Regions & Policy
  • PUBP 6417  Critical Perspectives on Science & Technology
  • PUBP 6501  Information Policy & Mgt
  • PUBP 6514  Mass Communications Policy
  • PUBP 6740  Innovation and the State
  • PUBP 6741  Geography of Innovation
  • PUBP 6753  Comparative Science & Technology Policy
  • PUBP 8530  Advanced Science & Technology Policy

Urban and Regional Economic Development Policy

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Students may select electives from the following:

 

  • PUBP 6741  Geographies of Innovation: Development, Regions, and Labor Markets (Clark)
  • PUBP 6415  Regions, Technology, and Policy (S. Breznitz)
  • PUBP 8803  Special Topics (Knox-Hayes)
  • PUBP 8550 -Advanced Topics in Urban and Regional Economic Development (PhD Capstone Seminar) (Shapira/Clark)
  • CP 6432  Industrial Restructuring and Its Planning Implications (Leigh)
  • CP 6442  Equity, Social Justice, and Economic Development
  • CP 6612/PUBP 8803-HE - Community Development
  • CP 6233  Sustainable Urban Development (Ross)
  • INTA 6740/PUBP 6740 - Innovation and the State (D. Breznitz)
  • INTA 6304  Modernization and Development (Lynch)
  • INTA 8803-BL1/CP 8883-BL  Special Topics: Urban Transformations in the Global South (Lynch)

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 6502 Information and Communications Technology Policy

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

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