MA in Public Policy with concentration in Philosophy & Social Policy

This long-established interdisciplinary Master of Arts program aims to provide students with the philosophical background needed to examine ethical and social-philosophical dimensions of issues of public policy while also equipping students with some of the standard tools of policy analysis (political science, economics, statistics). Students are expected to have completed the prerequisites to graduate courses.

Two options are available at the discretion of the faculty:

Option 1: minimum 24 credits, plus thesis (6 credits)
Phil 299: Thesis Research (3 credits)
Phil 300: Thesis Research (3 credits)

Option 2: 36 credits, no thesis

Philosophy Core

All students must choose four courses from the following:
Phil 230:Ethical Issues in Policy Arguments (3 credits)
Phil 231:Economic Justice (3 credits)
Phil 238:Feminist Ethics and Policy Implications (3 credits)
Phil 242:Philosophy, Law, and Social Policy (3 credits)
Phil 250:Topics in Health Policy (3 credits)
Phil 255:Philosophy of Social Science (3 credits)
Phil 262:Normative Issues in Foreign Policy (3 credits)
Phil 281:Environmental Philosophy and Policy (3 credits)

Public Policy Core

All students must choose four courses, one from each of the following groups:

A. PSc 229: Politics and Public Policy
PSc 212: Urban Policy Problems
PSc 224: Domestic Policy Analysis—Selected Topics

B.  Econ 217: Survey of Economics (3 credits)
Econ 221: Economics in Policy Analysis
Econ 237: Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources
Econ 248: Health Economics

C.  PSc 203: Approaches to Public Policy Analysis
WStu 240:Women and Public Policy
E&RP 210: Seminar in Environmental and Resource Policy
Hist 214: Seminar: History and Public Policy

D.  PAd 296: Politics and Public Policy (equivalent as approved by the advisor)

Electives

Electives may focus on a particular policy area (e.g., biomedical/health care, urban/welfare, or environmental policy), or may explore varied approaches and policy issues. There are a very large number of substantive policy courses in a wide variety of policy fields from which to choose electives.

Comprehensive Exam

Each candidate must pass a Master's Comprehensive Examination based on the particular interdisciplinary composition of the student's program of study.

How does this program differ from the MPP?

The core curriculum for this Master of Arts program draws heavily on philosophy courses, with an interdisciplinary approach to the public policy core coursework.

The Master of Public Policy core curriculum consists of courses in the interdisciplinary field of public policy; students can pursue a field of study in philosophy and social policy. Students can also opt to fulfill the philosophical and historical approaches to public policy requirement with a philosophy course. The MPP does not require a comprehensive exam, or a thesis; it does require completion of the Capstone Seminar (PPol 215).

For More Information

Philosophy and Social Policy Program's website
Prof. W.B. Griffith
Chair, Department of Philosophy
The George Washington University
202-994-8684
wbg@gwu.edu