How To Get A Degree From Gorgonia Tech

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1 HANDBOOK OF THE GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY AT GEORGIA TECH Academic Year August

2 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION... 4 About the School of Public Policy... 4 Entering the Program: First Steps... 6 YOUR PROGRAM OF STUDY... 7 Getting Started: The Advising Process... 7 Waivers and Transfer of Credit... 8 Readmission... 8 Classes Taken at other Georgia System Universities... 8 Policy on Academic Performance and Incompletes... 9 Academic Integrity... 9 Praxis: Practical Experiences and Internships... 9 Internships Graduate Co-Op Program Graduate Assistantships Graduation THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC POLICY DEGREE Required Core Courses Areas of Concentration for the MSPP Degree Energy and Environmental Policy Information and Communications Policy Science and Technology Policy Urban and Regional Economic Development Policy Policy Analysis and Policy Evaluation Concentration Public Management Concentration Final Paper Options for the MSPP Degree Public Policy Workshop Professional Research Paper Thesis THE DUAL MASTER S DEGREE PROGRAM IN PUBLIC POLICY AND CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING Required Core Courses in the MSPP/MCRP Dual Degree Concentrations and Specializations Electives Professional Paper Option

3 THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PUBLIC POLICY Program of Study/ Grades/ Minimum GPA Residency Requirement Core Classes for the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy Training in Ethics Major and Minor Areas of Specialization Advancing to Candidacy and Completion Comprehensive Examinations The Proposal and Defense The Dissertation THE JOINT PH.D. DEGREE IN PUBLIC POLICY Core Curriculum of the Joint PhD Degree Areas of Concentration Doctoral Qualifying Examinations and the Dissertation ACADEMIC SUPPORT Graduate Coordinator Computer Facilities Photocopying and Poster Equipment

4 INTRODUCTION The Graduate Handbook is a source of information about the academic programs and administrative procedures that you will need to navigate during your time in the School of Public Policy. Take the time to become acquainted with the information offered here as it is designed to help you get acclimated to the School of Public Policy. You can use the Handbook to help with the following topics: Design your course of study in your degree program Learn about other degree programs offered by the school Identify and successfully complete the administrative procedures used by Georgia Tech and the School of Public Policy. Learn where to find information about school programs, events and activities including key web sites, key personnel, and a calendar of events for the School Learn about research and teaching opportunities available through the School. This is the key to identifying funding opportunities for your graduate program Learn about the Public Policy Graduate Student Association (PPGSA) and programs and social events that the PPGSA organizes. Learn about other student leadership opportunities About the School of Public Policy Since inception the School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech has been distinctive for focusing on policy domains where the science, research, technology, and innovation are critical concerns for those engaged in policy making and policy implementation. The School was created as part of the Ivan Allen College at Georgia Tech in 1990, building on the Technology and Science Policy (TASP) program. The first class of seven students was admitted in 1991 to the School's new Master of Science in Public Policy (MSPP) program. Since that time the School has prospered and grown. There are now 30 full-time faculty members in School and over 65 students in the graduate programs offered by the School. The School now offers four graduate degree programs: The Master of Science in Public Policy The Dual Master of Science in Public Policy and City and Regional Planning The Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy The Joint Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy with the Andrew Young School at Georgia State University In the pages below you will find descriptions of the requirements for these degree programs and the course offerings available. The faculty offer courses and research opportunities in a variety of areas of concentration. Some of the areas are organized around a substantive of policy domain. Other areas of concentration are organized around the skills sets used in the policy process. You should become familiar with each of the areas of concentration so that you can plan the course of study that best serves your interests. 4

5 There are four major areas of concentration that are organized by the content area of policies: Energy and Environmental Policy Information and Communications Policy Science and Technology Policy Urban and Regional Economic Development Students are welcome to pursue other areas of policy interest. For example, in the last few years the School has developed capabilities in health policy that many students have found attractive as an area of concentration. There are two areas of concentration organized by skills sets used in the policy process: Policy Analysis and Evaluation Public Management A full description of each of these areas of concentration is provided below. One of the keys to your success is becoming familiar with the professors that you will be working with during your degree program. The faculty of the School is highly interdisciplinary representing training in political science, economics, philosophy, planning, law, sociology, and public administration. The School also has nine joint appointments, including those with training in biology, civil engineering, cognitive science, planning, and industrial engineering and atmospheric science. Many faculty members have extensive public and private policy experience in addition to their academic expertise. Furthermore, many of the School s faculty with doctoral degrees in the social science and humanities obtained their undergraduate and master s degrees in the natural sciences and engineering. One of the best ways to work with faculty is on research projects. Learning about faculty research projects can be an excellent way to get access to data, write professional papers or publications, and even gain employment as a research assistant. Most importantly it is an excellent way to gain experience and build your professional network. The graduate programs in the School of Public Policy are also supported by administrative staff. Some of the key people that are responsible for assisting you include: Dr. Kimberley Isett, Director of Graduate Studies for the School of Public Policy o Office: D.M. Smith, Room 310 o isett@gatech.edu o Phone: o Assists you with developing your program of study, and assessing petitions. Ms. Jade Charnigo, Graduate Coordinator for the School of Public Policy o Office: D.M. Smith, Room 114 o jade.charnigo@pubpolicy.gatech.edu o Phone:

6 o Your first stop with questions and concerns. Assists you with all administrative processes associated with the School of Public Policy. Also a good resource for navigating Georgia Tech. Entering the Program: First Steps Upon entering the program, there are several steps you need to take as soon as possible: 1. To get started you will need your GTID# and your GT Userid. You received both of there during your application process. For help with the GTID# go to For help with the GT Userid go to 2. Review the resources and information available on the School's SPP Community Site. a. This is located on the T-Square system which is used by the entire campus in course work, for research projects, and for sharing administrative information. Access T-Square by going to b. After entering your your GT Userid and password you can access the SPP Community pages under the My Active Sites tab at the top of the page. c. If SPP Community is not accessible then contact the Graduate Coordinator. 3. Get a Georgia Tech Buzzcard for access to the D.M. Smith Building and the School's computer cluster. The Buzzcard office is located in the Student Center Commons Building. Information about Buzzcards can be found at 4. Check with the Graduate Coordinator to ensure your registration and other paperwork is in order, to get your Buzzcard registered to serve as your entry key to the building and, if you have been assigned office space, to obtain the combination or key to graduate office space. 6

7 YOUR PROGRAM OF STUDY Your goal, and ours, is to move your name from our list of matriculated students to our alumni list. The path to that goal will lead you to a variety of places outside the classroom and may include many if not all of the following: an internship, the offices of research sponsors, research centers at Georgia Tech, academic and professional conferences, various outposts of the Georgia Tech bureaucracy, and perhaps even to other universities in the Georgia system. Indeed, you may find that the shortest distance between two points (matriculated student to alumni list) is not a straight line. The information provided in this section should help you along your path. Getting Started: The Advising Process The Graduate Coordinator is the main point of advising with regard to requirement fulfillment. For questions about the substantive content of coursework or the curriculum, those questions can be answered by the Director of Graduate Studies or the Professor of record of a specific course. The School encourages, but does not require, that you develop a program of study in your first few weeks. There are several resources that can help in developing a program of study: 1. Each semester, the classes available on the Georgia Tech campus appear in an online web resource known as OSCAR (Georgia Tech's Online Student Computer Assisted Registration system). OSCAR can be used to access the Georgia Tech Course Catalog, the Schedule of Classes, General Financial Aid Information, and information on Transfer Equivalencies. 2. On the main Georgia Tech webpage you can access the Campus Calendar which provides the schedules for course registration. 3. Meet with the Graduate Coordinator before registering each semester. S/he can inform you of new or altered courses and changes in curricula, and will help you stay on track and on schedule for graduation. 4. In this Graduate Handbook you will also find suggested programs of study that you can use as a model. The best source of knowledge about any particular course (aside, perhaps from the students who have taken it) is the faculty member teaching the course. In some cases course syllabi will not be available in advance of a course, but the instructor will usually be able to give you a very good idea of the course's content and requirements. You can contact faculty members by or during their regular office hours. Additionally, syllabi of previously taught courses are located in the Public Policy office area and can be reviewed in room

8 Waivers and Transfer of Credit Students may have had courses they feel are quite similar to core or elective courses. A waiver from a required Public Policy course may be granted when the student can provide evidence of comparability of course content (syllabi) and performance (transcripts) that satisfies the Director of your degree program, and the Public Policy faculty with greatest expertise in the area. Students seeking waivers should first consult with the Graduate Coordinator and then with the Director of the degree program. In certain cases, transfer of academic credit from other institutions is possible, but is subject to Georgia Tech regulations (see section: Information for Graduate Students in the Georgia Tech Catalog). Waivers and transfers are handled through a petition to the Director of Graduate Studies. All materials relevant to the request should be submitted at least one month prior to any deadlines for which it needs to be considered. Readmission If you find it necessary to discontinue enrollment for two or more semesters, you must apply for readmission when planning to return to Georgia Tech. Note that the summer counts as one semester. You may obtain an application for readmission from the Registrar and should return the completed form no later than the date indicated on the form. Be sure to check the Georgia Tech Catalog for rules regarding registration procedures. Readmission is ultimately decided by the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Graduate Committee. Graduate Committee meets monthly n the first Thursday of every month during the academic year (September- May). Any materials relevant to the petition request must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the next Graduate Committee meeting. Out of cycle requests will not be expedited. Classes Taken at other Georgia System Universities Georgia Tech students are permitted to take courses at other state institutions. If you are interested in meeting core requirements or electives by taking courses at another university, first consult the Catalog; then meet with the Director of Graduate Studies and then the School of Public Policy faculty member who teaches the equivalent course. In most cases, it is possible to give you a quick decision on the appropriateness of the course and whether or not it will meet a core requirement. Please note that the procedures and bureaucratic difficulties involved in taking courses elsewhere vary considerably by institution and even academic unit. All doctoral students (whether you are in the Joint PhD program or the Tech PhD program) should expect to sign up for classes at Georgia State University. Many of our core classes are taught on a rotation switching between faculty at Tech and State. There are also some classes that are taught at only one of the campuses. For many years the Advanced Research Methods II class has only been taught at Georgia State. Similarly the Logic of Policy Inquiry is only taught at Georgia Tech. You should give yourself plenty of lead-time to take care of these details. Assistance from the School of Public Policy may be limited since we are not familiar with all the requirements of other institutions. Thus, you should consult not only with the School's Graduate Coordinator, but also the Georgia Tech 8

9 Registrar and the registration office and department at the other university to inform yourself about administrative procedures. Despite these caveats, taking courses elsewhere is an avenue to be explored, especially during the summer when the School offers relatively few courses. If you are interested in taking or required to take a class from another institution then go to the following website: The deadline for cross registration for spring classes is November 15, for summer classes is April 25, and for fall classes is April 25. Policy on Academic Performance and Incompletes Students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Students who fall below that minimum GPA for two consecutive semesters are subject to dismissal from the program. Students receiving a grade of "C" for a core course will have to repeat that course unless the school grants a special waiver. Please note that waivers for core classes are very unlikely and should not be expected. Students who receive a failing grade (lower than a C ) in any core class will go under immediate review and are subject to dismissal. Under Georgia Tech rules, the faculty of the School of Public Policy may assign a grade of "Incomplete" (I) only when a student has been unable to complete the requirements of a course by reason of illness, extensive travel, commitments to employers, and other unexpected and unavoidable situations over which the student had no control. Grades of Incomplete can only be assigned to courses designated as letter grade. Pass-fail courses must be completed by the end of the semester or a failed grade will be issued. You may work out an arrangement with the professor involved to complete the work in the following semester and have your grade changed. If you have an incomplete lasting more than one semester, the Registrar will automatically convert that incomplete into a grade of F (without sending a warning). You must successfully complete at least 75% of the credits you register for, or the registrar will place you on academic probation, and you will not be eligible for financial aid. Academic Integrity All students at Georgia Tech are expected to adhere to the Academic Honor Code. The details of that code can be found here: Violations of the honor code, especially plagiarism, are taken extremely serious by the faculty and will result in a formal hearing. Plagiarism is defined by Georgia Tech as Submission of material that is wholly or substantially identical to that created or published by another person or persons, without adequate credit notations indicating the authorship. Please familiarize yourself with what is and is not plagiarism. When in doubt, cite it. Praxis: Practical Experiences and Internships For students pursuing a master's degree, exposure to the "real world" of public policymaking is an essential ingredient in an effective public policy curriculum. You will have a number of opportunities to obtain such experience. Our policy is that every student who graduates from the program with a Master s degree will have had some form of practical experience related to public policy. There are several ways in which this can be achieved: (1) summer internships, (2) Graduate Co-Op program, (3) previous work experience, or (4) a practicum-oriented thesis or research paper. In order to graduate with your MS 9

10 degree you must complete an internship report that summarizes your experience and file this report with the Graduate Coordinator. Internships The School expects students to obtain an internship during the summer between his or her first and second years of the program. The only exceptions to this are if experience is gained through a co-op assignment or in a "practicum-oriented" thesis or research paper. In the past, Public Policy students have enjoyed internships and summer employment with a large variety of organizations from the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. The two key words for securing a good internship are "plan ahead." Many federal agency summer intern programs have January application deadlines. You are the one primarily responsible for lining up a good internship. Members of the Public Policy faculty can help you in those efforts, but the responsibility lies with you. Graduate Co-Op Program The Graduate Cooperative Program offers Masters and Doctoral students the opportunity to complement their advanced studies with individualized employment. Graduate co-op students are required to work at least two semesters during their degree program, but study/work schedules are diverse. Research for an MS thesis or the MS professional paper may be related to the work assignment and will be jointly supervised by Georgia Tech faculty and the participating organization staff. If you pursue this option then all thesis or professional paper work must meet Georgia Tech requirements (see the Curriculum section below). The co-op program offers a way to gain work experience while earning money to support yourself when you are enrolled in the MSPP program on a full-time basis. While there is flexibility in how a co-op program of study is scheduled, under the semester system students are likely to follow a three-term rotation in which they rotate through all academic terms during their co-op careers. In the past, Public Policy students initiated their own contacts with employers who are happy to comply with the requirements of the co-op program. Feel free to do this on your own, but keep us informed of what you intend. Graduate Assistantships If you receive a graduate assistantship, you must enroll for a minimum of 12 hours of graduate level course work per semester, at least 9 of which must be on a letter-grade or pass/fail basis. For the standard assistantship, your work hours are expected to be 20 hours per week. In each semester that you have a graduate assistantship you should sign up for the appropriate assistantship class that is associated with the professor supervising your work (teaching assistantship PUBP 8997 or research assistantship PUBP Students should not sign up for more or less than 3 credit hours without the approval of the supervising professor. 10

11 There is no guarantee that an assistantship will be continued beyond the semester awarded. Your letter of admission provided the terms of the School s offer of support during your graduate program. However, this offer is conditional on your performance and the availability of funds. An assistantship is not an entitlement, even assuming good performance. Students who do not maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or who fail to complete 75% of the credits they register for will automatically lose their GRA positions. Since grades of Incomplete ("I") drastically reduce the GPA, students with an assistantship should be particularly wary of having incompletes on their records. If the GPA is improved to 3.0 or better, the student may request renewal of the assistantship. As a matter of School policy, the student cannot simultaneously hold an assistantship and another job. An assistantship is not a fellowship, but a job. As in all jobs, the supervisor has expectations about the work. However, the assistantship is also an educational experience and, to the extent possible, an assistantship should enhance the student's knowledge and professional development. We cannot guarantee that the student will always be able to work on policy issues of greatest interest or that the work will use the student's full capabilities. But we can guarantee that the work will be useful, that it will not be demeaning and that it will not simply be "go-for" work. Assistantship assignments are at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies. Students who wish a different assistantship assignment can meet with the Graduate Director and request a new assignment. Whether the request is supported will depend on the justification, the needs and views of the current supervisor and the availability of alternative positions. Generally, you should meet with you current assistantship supervisor before making the request for a new assignment. All students who receive a GRA (whether at the MS or PhD level) will go through training for the responsible conduct of research. Within 90-days of enrollment you should complete the on-line training module (see Doctoral students are also required to receive additional training in research ethics by enrolling in the Workshop for Policy Research (PUBP 8801 and 8802). There is also additional in-person training listed as PHIL In addition, the University System of Georgia requires all employees, including GRAs, to pass an on-line ethics test each year. This training and test concern issues of ethical responsibility in employment, such as use of funds, harassment, and accepting gifts, to name a few. Graduation Consult the Georgia Tech Catalog for all the rules pertaining to graduation. There are slight differences with each degree program. However, the general requirements are as follows: The student petitions the registrar for their degree during the semester proceeding the anticipated final semester of work. If you want to graduate in May you will file this form during the fall semester. This petition must be accompanied by an approved program of study that has been 11

12 completed within the time limits set by the Institute. You must review this form with the Graduate Coordinator in the School of Public Policy and the School Chair before submitting it. The student must also meet all other performance requirements such as a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their coursework. If a thesis or dissertation is a part of your program of study then there are specific Institute rules governing the format of the document, the number of copies that must be submitted and fees to be paid for copyrights and microfilming. See the Graduate Studies and Admissions Office website for the current rules: For the MS degree students must also have an internship summary on file with the Graduate Coordinator. Students must be registered for a minimum of three credit hours in the semester of graduation. A waiver of the requirement may be obtained only if all requirements for graduation, including submission of the final approved thesis or dissertation, have been met prior to the last day of registration and the student was registered for the preceding semester. This waiver is unlikely and should not be planned for. The Graduate Coordinator will hold an information session each term to review graduation requirements with students. 12

13 THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC POLICY DEGREE The MSPP is designed for students with strong analytical backgrounds, such as those received in engineering, natural science, or an analytically oriented social science or humanities program. To earn the MSPP degree students are required to complete 46 credit hours consisting of several elements. a required core curriculum. Students must achieve a grade of B or higher in all core courses. electives in their area of concentration. a policy workshop, professional paper, or thesis. a practical experience related to public policy Table 1 provides a summary of these degree requirements. Table 1: Degree Requirements for the MSPP Degree Requirements Policy Workshop or Professional Paper Options Thesis Option Core Curriculum 25 hrs. 25 hrs. Elective Courses 18 hrs. 12 hrs. Paper or Workshop 3 hrs. --- Thesis hrs. Internship Total 46 hrs. 46 hrs. Required Core Courses The core of the MSPP curriculum consists of 8 three-hour courses and a one-hour introductory seminar. There may also be additional courses deemed fundamental to students as prerequisites for core classes or as preparation for a particular concentration of policy. For example, students frequently take a course in statistical analysis (PUBP 3120 Statistical Analysis for Public Policy) as preparation for the required core course in data analysis (PUBP 6114 Applied Policy Methods and Data Analysis). Students should work with their advisor on determining these courses. A list of the core courses is provided below in Table 2. Table 2: 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 13

14 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 *Course descriptions are available in the course catalog available at: Oscar.gatech.edu Areas of Concentration for the MSPP Degree 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 in the School of Public Policy. Students can pursue concentrations within groups already developed by the faculty or, with written approval by the Director of Graduate studies,, pursue an individualized concentration. The School of Public Policy current offers four areas of concentration: energy and environmental policy; information and communications policy; science and technology policy; and urban and regional development policy. As the School develops, these concentrations may be changed or added to. Energy and Environmental Policy The environment and energy policy concentration at Georgia Tech's School of Public Policy positions graduates for leadership careers that address the challenges of environmental stewardship and energy sustainability in various areas of professional life, including government agencies, universities, not-forprofits, and industry. Students with a focus on environment and energy policy will be introduced to such issues as environmental economics and regulation, energy and climate policy, as well as sustainability, institutions, and decision-making. Typical courses include: PUBP 6300 Earth Systems PUBP 6312 Economics of Environmental Policy PUBP 6314 Policy Tools for Managing the Environment PUBP 6326 Environmental Values and Policy Goals PUBP 6327 Sustainability and Environmental Policy PUBP 6330 Environmental Law PUBP 6701 Energy Technology and Policy PUBP 6760 Negotiation and Conflict Management PUBP 8540 Advanced Topics in Environmental Policy Information and Communications Policy Students develop an understanding of information and communications policy through a mix of theoretical and practical approaches. Available with this track is a special emphasis on the Internet. As a new technology, the Internet is not yet housed in mature institution, and consequently, international political processes of institutional design are emphasized. The Internet and Public Policy Project (IP3) is a research and outreach organization within the School of Public Policy (See 14

15 IP3 provides opportunities to interact with policy-makers, to conduct independent research, and to connect with other researchers around the world. Additionally, Georgia Tech also has several active research centers that work in information and communications policy. The Center for Advanced Communication Policy is also an important strategic partner of the School. Georgia Tech is also home to GCATT (the Georgia Center for Advanced Telecommunications Technology), which frequently hosts meetings with national and state industry and government leaders. Typical courses include: PUBP 6501 Information Policy and Management PUBP 6502 Information Technology, Communication and Telecommunication Policy PUBP 6514 Mass Communications Policy Science and Technology Policy The science and technology policy concentration addresses issues that either entail specific scientific or technological goals, such as the allocation of government resources in the advancement of science, or, having more general purposes, contain scientific or technological activities at the core of their pursuit, such as economic competitiveness via high technology.this concentration offers students the opportunity to study how decision-making in a variety of contexts in the contemporary world has an impact on or is influenced by science and technology. Typical courses include: PUBP 6401 Science, Technology, and Public Policy PUBP 6403 Science Careers and Workplaces PUBP 6415 Technology, Regions, and Policy PUBP 6417 Critical Perspectives on Science and Technology PUBP 6440 Science Technology and Regulation PUBP 6753 Comparative Science and Technology Policy PUBP 8530 Advanced Science and Technology Policy Urban and Regional Economic Development Policy While significant attention is given to the central role of technology in influencing and stimulating the processes of economic development, the need to produce economic development strategies linked to broader social and political concerns such as sustainability, equity, and efficiency is also recognized. Students can pursue either an economic development specialization or an urban and regional policy specialization. Economic Development Specialization Sequence PUBP 6600/CP 6412 Local Economic Development Planning and Policy PUBP 6602/CP 6422 Economic Development Analysis and Practice Urban and Regional Policy Specialization Sequence PUBP 6604 Methods of Regional and Urban Policy Analysis and Planning PUBP 6606/CP 6452 Urban Development Policy To complete this area of concentration students also select two courses from the following electives: PUBP 6415 Regions, Technology, and Policy PUBP 6741 Geographies of Innovation: Development, Regions, and Labor Markets Elective courses from City and Regional Planning (CP) and International Affairs (INTA) 15

16 CP 6432: Industrial Restructuring and Its Planning Implications CP 6442: Equity, Social Justice, and Economic Development CP 6612/PUBP 8803-HE: Community Development CP 6233: Sustainable Urban Development INTA 6740/PUBP 6740: Innovation and the State INTA 6304 : Modernization and Development INTA 8803-BL1/CP 8883-BL: Special Topics: Urban Transformations in the Global South Policy Analysis and Policy Evaluation Concentration The policy analysis and policy evaluation concentration is designed to give students a strong analytic foundation in quantitative and economic approaches the assessment of policy. Students In this track can draw from coursework offered in several schools including public policy, economics, industrial engineering, and city and regional planning. Typical courses include: PUBP 6221 Policy and Program Evaluation PUBP 6312 Environmental Economics PUBP 6602 Economic Development Policy Analysis and Practice PUBP 6604 Methods of Urban and Regional Policy Analysis Econ 6150 Cost Benefit Analysis Econ 6310 Public Economics Econ 6161 Econometric Modeling ISYE 6230 Economic Decision Analysis ISYE 6234 Measurement and Evaluation CP 6031 Economic Analysis for Planners CP 8520 Advanced Planning Theory Public Management Concentration Students in the public management concentration learn the leadership and decision-making skills needed in developing and managing organizations to be accountable and effective. In the current era, being accountable and effective in the modern era means having a detailed understanding of how different types of organizations and policy tools interact with one another. Typical courses include: PUBP 6014 Organization Theory PUBP 6017 Public Management PUBP 6018 Policy Implementation PUBP 6221 Policy and Program Evaluation PUBP 6226 Business and Government Relations PUBP 6314 Policy Tools for Environmental Management PUBP 6403 Science Careers and Workplaces PUBP 6501 Information Policy and Management PUBP 6760 Negotiations and Conflict Management 16

17 Final Paper Options for the MSPP Degree Students must participate in a final professional experience to earn their MSPP. The purpose of this experience is to utilize all of the skills and knowledge gained during the two year curriculum and apply it in a meaningful way. This paper is intended to demonstrate competency with the professional skills gained in the program. There are three available options, each described below. Public Policy Workshop The workshops are a capstone experience during which students, working in groups on an actual policy research problem posed by a public or nonprofit organization, draw from the experiences and skills learned in the MSPP program. A Policy Workshop begins with the premise most public policy work is done in a group and organizational context and, thus, the Workshop prepares the students for today's professional world. Each Workshop topic is a real world problem that a client organization wishes to have addressed. There is no expectation that the substantive aspects of the workshop problem will necessarily reflect each student's interests. The chief point of the Workshop is to provide an opportunity for the use of analytical skills in a group setting. The process is more important than the substance of the problem. All Workshop activities must be concluded during the semester in which the student enrolls for the Workshop. Incompletes are not an option. The Workshop instructor will have worked with the sponsor organization to develop a scope-of-work "contract" to be presented to the students at the initial meeting for the Workshop. During the Workshop period, the students interact directly with the sponsoring agency, develop their own work structure and schedule, and have ultimate responsibility for the quality of the product. The instructor's primary role is to set up the Workshop and to provide some guidance during project implementation. Only the final paper will be graded, although comments on drafts will be provided. Workshop groups will be teams of 3-6 students, depending upon demand. Professional Research Paper The professional research paper is to be a policy-relevant analysis that demonstrates mastery of the knowledge and analytical tools that comprise the MSPP curriculum. It is desirable, but not necessary, that the paper topic be developed in conjunction with an outside institution in the policy community. If the research paper is the only experience a student has with the policy community, then the paper must be developed this way. The paper can be a creative synthesis of knowledge related to a policy problem (it must be more than a reworking of existing material), a report of original research or analysis, or professionally oriented analysis of a specific policy problem. Usually, the paper will be between 7,000 to 9,000 words in length. You should plan to do the research paper in a single three-credit segment in your final semester of study. Choose a faculty advisor who can work with you on the paper and, if possible, advise you of career opportunities. This is the person whose permission you will need to sign up for PUBP 6801 (the Research Paper). A Graduate Professional Research Paper form needs to be approved by the sponsoring faculty member. During fall semester of your second year, explore alternative topics and possible advisors informally with members of the faculty. By the end of Early Registration (Phase I) of fall 17

18 semester, you should have identified a topic and an advisor. You should expect to submit a final draft of your paper three weeks before the beginning of final exams. Remember that it is your responsibility to ensure your advisor receives your paper with enough lead-time to critique it and return it to you for any necessary revisions. It is NOT a good idea to wait until the last day of class to turn in your paper. Thesis Most students have not pursued the thesis option. A successfully completed thesis indicates 1) that you are capable of research-intensive work and 2) that you have mastered the theory, methods, and understanding that underlie a particular area of policy-related knowledge. The thesis more closely corresponds to the standards expected of an academic researcher. The model for an acceptable thesis is a research effort (typically pages in length) that would qualify (probably in somewhat reduced form) for publication in a refereed policy relevant journal. The thesis does not require that you collect information and data from original sources. It is possible for you to extend and synthesize from existing works, but it is necessary that you contribute something original and unique to the existing body of knowledge about public policy. Your thesis committee decides whether your thesis meets this criterion. A typical committee will consist of a Chair and one other member from the School of Public Policy, and a third member from outside the School. The third member could be a member of the Georgia Tech faculty, on the faculty of another academic institution, or a member of an outside organization interested in your thesis topic. (Members of thesis committees who are not on the Georgia Tech faculty must submit their resumes along with the Request for Approval of Thesis Topic form). You should plan to register for 3 hours of thesis (PUBP 7000) in the fall semester of your second year, and 6 hours spring semester to finish the thesis (if you are a full-time student). Prior to registering for thesis hours, you should have identified your thesis chair, obtained his or her agreement to chair your thesis committee and filled out and submitted the signed Request for Approval of Thesis Topic form to the Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research. During the 3 hours of thesis in the fall semester, you and your committee should agree on a series of milestones, including a draft thesis proposal, final proposal, and draft thesis, and final thesis. The product of the first three hours of thesis is a completed, approved thesis proposal. The Institute's time schedule for preparation of theses is very tight, so plan conservatively. Refer to the Manual for Graduate Theses for details, this is the definitive instruction guide for the preparation and submission of theses. Manuals are available from the Office of Graduate Studies and Admissions at the following address: 18

19 Table 3: Suggested Program Schedule for the MSPP YEAR 1 Fall Spring PUBP 6001 Introduction to Public Policy (1 hour) PUBP 6010 Ethics, Epistemology and Public Policy PUBP 6112 Research Design in Policy Science PUBP 6012 Fundamentals of Policy Processes PUBP 6114 Applied Policy Methods and Data PUBP 6118 Public Finance and Policy Analysis PUBP 6116 Microeconomics in Policy Analysis Elective Elective Total Semester Credit Hours 13 Total Semester Credit Hours 12 YEAR 2 Fall Spring PUBP 6014/6017/6018--Course on Institutions PUBP 6801 Workshop PUBP 6201 Public Policy Analysis -- Capstone Elective Course PUBP 8801 Project Management (1 hour) Elective Elective Elective Total Semester Credit Hours 13 Total Semester Credit Hours 9 19

20 THE DUAL MASTER S DEGREE PROGRAM IN PUBLIC POLICY AND CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING The dual M.S. degree program in Public Policy and City and Regional Planning prepares students for urban policy analysis work at the national, state, and local levels. Graduates work in policy and planning in public, private, and non-profit settings building upon the complementary perspectives and skills of the two professions. One of the attractive features of the dual degree program is that students receive the professional preparation and certifications that come with each degree without having to devote the additional year of coursework that would be required to achieve both degrees separately. In addition to providing interdisciplinary professional training, the dual degree also provides the opportunity to step toward Ph.D. programs in either Public Policy or Planning with an emphasis on Urban, Environmental, or Development Policy. All students must complete a minimum combined requirement of 75 credit hours for the dual degree program. Students receive both individual degrees. Students pursuing the Public Policy specialization or the City and Regional Planning specialization must focus coursework on one of the following areas of specialization: Economic Development; Urban and Regional Policy; or Environmental Policy, Planning and Management. The dual degree is complex and requires careful scheduling. Students should take the time to become familiar with the faculty advisers for the program and seek their counsel when preparing schedules. Required Core Courses in the MSPP/MCRP Dual Degree To complete the dual degree you must take required core classes in both programs. We have identified those courses where the programs have sufficient overlap that students can select either from a Public Policy class or a City and Regional Planning class to complete the degree. Table 4 provides a summary of the core course requirements for the dual degree program (see next page). 20