Program Overview

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Introduction to the Master in Public Policy in Global Affairs (M.P.P.) Program

The Jackson School of Global Affairs at Yale University offers a Master in Public Policy in Global Affairs (M.P.P.) program designed to prepare students for leadership roles in global affairs. This interdisciplinary program combines academic rigor with flexibility, allowing students to tailor their course of study to their individual interests and career goals.

Program Overview

The M.P.P. program is built around a four-course interdisciplinary core curriculum that provides students with a shared intellectual foundation in global affairs. The program is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing global environment.

Key Features of the Program

• The program is highly interdisciplinary, drawing on courses and resources from across the university.
• Students have the flexibility to design an individualized course of study that aligns with their academic and professional goals.
• The program includes a leadership and ethics training workshop, a summer experience, and opportunities for professional writing and program evaluation.

M.P.P. Curriculum

The formal M.P.P. requirements include:

• 16 credits of coursework, including four 1-credit core courses.
• Demonstrated proficiency in a modern language (L4 level).
• Participation in a leadership and ethics training workshop.
• Completion of a summer experience.

Required M.P.P. Courses

The four core courses are:

• GLBL 5020: Applied Methods of Analysis
• GLBL 5010: Economics for Global Affairs
• GLBL 5030: History and Global Affairs
• GLBL 5040: Comparative Politics for Global Affairs

Language Requirement

All students must demonstrate proficiency in a modern language at the L4 level. Students may fulfill this requirement by taking a placement test or language proficiency exam, or by providing proof of certification in a language other than English.

Leadership and Ethics Workshop

The Leadership and Ethics Workshop is a key component of the M.P.P. program, designed to equip students with the tools and frameworks necessary to think ethically about difficult choices and balance competing interests in global public policy.

Summer Experience

M.P.P. students are required to complete a professional experience that aligns with their academic and professional goals. This experience may take the form of an internship or research project, and must be at least eight weeks in duration.

Optional Academic Opportunities

The program offers a range of optional academic opportunities, including:

• Foundational courses in policy writing, argumentation, communication, and negotiation.
• A professional writing program that includes courses in professional public policy writing and narrative storytelling for policy makers.
• A certificate in program evaluation, which requires completion of 6 credits of methods-focused courses.
• Directed reading courses, which allow students to work with a faculty member to design a customized course of study.
• A thesis option, which allows students to complete a year-long research project under the supervision of a faculty adviser.

Certificate in Program Evaluation

To earn a certificate in program evaluation, students must complete 6 credits of methods-focused courses, including:

• GLBL 5020: Applied Methods of Analysis I
• GLBL 5021: Applied Methods of Analysis II
• Other elective courses approved by the assistant dean for graduate education.

Directed Reading

Students may request to complete a directed reading course, which involves working with a faculty member to design a customized course of study. Directed reading courses are limited to one per term, and students must meet certain requirements, including:

• Submitting a request to complete a directed study before the enrollment period for that term ends.
• Securing the instructor's approval of the work to be covered in the course.
• Providing a syllabus draft for review by the instructor and the assistant dean for graduate education.

Thesis

Students have the option of writing a year-long thesis under the supervision of a Jackson School of Global Affairs professor or faculty member. The thesis is an optional research project that is completed in the final academic year of the M.P.P. degree. Students work with faculty advisers in designing their project and in writing the thesis. The final thesis is graded by the thesis adviser and one other faculty member.