Program Overview

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Joint Degree with Chicago Booth School of Business (MPP/MBA)

The University of Chicago's Harris Public Policy and the Booth School of Business offer a combined degree program leading to the MPP and MBA degrees. This joint degree program allows students to gain leadership and management skills, making an impact on public policy issues.

Program Details

Program Structure

To complete the joint MPP/MBA, students complete 1300 units toward the MPP and 1400 units of Booth-only coursework over a three-year period. Students typically start their first year at Harris.

• Year 1: Harris
• Year 2: Booth
• Year 3: Split Residency, some quarters billed at the Harris tuition rate and others billed the Booth tuition rate, based on a student’s remaining requirements.

Curriculum

27 graduate-level courses (2700 units of credit) to earn an MPP and an MBA in a total of three years. Both degrees must be awarded in the same quarter.

At Harris Public Policy:

• Students in this program take the six required Harris core courses plus seven electives for a total of 13 courses (1300 units of credit), instead of the usual 18, with Harris.
• Ten of the 13 courses must be public policy (PPHA) courses.
• The Harris core provides a foundation in critical analysis, reflecting Harris's belief that mastering quantitative and analytical skills prepares students to be effective public policy leaders:
  • Analytical Politics I:
    • PPHA 30800 Analytical Politics I: Strategic Foundations, or
    • PPHA 41501 - PhD Game Theory (instructor approval required).
  • Analytical Politics II:
    • PPHA 31610 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions
  • Statistics Sequence I:
    • PPHA 31002 Statistics for Data Analysis I, or
    • PPHA 31202 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis I, or
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence (instructor approval required): PPHA 42000 or PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200
  • Statistics Sequence II:
    • PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions, or
    • PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II, or
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence (instructor approval required): PPHA 42000 or PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200
  • Microeconomics Sequence I:
    • PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I, or
    • PPHA 44100 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis I (instructor approval required)
  • Microeconomics Sequence II:
    • PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II, or
    • PPHA 44200 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis II (instructor approval required)

At Chicago Booth:

• Students also take 14 courses (1400 units of credit) with Chicago Booth.
• For detailed information regarding Booth’s curriculum, please refer to their program details.

Other Requirements

• A cumulative GPA of 2.7 for all courses, based on a 4.0 scale, for all courses used toward the MPP degree
• A grade of C- or better for the 6 core courses
• Completion of the math requirement
• Completion of a practical experience requirement
• No more than 2 reading/research, independent study, or internship courses
• No more than 1 course taken Pass/Fail (core courses cannot be taken pass/fail)
• Courses with grades of F, I, W, or with no reported grade do not apply toward course requirement for the program.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Each division determines tuition charges for the quarters in which students are in residency with either division. Tuition rates can be found at the Bursar’s website:

• Year 1: Residency with Harris; billed the Harris Tuition Rate.
• Year 2: Residency with Booth; billed the Booth Tuition Rate.
• Year 3: Split Residency, some quarters billed at the Harris tuition rate and others billed the Booth tuition rate, based on a student’s remaining requirements.

Harris scholarships for joint degree students are awarded only when in residence at Harris, and Harris scholarships for MPP/MBA students are pro-rated based on the modified degree requirements from a standard MPP student.

Admissions Process

Interested applicants will need to apply and be admitted to both the Harris MPP and the Booth full-time MBA program to pursue the joint degree. Students can apply to both programs concurrently or will need to apply during their first year of residency in either program. Admissions decisions for each side of the joint degree are made independently of one another.

Student Profile

The joint MPP/MBA degree program attracts students who are passionate about making an impact on public policy issues and are seeking to gain leadership and management skills. Alumni of the program have gone on to assume leadership roles in government, NGOs, and related policy and consulting organizations.

Research Areas

The joint MPP/MBA degree program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in public policy and business, preparing them for careers in a variety of fields, including:

• Government
• Non-profit organizations
• Private sector companies
• Consulting firms
• Research institutions

Students in the program have the opportunity to engage in research projects and internships that align with their interests and career goals, providing them with hands-on experience and practical skills.

Conclusion

The joint MPP/MBA degree program offered by Harris Public Policy and the Booth School of Business is a unique and innovative program that provides students with a comprehensive education in public policy and business. The program is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in a variety of fields, and provides them with the skills and knowledge necessary to make a positive impact on public policy issues.