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Master's Programs (International Programs)

Two-Year Master's Program of Public Policy (MP2)

The two-year program (MP2) provides early- and mid-career professionals and staff members with the technical skills needed to be professional policy analysts. After successful completion of course work and the writing and defending of a master's thesis, students receive the degree: Master of Arts in Public Policy (MAPP).

MP2 targets early- and mid-career public policy professionals with demonstrated capacity for advanced policy analysis, commitment to public service, and the potential for leadership in public policy formulation, analysis, and implementation. Applications are invited from officials and staff of national and local governments, as well as other international and domestic organizations concerned with public policy analysis.

MP2 has a similar structure to that of the one year program, but MP2 students receive more advanced training and guidance in the technical and practical skills needed for public policy analysis, design, and implementation. In the first year, students complete a series of core, concentration, and elective courses. All MP2 students develop a common interdisciplinary and analytical foundation through the core courses, take specialized courses that provide them with strong analytical and quantitative skills, and select from a wide-variety of elective courses. In their second year, students further develop their research skills and utilize them in writing and defending a master's thesis under the guidance of a highly-trained specialist in their chosen field of concentration (specialization).
MP2 provides a strong platform for advanced policy research (including doctoral studies). Students are required to write a master's thesis in one of the approved areas of concentration. Currently, four areas of concentration are available: Economic Policy, International Development Policy, Foreign and Security Policy, and Public Policy. Practical instruction is available from current and former government officials with distinguished careers in public service. In addition to three policy workshops, students receive specialized guidance through a program of independent study.
Financial support is available on a competitive basis. Currently, scholarships are available from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

Two-year Master's Program of Public Policy (MP2) in brief

Trains pre- and early-career professionals and staff members in local or national governments, international organizations and private companies in the fundamental skills needed to analyze and implement public policy

Program Director
Vice President and Senior Professor James R. Rhodes

Deputy Director
Associate Professor Nobuhiro Hosoe

Degree Offered
Master of Arts in Public Policy

Scholarship
For International Students Only:
•Japanese Government (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology [MEXT])
•Asian Development Bank [ADB]

Language of Instruction
English

Time Schedule
•Program duration...2 years (minimum 1.5 years)
•Enrollment...October or April
•Graduation...September (early graduation in March possible)

How to Apply
click here

Application Deadline
From August until April

Application Result Notification
May

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