Understanding American public policy in an international context is the goal of a new two-year master of public policy degree offered at UC San Diego.
The School of Global Policy and Strategy said the new degree is unique because students will study U.S. policy-making within a global society.
“Best practice approaches to public policy problems now require analysis through a global lens,” said Peter F. Cowhey, dean of the school. “Better solutions are emerging in every corner of the world. But the feasibility of these ideas requires a rigorous understanding of local and national economic, technical and political conditions.”
Students in the program will learn how to do rigorous analysis of such pressing issues as economic growth and opportunity, energy, the environment, public health, public finance and security and will also learn from best practices around the world.
The program is designed to meet the rapidly growing need for skilled professionals capable of understanding and recommending policy options addressing society’s most pressing problems.
“Students can also choose to focus on American politics and policy, international business and regulation or to cultivate skills in program design and evaluation,” said Wendy Hunter Barker, assistant dean of academic programs at the school. “No matter which specialization is chosen, our graduates will be experts in analyzing and applying best practices in regulation and policy making domestically and internationally.”
The school is now accepting applications for fall 2016.