The Curriculum
Course Overview
The Core
The core curriculum draws on a variety of disciplines and fields, including economics, sociology, political science, statistics, econometrics, political economy, organizational theory, and program evaluation. These areas provide a foundation in critical analysis, reflecting the School’s belief that mastering quantitative and analytical skills prepares students to be effective public policy practitioners.
Electives
Electives allow students to explore special academic interests and fields, as well as to participate in internships and independent research complementing required coursework. Students may choose to focus on an area of public policy, register for courses in departments and schools across the University, and take advantage of opportunities for applying academic training to real-world problems. Electives offer students an opportunity to acquire training both in the theoretical and applied analysis of public policy issues, and to develop the skills necessary for a professional position in policy analysis.
The Master of Public Policy (MPP)
The Master of Public Policy is a two-year program for students interested in gaining a thorough training in analytical skills.
Degree Requirements
- Successful completion of 18 graduate-level courses (1800 units of credit) to earn the degree, not including any courses with grades of F, I, W, or courses with no reported grade.
- Completion of the following six core courses with a C- or better (No core courses may be taken pass/fail):
- PPHA 30800 Analytical Politics I: Strategic Foundations
- PPHA 31610 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions
- Statistics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31002 Statistics for Data Analysis I
- PPHA 31202 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis I
- Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
- PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
- Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
- PPHA 32310 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy I
- Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
- PPHA 32410 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy II
- Completion of a minimum of 12 Public Policy (PPHA) courses
- Completion of a practical experience requirement - beginning with the Autumn 2020 incoming cohort of students
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 for all courses used toward the MPP degree, based on a 4.0 scale
- Completion of a math requirement
- No more than 2 reading/research, independent study, or internship courses
- No more than 2 courses taken pass/fail
Master of Arts in Public Policy (MA)
For those who already have an advanced degree but want to understand the public policy aspects of their field and are interested in attending school full-time, our one-year MA program in public policy provides the fundamental understanding of public policy and analytics to complement their experience.
Degree Requirements
- Successful completion of 9 graduate-level courses (900 units of credit) to earn the degree, not including any courses with grades of F, I, W, or courses with no reported grade
- Completion of any 5 courses from the Harris core curriculum with a C- or better (no core courses may be taken pass/fail):
- PPHA 30800 Analytical Politics I: Strategic Foundations
- PPHA 31610 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions
- Statistics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31002 Statistics for Data Analysis I
- PPHA 31202 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis I
- Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
- PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
- Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
- PPHA 32310 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy I
- Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
- PPHA 32410 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy II
- Completion of a minimum of 7 Public Policy (PPHA) courses
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 for all courses used toward the degree, based on a 4.0 scale
- Completion of the math requirement
- No more than 1 course taken pass/fail
- No more than 1 reading/research, independent study, or internship course.
Master of Science in Computational Analysis and Public Policy (MSCAPP)
The Master of Science in Computational Analysis and Public Policy is a two-year program offered with the Computer Science Department for students interested in the design, implementation, and rigorous analysis of data-driven policies.
Degree Requirements
- Completion of eighteen graduate-level courses (1800 units of credit), not including any courses with grades of F, I, W, or courses with no reported grade
- Completion of the following required courses with a C- or better (No core courses may be taken pass/fail):
- CAPP 30121 Computer Science with Applications I
- CAPP 30122 Computer Science with Applications II
- CAPP 30235 Databases for Public Policy
- CAPP 30271 Mathematics for Computer Science and Data Analysis
- CAPP 30254 Machine Learning for Public Policy
- PPHA 30800 Analytical Politics I: Strategic Foundations or PPHA 41501 Game Theory (with instructor approval)
- Statistics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31002 Statistics for Data Analysis I
- PPHA 31202 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis I
- Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
- PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
- Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
- PPHA 32310 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy I
- Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
- PPHA 32410 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy II
- PPHA 34600 Program Evaluation or PPHA 34610 Advanced Program Evaluation
- 1 Policy Elective (PPHA prefix)
- 1 Computer Science elective
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or above for all courses used toward the degree, based on a 4.0 scale
- Completion of a practical experience requirement
- Completion of a Math Requirement
- No more than 2 reading/research, independent study, or internship courses
- No more than 2 courses taken pass/fail.
Master of Arts Evening Program
The Evening Master of Arts in Public Policy program is a four quarter program that is intended for working mid-career professionals. Courses are offered during the autumn, winter, and spring 9-week quarters primarily in the evenings but with 1 weekend session per quarter. This allows students the opportunity to maintain a full-time work schedule and earn their degree over the course of 4 academic quarters.
The course curriculum consists of eight 100-unit courses and four 25-unit short courses on current topics in public policy. Students will gain a foundation in data analytics, economic analysis, leadership, and the strategic foundations of public policy. Core Courses in the Part-Time Master's Program are unique and cannot be transferred to any other program at Harris. Students in full-time courses cannot transfer into or take EMP courses.
Degree Requirements
- Completion of nine graduate-level courses (900 units of credit), not including any courses with grades of F, I, W, or courses with no reported grade
- Completion of the following courses with a C- or better (except Current Topics in Public Policy, which students must Pass):
- Data Analytics I: Quantitative Analysis
- Data Analytics II: Introduction to Program Evaluation
- Economic Analysis I: Microeconomics
- Economic Analysis II: Introduction to Cost Benefit Analysis
- Leadership and Negotiations
- Public Finance and Budgeting
- Analytical Politics I: Foundations
- Analytical Politics II: Politics and Policy Making
- Current Topics in Public Policy I-IV
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 for all courses used toward the degree, based on a 4.0 scale
Master of Arts with a Certificate in Research Methods (MACRM)
The MACRM program is designed for those who want to become professional policy researchers or position themselves to pursue PhDs at top-tier institutions and provides an interconnected, intellectual experience.
This degree is an excellent choice for candidates who have strong quantitative backgrounds with exposure to mathematical probability and statistics, multivariate calculus, and matrix algebra.
Degree Requirements
- Completion of 18 graduate-level courses, including seven (7) core courses and five (5) apprenticeship courses, not including any courses of F, I, or W, or courses with no reported grade
- Completion of the following core courses with a C- or better (no core courses may be taken pass/fail):
- PPHA 41501 Game Theory
- PPHA 42000 Applied Econometrics I
- PPHA 42100 Applied Econometrics II
- PPHA 42200 Applied Econometrics III
- PPHA 44100 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis I
- PPHA 44200 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis II
- PPHA 52500 MACRM Apprenticeship (5 quarters, 500 units of credit total. Register for first course in winter of first year and second in autumn of second year.)
- Research Methods
- Completion of a minimum of 7 Public Policy (PPHA) courses
- Completion of Mathematical Methods for PhD and MACRM Program (prior to first autumn of enrollment)
- Completion of the practical experience requirement
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 for all courses used toward the degree, based on a 4.0 scale
- No more than one (1) course taken pass/fail (core courses cannot be taken pass/fail)
- No more than one (1) reading/research or internship course in addition to the apprenticeship courses.
- Completion of the research apprenticeship
- Policies on the the results of not meeting these requirements can be found on the Harris policies page.
- Any questions about these requirements can be sent to the Harris Dean of Students Office at harrisdeanofstudents@uchicago.edu.
Ph.D. Program
The Ph.D. program at Harris Public Policy prepares students for careers in academia, industry, and government. It emphasizes a rigorous foundation in microeconomics, econometrics, and political economy, along with in-depth study of particular substantive areas associated with policy and policy-making. The program allows students to develop individualized and innovative courses of study in which they work closely with faculty members of the School and the University.
Director of Graduate Studies
Steven Durlauf, professor
Program Director
Nichole Horn (nhorn@uchicago.edu)
Course Work
Ph.D. students should expect to complete their program of study after a minimum of four to five years in residence. Ph.D. students must complete a minimum of 18 courses, including demonstrated mastery of the School's core subjects, unless they enter the program with a master's degree in the same or a related field, in which case the number of required courses may be reduced by up to 9 courses. While earning their Ph.D., if doctoral students meet the requirements of the A.M. or M.P.P., they may petition to earn that degree.
Ph.D. students must complete a minimum of 8 courses in the first year and 6 courses in the second year, all for quality grades (Individual areas of focus (AOFs) might require more than these minimums. All core courses must be completed with an average B+ (3.3) grade point average (GPA). The core courses consist of two courses in microeconomics, three courses in econometrics, and one course in game theory.
Following completion of their coursework and examinations, Ph.D. students will be able to take advantage of opportunities to obtain financial support for their doctoral research from internal and external sources and to participate in research projects in the School and the University. Students receiving internal financial support will also serve as course assistants beyond their first year of study.
Additional Requirements
Beyond the successful completion of required course work, Ph.D. students must fulfill the following requirements:
Qualifying Examinations
Students must earn a B+ average over the necessary course sequences required by their Area of Focus. Students who do not meet the GPA requirements to automatically waive the comprehensive exam for one or more sequences will be required to take and pass a comprehensive exam covering the sequence(s) where the GPA was not met. The comprehensive exams are typically administered in the summer (August) after the first year and will be graded pass/fail. The Price Theory comprehensive exam is administered by the ECON department and requires registration.
Qualifying Paper
Ph.D. students must complete the qualifying paper requirement according to guidelines prescribed by the Ph.D. committee and must present the paper in an appropriate University of Chicago forum. An acceptable qualifying paper will show evidence that the student is developing the capacity for formulating and conducting an independent research project and for creating a scholarly argument.
Dissertation Proposal
Following completion of the qualifying paper, students will write and defend a dissertation proposal before the student's dissertation committee and other interested University faculty and doctoral students. The proposal hearing will ordinarily be held by the Autumn Quarter of the fourth year of study, after which the student is admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D.
Dissertation Defense
The dissertation defense is a public meeting of faculty and students, directed by the chair of the dissertation committee. It consists of an opening statement by the candidate, questions and comments by the faculty (both those from the dissertation committee and others), and a general discussion. The opening statement, generally, 30 minutes to an hour in length, should cover such points as: (1) the nature of research in the field before the dissertation work was conducted; (2) the nature of the present findings; (3) the original contribution to the fields in theory, methods and/or findings; and (4) implications of the findings for public policy studies more generally; (5) directions for future research.
Required courses:
- PPHA 41501 Game Theory
- PPHA 42000 Applied Econometrics I
- PPHA 42100 Applied Econometrics II
- PPHA 42200 Applied Econometrics III
- PPHA 44100 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis I
- PPHA 44200 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis II
Dual Degree Programs
The Divinity School - MPP/M.Div
Chicago Harris and the Divinity School offer a combined degree program that enables students to graduate with both a Master of Public Policy and a Master of Divinity.
The program provides an opportunity for students to combine their interest in examining pertinent issues related to the church as a public institution with their interest in public and urban ministry. The program allows students to complete both degrees within a total of four academic years; both degrees must be awarded in the same quarter. Students who wish to participate in this program must be admitted to both Harris and the Divinity School. Students already admitted to one of the Schools may apply during their first year for admission to the other.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- Successful completion of 38 graduate-level courses (3800 units of credit) to earn both degrees, not including any courses with grades of F, I, W, or courses with no reported grade
- For the MDiv degree, successful completion of 24 graduate-level courses (instead of the usual 29)
- For the MPP degree, successful completion of 14 graduate-level courses (instead of the usual 18)
- Completion of the following six core courses with a C- or better:
- PPHA 30800 Analytical Politics I: Strategic Foundations
- PPHA 31610 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions
- Statistics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31002 Statistics for Data Analysis I
- PPHA 31202 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis I
- Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
- PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
- Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
- PPHA 32310 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy I
- Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
- PPHA 32410 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy II
- Completion of a minimum of 10 Public Policy (PPHA) courses
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 for all courses used toward the MPP degree, based on a 4.0 scale
- Completion of a math requirement
- Completion of a practical experience requirement - beginning with the Autumn 2020 incoming cohort of students
- No more than 2 reading/research, independent study, or internship courses
- No more than 1 courses taken pass/fail
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business - MPP/MBA
The Harris School and Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago offer a combined degree program leading to the MPP and MBA degrees. Upon completion, students graduate with both a Master of Public Policy from the Harris School and a Master of Business Administration from the Booth School of Business. The joint degree program allows students who are interested in policy issues and business administration to have an integrated and comprehensive course of study. Students already admitted to one of the schools may apply during their first year for admission to the other.
Students in this program take 13 courses, instead of the usual 18, with Harris. Students also take 14 courses (instead of the usual 20) with the Booth, thus earning both degrees in a total of three years. Both degrees must be awarded in the same quarter.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- Successful completion of 27 graduate-level courses (2700 units of credit) to earn both degrees, not including any courses with grades of F, I, W, or courses with no reported grade
- For the M.B.A. degree, successful completion of 14 graduate-level courses (1400 credits)
- For the M.P.P. degree, successful completion of 13 graduate-level courses (1300 credits)
- Completion of the following six core courses with a C- or better (no core course can be taken pass/fail):
- PPHA 30800 Analytical Politics I: Strategic Foundations
- PPHA 31610 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions
- Statistics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31002 Statistics for Data Analysis I
- PPHA 31202 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis I
- Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
- PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
- Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
- PPHA 32310 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy I
- Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
- PPHA 32410 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy II
- Completion of a minimum of 10 Public Policy (PPHA) courses
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 for all courses used toward the MPP degree, based on a 4.0 scale
- Completion of a math requirement
- Completion of a practical experience requirement - beginning with the Autumn 2020 incoming cohort of students
- No more than 2 reading/research, independent study, or internship courses
- No more than 1 courses taken pass/fail
The Law School - MPP/JD
The Harris School and the Law School at the University of Chicago offer students an opportunity to obtain both a M.P.P. and a J.D. degree. Upon completion, students graduate with both a Master of Public Policy from Harris and a Doctor of Law from the Law School.
The dual degree program allows students who are interested in the application of the law to public policy issues to have a comprehensive course of study. All 14 courses required for the MPP are taken during the four quarters of registration at Harris. Students may apply one academic quarter of up to four 100 unit courses taken within Harris toward the hours required to obtain their law degree. This enables students to earn both degrees in four years. Both degrees must be awarded in the same quarter.
Students who wish to participate in this program must complete the separate admission processes to both Harris and the Law School. Students already admitted to Harris may apply during their first year to the Law School; those admitted to the Law School may apply during their first or second year to Harris.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- For the MPP degree, successful completion of 14 graduate-level courses (1400 units of credit) not including any courses with grades of F, I, W, or courses with no reported grade.
- Completion of the following six core courses with a C- or better:
- PPHA 30800 Analytical Politics I: Strategic Foundations
- PPHA 31610 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions
- Statistics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31002 Statistics for Data Analysis I
- PPHA 31202 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis I
- Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
- PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
- Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
- PPHA 32310 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy I
- Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
- PPHA 32410 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy II
- Completion of a minimum of 10 Public Policy (PPHA) courses.
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 for all courses used toward the M.P.P. degree, based on a 4.0 scale
- Completion of a math requirement
- Completion of a practical experience requirement - beginning with the Autumn 2020 incoming cohort of students
- No more than 2 reading/research courses/independent study/internship
- No more than 1 course taken pass/fail
The Crown School of Social Work, Policy & Practice - MPP/AM with Crown
The Harris School and the Crown School of Social Work, Policy & Practice offer a combined degree program leading to the MPP and AM degrees. Upon completion, students graduate with both a Master of Public Policy from Harris and a Master of Arts from the Crown School of Social Work, Policy & Practice.
The joint degree program is intended for students who are interested in social welfare policy, and social policy more broadly, and students who want to be social workers involved in the public policy issues that influence their profession. Students who wish to participate in this program must be admitted to both Harris and the Crown School. A student who is already enrolled in one of the schools may apply during their first year for admission to the other school.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- Successful completion of 27 graduate-level courses (2700 units of credit) to earn both degrees, not including any courses with grades of F, I, W, or courses with no reported grade
- For the MA degree, successful completion of 13 graduate-level courses (1300 units of credit)
- For the MPP degree, successful completion of 14 graduate-level courses (1400 units of credit)
- Completion of the following six core courses with a C- or better (no core courses can be taken pass/fail):
- PPHA 30800 Analytical Politics I: Strategic Foundations
- PPHA 31610 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions
- Statistics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31002 Statistics for Data Analysis I
- PPHA 31202 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis I
- Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
- PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
- Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
- PPHA 32310 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy I
- Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
- PPHA 32410 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy II
- Completion of a minimum of 10 Public Policy (PPHA) courses
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 for all courses used toward the MPP degree, based on a 4.0 scale
- Completion of a math requirement
- Completion of a practical experience requirement - beginning with the Autumn 2020 incoming cohort of students
- No more than 2 reading/research, independent study, or internship courses
- No more than 1 courses taken pass/fail
The Crown School of Social Work, Policy & Practice - MPP/SSL with Crown
The Harris School of Public Policy and the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice offer a combined program where you can earn your Master of Public Policy and a Master of Arts in Social Sector Leadership & Non-Profit Management at the same time, preparing you to address systemic issues in policy while learning strategic management and leadership skills.
This joint degree program is intended for people who are interested or working in social welfare and/or social policy, want to address the broader systemic issues related to their fields, and have a desire to become more inclusive and impactful leaders across the social sector. Upon completion, graduates will be awarded both a Master of Public Policy from the Harris School of Public Policy and a Master of Arts in Social Sector Leadership from the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and be ready to tackle the issues at the root of their fields' challenges.
Students who wish to participate in this program must be admitted to both Harris and the Crown School. A student who is already enrolled in one of the schools may apply during their first year for admission to the other school.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- Successful completion of 24 graduate-level courses (2400 units of credit) to earn both degrees, not including any courses with grades of F, I, W, or courses with no reported grade
- For the MA degree, successful completion of 10 graduate-level courses (1000 units of credit)
- For the MPP degree, successful completion of 14 graduate-level courses (1400 units of credit)
- Completion of the following six core courses with a C- or better (no core courses can be taken pass/fail):
- PPHA 30800 Analytical Politics I: Strategic Foundations
- PPHA 31610 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions
- Statistics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31002 Statistics for Data Analysis I
- PPHA 31202 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis I
- Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
- PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
- Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
- PPHA 32310 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy I
- Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
- PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
- PPHA 32410 Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy II
- Completion of a minimum of 10 Public Policy (PPHA) courses
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 for all courses used toward the MPP degree, based on a 4.0 scale
- Completion of a math requirement
- Completion of a practical experience requirement - beginning with the Autumn 2020 incoming cohort of students
- No more than 2 reading/research, independent study, or internship courses
- No more than 1 courses taken pass/fail
Cooperative Masters Programs
DUAL A.M./M.A. WITH THE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The Harris School of Public Policy and the Committee on International Relations (CIR) offer a two-year program leading to two master of arts degrees: in public policy and international relations. This program is designed for students who want to combine training in public policy analytical tools with a substantive emphasis on international affairs.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- For the MA in International Relations: successful completion of 9 courses (900 units of credit), approved by their CIR advisors and preceptors, which serve to build the foundation for the required M.A. thesis.
- For the MA in Policy: See regular MA degree requirements.
Specializations
Specialization in Data Analytics
Faculty Director: Peter Ganong
Program Description: With increased digital access to data and the development of powerful, but inexpensive, computing, in the 21st century the formulation and evaluation of public policy is more and more reliant on the analysis of data. This specialization seeks to prepare students for careers where data analysis plays a central role. This specialization is designed for beginners without a prior background in coding and is a marker of courses passed rather than a competency determination.
Specialization Requirements
The specialization requires completion of three required courses, along with one additional course (four courses total). Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course and there is no pass/fail option. No substitutions will be allowed for required courses, and no non-Harris substitutions will be considered for electives. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the specialization.
Required courses
Students must complete the following courses:
- PPHA 30537 Data and Programming for Public Policy
- PPHA 30538 Data Analytics and Visualization for Public Policy
- PPHA 30545 Machine Learning for Public Policy
Elective courses
Students must complete one of the following courses to fulfill the four-course requirement:
- PPHA 34600 Program Evaluation
- PPHA 34610 Advanced Program Evaluation
- PPHA 38520 GIS Applications in the Social Sciences
- PPHA 38829 Artificial Intelligence for Public Policy
- PPHA 42000 Applied Econometrics I
- PPHA 42100 Applied Econometrics II
- PPHA 60000 Policy Lab (with approval of the Specialization Director)
- CAPP 30300 / PPHA 30581 Data Science Clinic
Specialization in Education Policy
Faculty Director: Anjali Adukia
Program Description: The Education Policy specialization is designed to provide students with the background, concepts, and tools necessary to understand and address policy problems in education. The specialization's curriculum will afford students opportunities to expose themselves to the multiple disciplines and fields that speak to global and domestic education challenges, such as labor economics, public economics, development economics, development psychology, behavioral science, mechanism design, sociology, and education and child studies.
Specialization Requirements
The specialization requires completion of two of three required courses, along with one additional course from the elective or required course list. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course, and there is no pass/fail option. The courses do not need to be taken in a particular order. The specialization is open to all graduate students at the University of Chicago. Note that not all of these courses will be offered each year. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the specialization.
Required Courses (at least two)
- PPHA 35240 Education, Inequality, and Economic Development
- PPHA 35720 Higher Education Policy
- PPHA 40700 Early Childhood: Human Capital Development and Public Policy
Elective Courses
- PPHA 41740 Gender and Policy
- EDSO 33002 Schooling and Identity
- EDSO 33011 Beyond the Culture Wars: Social Movements and the Politics of Education
- EDSO 40315 Inequality in Urban Spaces
- SOCI 30112 / PPHA 44650 Applications of Hierarchical Models in Longitudinal and Multilevel Research
- SOCI 30192 The Effects of Schooling
Specialization in Energy and Environmental Policy
Faculty Director: Ryan Kellogg
Program Description: Providing society with affordable and reliable energy, while limiting its negative social and environmental impacts, is one of the great global challenges of the 21st century. The Harris Energy and Environmental Policy specialization is designed to provide students with the background, concepts, and tools necessary to understand and address pressing energy and environmental policy problems.
Specialization Requirements
The specialization requires completion of at least two courses from the “Required courses” list, along with two additional courses that come from either the “Required courses” list or the “Elective courses” list (four courses total). Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course and there is no pass/fail option with the exception of PPHA 39519: Energy Law and Policy. The courses do not need to be taken in a particular order. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the specialization.
Required courses
Students must complete at least two of the following courses:
- PPHA 36930 Environmental Economics: Theory and Applications
- PPHA 38900 Environmental Science and Policy
- PPHA 39925 Energy Policy and Human Behavior
- PPHA 39930 International Climate Policy
- PPHA 41210 Science and Technology for Future Policy Wonks
Elective courses
In addition to courses from the core list above, students must complete enough of the below courses in order to complete four total courses in the specialization:
- PPHA 32750 Hydropolitics: Water Policy and Conflict
- PPHA 33510 Nuclear Policy
- PPHA 36150 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Impact Investing
- PPHA 36160 Sustainability Principles, ESG Risk, and Value Creation in Organizations
- PPHA 36925 Utilities and Electricity Markets: Regulation in the United States
- PPHA 36935 The Intended and Unintended Market Implications of Environmental Regulations
- PPHA 38870 Sustainable Development in the Digital Age
- PPHA 60000 Policy Lab (with approval of the Specialization Director)
- BUSN 33320 Financing the Grid: Valuing Transmission and Storage Capacity
- BUSN 42129 The Political Economy of Climate Change
- ENSC 24400 / BIOS 20196 Ecology and Conservation
- GEOS 24705 / ENSC 21100 Energy Science, Technology, and Human Usage
- GEOS 13300 / ENSC 13300 The Atmosphere
- LAWS 43282 Energy Law
- LAWS 46001 Environmental Law: Air, Water, and Animals
- LAWS 53297 / PPHA 39518 Law and the Economics of Natural Resource Markets
- SSAD 69400 Climate Change and Human Mobility
Specialization in Finance and Policy
Faculty Director: Tom Coleman
Center Name: Center for Economic Policy
Program Description: The Center for Economic Policy seeks to educate students and wider audiences about economic policy and markets, providing students with training in economic tools to analyze the regulatory and legal framework in which markets operate. Markets and government policies regulating them have always been central to economic growth, social welfare, and civil society, with policy decisions and legal frameworks inextricably tied to economic outcomes.
Whether it is the government debt consolidation undertaken by the South Sea Company (and Bank of England) in the early 1700s or the rise in mortgage debt and the 2008 financial crisis, financial markets and their functioning are inextricably linked with both household behavior and larger economic outcomes and policy decisions. The core specialization courses teach basic finance tools necessary for understanding financial instruments and markets. Electives provide a broader range of topics related to household finance, international finance, and banking.
Specialization Requirements
The specialization requires completion of two required courses, along with one additional elective course. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course and there is no pass/fail option. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the specialization.
Required courses
Students must complete one of the following courses to fulfill the requirement:
- PPHA 36101 Financial Investments for Public Policy
- PPHA 42510 Applied Financial Management
- BUSN 35000 Investments
- BUSN 35001 Introductory Finance
Students must complete one of the following courses to fulfill the requirement:
- PPHA 34410 Corporate Finance
- BUSN 35001 Introductory Finance
- BUSN 35200 Corporate Finance
Elective courses
Students must complete one of the following courses to fulfill the requirement:
- PPHA 34241 Household Finance: Theory and Application
- PPHA 34500 Macroeconomics for Public Policy
- PPHA 35310 International Trade, Banking and Capital Markets
- PPHA 36150 Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG), and Impact Investing
- PPHA 42521 History of Financial Crises
- PPHA 42535 Bank Regulation and Management
- PPHA 60000 Policy Lab (with approval of specialization director)
- BUSN 30000 Financial Accounting
- BUSN 30131 Advanced Financial Analysis and Valuation of Global Firms
- BUSN 33050 Macroeconomics and the Business Environment
- BUSN 33502 International Financial Policy
- BUSN 34101 Entrepreneurial Finance and Private Equity
- BUSN 35126 Quantitative Portfolio Management
- BUSN 35201 Cases in Financial Management
- BUSN 35210 International Corporate Finance
- BUSN 35214 Debt Distress & Restructuring
- FINM 32600 Computing for Finance in C++
- FINM 32700 Advanced Computing for Finance
Recommended Co-Curricular Activity
During their second year, students should attend two events (out of six) from the “Harris Speakers on Economic Policy and Markets” or “History of Chicago Economics” speaker series.
Specialization in Gender and Policy
Faculty Director: Yana Gallen
Program Description: The Gender and Policy specialization will guide students in developing their understanding of the historic and present role of women in politics, policy, and the labor market. Students will gain knowledge of gender differences in outcomes and their sources, will learn how challenges differ around the world and over the life course, and will be exposed to policy solutions as well as policy failures.
Specialization Requirements
Students will be free to choose four courses from the list below to complete the specialization. Students may replace up to two of these four courses with an unlisted elective of their choice from the GNSE department, with the approval of the faculty director of the specialization. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course and there is no pass/fail option. The courses do not need to be taken in a particular order. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the specialization.
Required Courses (choose four)
- PPHA 30300 Philosophical Foundations of Public Policy
- PPHA 35240 Education, Inequality, and Economic Development
- PPHA 41740 Gender and Policy
- PPHA 46610 Workplace and Family Policy
- PPHA 47400 Women and Public Policy From an Evolutionary Perspective
- PPHA 6000 Policy Lab (with the approval of Specialization Director)
- PBPL 20115 / PPHA 47420 Women, Peace, and Security
Specialization in Global Conflict Studies
Faculty Director: Oeindrila Dube
Program Description: While past generations witnessed world wars and other great power struggles, global conflict has evolved to include violent extremism, large-scale displacement, and failed nations. Future leaders must also adapt their concepts and empirical approaches in order to understand the new nature of conflict when proposing solutions for the future.
By focusing on comparative development, political economy, and applied methodology, The Pearson Institute Global Conflict Studies specialization is designed to prepare students for careers in government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, or multinational corporations.
Specialization Requirements:
The specialization will be awarded to students who complete any three of the qualifying courses. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course and there is no pass/fail grading option. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the specialization .
Required courses
The following two courses are recommended as a fundamental sequence of the specialization:
- PPHA 35570: Conflict and Humanitarian Intervention: Blurring Humanitarian, Development, and Security Policy
- PPHA 38740: Conflict and Applied Data Science
Other qualifying specialization courses
- PPHA 32740 Order and Violence
- PPHA 32750 Hydropolitics: Water Policy and Conflict
- PPHA 33510 Nuclear Policy
- PPHA 33840 Managing Chaos: Competing Strategies in a Disordered World
- PPHA 60000 Policy Lab (with the approval of Specialization Director)
- PBPL 20115 / PPHA 47420 Women, Peace and Security
- PLSC 40610 Seminar on International Security Affairs
- PLSC 48401 / PPHA 39830 Quantitative Security
- SSAD 46922 Structuring Refuge: U.S. Refugee Policy and Resettlement Practice
- SSAD 47812 Human Rights Policy and Practice
Specialization in Health Policy
Faculty Director: David Meltzer Administrative Director: Kelsey Bogue
Program Description: Health policy has monumental impact on societies, locally, nationally and around the world. Policy making in this field must weigh factors ranging from child welfare to employment law, the national economy to breakthroughs in medicine and care. The Harris Health Policy specialization is designed to provide students with the background, concepts and tools necessary to understand and address pressing health policy problems.
Specialization Requirements
The specialization requires completion of three specialization courses. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course and there is no pass/fail option. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the specialization.
Required courses
Students must complete one of the following courses to fulfill the requirement:
- PPHA 38300 Health Economics and Public Policy
- SSAD 47522 / PPHA 37520 U.S. Health System and Policy (open to GPHAP students only)
Elective courses
Students must complete two of the following courses to fulfill the requirement:
- PPHA 37910 Race and Ethnic Differences in Health: Epidemiology, Behavior and Policy
- PPHA 38050 Evidence in Health Policy
- PPHA 41021 Health Impacts of Transportation Policies
- PPHA 60000 Policy Lab (with the approval of Specialization Director)
- BUSN 33350 Health Economics
- BUSN 33351 Business of Pharmaceuticals
- BUSN 40206 Healthcare Business Analytics
- BUSN 42300 Global Health and Social Policy
- CCTS 42006 / PPHA 42006 Decision Modeling for Health Economic Evaluation
- HMRT 31400 Health and Human Rights
- LAWS 43359 Regulation of Drug, Devices, Biologics, and Cosmetics
- PBHS 30910 Epidemiology and Population Health
- PBHS 31001 Epidemiologic Methods
- PBHS 31100 Introduction to Mathematical Modeling in Public Health
- PBHS 31450 Social Inequalities in Health: Race & Ethnicity
- PBHS 31900 Global Health Metrics
- PBHS 33700 Sexual Health: Identity, Behavior, and Outcomes
- PBHS 34500 Machine Learning for Public Health
- PBHS 35100 / PPHA 38010 Health Services Research Methods
- PBHS 35500 / PPHA 37720 U.S. Health Policy and Politics
- PBHS 35600 / PPHA 38340 Money, Medicine, and Markets: The Financialization of the US Health System
- PBHS 38010 / PPHA 38290 Economic Analysis of Health Policies
- SSAD 46622 / PPHA 37302 Key Issues in Health Care: An Interdisciplinary Case Studies Approach (open to GPHAP students only)
- SSAD 62912 Global Development and Social Welfare
Specialization in International Policy and Development
Faculty Director: Christopher Blattman Faculty Administrative Director: Rebecca Wolfe
Program Description: The International Policy and Development (IPD) specialization focuses on two broad kinds of questions:
1. How to achieve economic and political development? These courses focus on why some people and societies are poor, unequal, unstable, or unfree, and what circumstances and policies promote wealth, equality, stability, and freedoms.
2. How to design and implement public policy globally? The courses focus on public policy issues in an international setting across a range of subjects, including: education, health, children, criminal justice, public finance, labor markets, elections, and so forth.
The IPD specialization is designed to prepare students for careers in government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, or multinational corporations.
Specialization Requirements
The specialization requires completion of three specialization courses. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course and there is no pass/fail option. The courses do not need to be taken in a particular order. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the specialization.
Required course
Students must complete the following course to fulfill the requirement:
- PPHA 35550 Economic Development and Policy
The following courses are recommended to take while pursuing the specialization:
- PPHA 35556 Power and Development
- PPHA 32740 Order and Violence
- PPHA 35588 China and the World
The following courses also fulfill the requirement for the International Development and Policy specialization:
- PPHA 35240 Education, Inequality, and Economic Development
- PPHA 35310 International Trade, Banking and Capital Markets
- PPHA 35540 How to Change the World: Science of Policymaking in International Policy and Development
- PPHA 35560 Behavioral Policy and Program Design: Translating Evidence for Impact
- PPHA 35575 Behavioral Experiments in International Development: from Theory to Practice
- PPHA 35577 Big Data and Development
- PPHA 35578 Qualitative Methods for International Policy and Development
- PPHA 35585 The Chinese Economy
- PPHA 37040 Economic Growth and Development
- PPHA 39930 International Climate Policy
- PPHA 47400 Women and Public Policy From an Evolutionary Perspective
- PPHA 60000 Policy Lab (with the approval of Specialization Director)
- LAWS 53507 Law and Economic Development
- PBPL 25540 / PPHA 35530 Critical Development Theories and Approaches
Specialization in Municipal Finance
Faculty Director: Justin Marlowe
Program Description: The specialization in Municipal Finance prepares students for careers with local and state governments as well as private-sector financial and consulting firms. Students will gain in-depth expertise in the process, politics, and economics of public revenue and expenditure decisions and learn the practices and techniques of modern financial administration and the operation of the municipal securities market. Such policy expertise is essential for raising, spending, and borrowing money to provide basic local government services, as well as for tackling many pressing municipal problems that are dependent on resources provided by the budget, such as funding public pensions and health care.
Specialization Requirements
The specialization requires completion of one required course, along with two additional elective courses. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course and there is no pass/fail option. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the specialization .
Required course
Students must complete the following course:
- PPHA 32530 Fundamentals of Municipal Bonds
Elective courses
Students must complete two of the following courses to fulfill the requirement:
- PPHA 32100 State and Local Public Finance
- PPHA 36101 Financial Investments for Public Policy
- PPHA 42510 Applied Financial Management
- PPHA 42535 Banking Regulation and Management
- PPHA 60000 Harris Policy Lab (with the approval of Specialization Director)
Students may propose additional elective courses with substantial municipal finance contents. Proposals will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Specialization Director.
Specialization in Social and Economic Inequality
Faculty Director: Dan Black
Program Description:
The goal of this specialization is to introduce students to modern theories of inequality and the empirical study of those theories. Topics include early childhood sources of income inequality, discrimination in the labor market and in other institutions, segregation in housing markets, the impact of migration on the measurement of inequality, and the role of peer effects.
Specialization Requirements
The specialization requires completion of at least two courses from the “Required courses” list, along with two additional courses that come from either the “Required courses” list or the “Elective courses” list (four courses total). No required course substitutions allowed.
Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course and there is no pass/fail option. The courses do not need to be taken in a particular order. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the specialization.
Required Courses
Students must complete at least two of the following courses:
- PPHA 33215 Poverty and Public Policy
- PPHA 33230 / ECON 34930 Inequality: Theory, Methods and Evidence
- PPHA 34241 Household Finance: Theory and Applications
- PPHA 37910 Race and Ethnic Differences in Health: Epidemiology, Behavior, and Policy
- PPHA 39450 What We Know About Income Inequality
- PPHA 40700 Early Childhood: Human Capital Development and Public Policy
- PPHA 41740 Gender and Policy
Elective Courses
Students must complete two additional courses from either the required courses or the elective courses list.
- PPHA 30602 Child and Family Policy and Research
- PPHA 35240 Education, Inequality, and Economic Development
- PPHA 38715 Housing Policy in the United States
- PPHA 60000 Policy Lab (with the approval of Specialization Director)
Specialization in Survey Research
Faculty Director: Colm O'Muircheartaigh Administrative Director: Marc Farinella
Program Description: The collection of data directly from individuals or other entities provides the foundation for modern public policy in the fields of official government statistics and social research. The specialization in Survey Research is designed to cover a range of methodologies and applications to prepare students either to work directly in the area of data collection or to become informed users and evaluators of data collected by others.
Students who complete this specialization will be able to:
- Understand the provenance of data
- Appreciate the implications of survey design for the analysis of data
- Understand the importance of blending survey data collected for research purposes with real-world administrative data
Specialization Requirements
The specialization requires completion of one required course, along with two additional courses. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course and there is no pass/fail option. The courses do not need to be taken in a particular order. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the specialization.
Required course
-
PPHA 41600 Survey Research Methodology
Elective courses
Students must complete two of the following courses to fulfill the requirement:
-
PPHA 38520 GIS Applications in the Social Sciences
-
PPHA 41800 Survey Questionnaire Design
- PPHA 44900 Methods of Data Collection: Social Experiments, Quasi-Experiments and Surveys
- PPHA 60000 Policy Labs (with the approval of Specialization Director)
- GISC 38702 / PPHA 38712 Introduction to GIS and Spatial Analysis
-
STAT 33100 Sample Surveys
Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy
The Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy (GPHAP), trains student to guide health care organizations through various economic, ethical, and social issues, as well as the financial demands of this complex field. Students can earn either a Certificate in Health Administration and Policy or a Certificate in Health Administration and Policy with a Concentration in Global Health.
Applicants must be enrolled in or admitted to one of the participating professional schools. For more information, visit gphap.uchicago.edu or contact Laura Botwinick, Director, GPHAP at lbotwinick@uchicago.edu.
Honors
Any master's student who has a 3.75 or better cumulative GPA after their final quarter will earn honors. For joint degree programs, Harris uses the cumulative GPA for all courses associated with the joint degree. For the MBA/MPP & MPP/MSW, this will include all 2700 units regardless of which division a student starts their joint degree. Similarly, it will be all 1800 units for BA/MPP students, all 2400 units for MPP/SSL students, and so on.