Master of Public Policy / M.S. in Foreign Service (MPP/MSFS) Dual Degree
Gain the skills and experience necessary to become a leader in international affairs policy in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
Administered by Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy and the School of Foreign Service, the Master in Public Policy and Master of Science in Foreign Service dual degree is a three-year, 78-credit program in which you pursue both degrees simultaneously.
Deadlines
Fall term
- December 1: Early Action Deadline
- January 15: Priority Deadline
- March 1: Final Deadline
Credit hours
39 Public Policy credit hours
- You will take MPP courses in your first, second and third years.
39 Foreign Service credit hours
- You will take MSFS courses in your first, second and third years.
Who is the MPP/MSFS program for?
The dual degree Master of Public Policy and Master of Science in Foreign Service (MPP/MSFS) was developed for students interested in pursuing a career in international affairs policy in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. This program provides students with the knowledge and skills to develop and use the rigorous tools of policy analysis while obtaining substantive training in international affairs bridging international relations, economics and history. Individuals invested in directly taking on the challenges of our rapidly changing world with the quantitative tools for effective policy implementation, will be ready to make a real-world impact with this dual degree program.
How to Apply
Applicants interested in applying to this dual degree program must meet the admissions criteria of both programs and complete separate applications simultaneously for each department. You should indicate your intentions for a dual degree on all admissions materials. It is possible for students in either the MPP or MSFS program to apply to the other half of the dual degree program during their first year of enrollment. Admissions decisions are always made independently by the McCourt School and the School of Foreign Service; enrollment in one program does not guarantee acceptance to the other program.
Degree requirements
You will need to complete the following courses to satisfy the 39-credit hours of public policy coursework as part of the MPP/MSFS dual degree program.
Economics (6 credits)
- PPOL 5004: Intermediate Microeconomics I (3 credits)
- PPOL 5005: Intermediate Microeconomics II (3 credits)
Quantitative Methods (9 credits)
- PPOL 5000: Statistical Methods for Policy Analysis (3 credits)
- PPOL 5001: Regression Methods for Policy Analysis (3 credits)
- PPOL 5002: Advanced Regression and Program Evaluation Methods (3 credits)
Political Institutions and Process (9 credits)
For each of the first two required courses, students may choose either a U.S. domestic focus or a comparative international focus.
- PPOL 5006: The Politics of Policy-Making; or PPOL 5007: Comparative Politics of Policy-Making (3 credits)
- PPOL 5008: Public Management; or PPOL 5009: Management & Implementation in Developing Countries (3 credits)
- PPOL 5010: Ethics, Values and Public Policy (3 credits)
Capstone Project (6 credits)
- PPOL 5011/5013, Policy Analysis Capstone I/Thesis Workshop I
- PPOL 5012/5014, Policy Analysis Capstone II/Thesis Workshop II
Electives (9 credits)
You will have an array of elective course options taught by expert McCourt faculty to choose from, with the opportunity to align your electives with your interests and career goals.
Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service provides details about which courses you will need to satisfy the 39-credit hours of foreign service coursework as part of the MPP/MSFS dual degree program.
Course schedule
There is some flexibility in the schedule to accommodate your specific professional and academic goals, but students who start the MPP/MSFS dual degree program in the McCourt School typically follow this course schedule:
| Year | Credit load |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | 12 MPP credits + 12 MSFS credits |
| Year 2 | 12 MPP credits + 15 MSFS credits |
| Year 3 | 15 MPP credits + 12 MSFS credits |
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