Program Prerequisites

There is no work experience requirement.

Principles of Microeconomics Course:

Applicants should not be dissuaded from applying because they have not completed this class at the time of application. Applicants can receive a conditional acceptance and will need to complete the course before they enroll.

In order to fulfill this admissions requirement, admitted students must complete a 3-credit Principles of Microeconomics course earning a grade of B or higher at an accredited college or university by August 1.

Admitted students can choose to take this course at a four-year institution or at a community college as long as it is accredited, and the course is a 3-credit course. Online courses are also accepted, however, we recommend courses with an instructor that do not rely solely on self-study.

Examples include :

• Northern Virginia Community College (Washington, DC )
• Cornell University (online)
• Harvard University Extension (online)
• University of California Berkeley Extension (online)
• University of Massachusetts (online)
• UT Austin University Extension (online with proctored locations for exams)
• Central University of Finance and Economics (online; admitted students in China)

*These are just a few examples of institutions that offer appropriate courses, both online and in-person. The McCourt School has no financial interest in recommending these courses.

*Coursera courses or professional experience will not fulfill this requirement, nor will courses offered by for-profit entities such as University of Phoenix or Kaplan University.

*We do not accept transferred credits from AP or IB coursework.

*If you have completed a course that is not titled, “Principles of Microeconomics,” but covers equivalent content, please send a copy of the syllabus to mccourtadmissions@georgetown.edu and the Admissions Committee will review it to determine if it can count towards this prerequisite requirement.

Over the summer we will provide information and topics for self-study to admitted students that might be helpful to review, especially if it has been a while since you took a Principles of Microeconomics class as a way of reviewing the material. For example, students who took the class more than five years ago, earned less than a B or who felt they didn’t have a firm grasp of the materials should seriously consider taking a class for credit before entering the program. In our experience, self-study and/or taking a noncredit refresher course are not sufficient means for learning the material.

2 years of post-graduate relevant professional work experience.

Principles of Microeconomics course (same as MPP – please see the information above).

There is no work experience requirement for the MS-DSPP program.

There are no formal course prerequisites for this program, however, the following is recommended:

• College level calculus course
• Demonstrated technical skills in computer science, statistics, and advanced mathematics
• Familiarity with Python and/or R software

5 years of professional work experience.

There are no course prerequisites for this program.

What are the application prerequisites for the Program?

• U.S. Citizenship
• Minimum 5 years of professional work experience 
• Leadership capacity with potential for further growth
• Demonstrated commitment to public service

Applicants must apply via the National Urban Fellows website: https://nuf.org/