Master of Public Policy/PhD in Psychology (MPP/PhD in Psychology) Dual Degree
Gain the skills and experience necessary to become an expert on the processes and contexts of policy development and its role it plays in the well being and mental health of its constituents.
Administered by Georgetown University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the McCourt School of Public Policy and Department of Psychology, the Master in Public Policy and PhD in Psychology dual degree is a three-year, 48-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
Public Policy
- 48 MPP credit hours
Who is the MPP/PhD in Psychology program for?
The dual Master of Public Policy and PhD in Psychology degree is designed to offer students rigorous training in the range of theories and methods that characterize the developmental sciences and enable them to place the study of development into the broader contexts – biological, familial, social, cultural, economic, historical and political – from which the field draws its societal applications. The program will prepare students for an array of post-degree positions in institutions of higher education, research institutes, government agencies and other policy settings, medical settings and nonprofit organizations. Conducting high-quality empirical research that makes a contribution to both scientific understanding and human welfare is an overarching theme of this dual degree program. In addition to MPP coursework, students must satisfy additional course requirements established by the Government Department, pass comprehensive examinations and complete a doctoral dissertation.
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. Admissions decisions are always made independently by the McCourt School and the Department of Psychology; 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 Department of Psychology provides details about which courses you will need to satisfy the PhD degree requirements as part of the MPP/PhD in Psychology dual degree program.
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