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 or PPHA 41501 Game Theory (with instructor approval)
  • 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
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence (PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200) (with instructor approval)
  • Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
    • PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence (PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200) (with instructor approval)
  • Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
    • PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis I (with instructor approval)
  • Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
    • PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis II (with instructor approval)
• 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 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
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence (PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200) (with instructor approval)
    • STAT 24400 Statistical Theory and Methods 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
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence (PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200) (with instructor approval)
    • STAT 24400 Statistical Theory and Methods II
  • Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
    • PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis I (with instructor approval)
  • Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
    • PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis II (with instructor approval)
  • PPHA 34600 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.

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 Master of Arts with certificate in Research Methods is 15-month program designed to prepare students for top-tier Ph.D. programs in economics and political science as well as other social sciences, policy, and business.

Degree Requirements

• Successful completion of 12 graduate-level courses (1200 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 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 (3 quarters, 300 units of credit total. Register for first course in spring of first year and second in autumn of second year.) 
• Completion of a minimum of 8 Public Policy (PPHA) courses
• Completion of the Mathematical Methods for PhD and MACRM program prior to orientation
• 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 degree, based on a 4.0 scale
• No more than 1 course taken pass/fail
• No more than one (1) reading/research or internship course in addition to the apprenticeship courses.

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 or PPHA 41501 Game Theory (with instructor approval)
  • 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
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence (PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200) (with instructor approval)
  • Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
    • PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence (PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200) (with instructor approval)
  • Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
    • PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis I (with instructor approval)
  • 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 44200 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II (PhD sequence)
• 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.

Dual Degree Programs

The Center for Middle Eastern Studies - MPP/AM

Chicago Harris and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago offer students an opportunity to earn both a M.P.P. and an A.M. degree.  Upon completion, students graduate with both a Master of Public Policy from Chicago Harris and a Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago. This joint degree program addresses the needs of students wishing to acquire a solid background in modern Middle Eastern languages, history, and civilization while developing their abilities in policy analysis in preparation for professional careers in scholarly, educational, governmental, non- governmental, and business environments in the United States and abroad.

Students in this program take 13 courses, instead of the usual 18, with Chicago Harris. Students also take 14 courses with Middle Eastern Studies.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

• Successful completion of 27 graduate-level courses (2700 units of credit) to earn both degrees
• For the AM in Middle Eastern Studies 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.
• For the MPP degree, successful completion of 13 graduate-level courses (1300 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 or PPHA 41501 Game Theory (with instructor approval)
  • 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
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence - PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200 (with instructor approval)
  • Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
    • PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence - PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200 (with instructor approval)
  • Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
    • PPHA 44100 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis I (with instructor approval) 
  • Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
    • PPHA 44200 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis II (with instructor approval) 
• 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

Students who wish to participate in this program must be admitted to both Harris and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies.  A student who is already enrolled in one of the programs may apply during their first year for admission to the other school.

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 or PPHA 41501 Game Theory (with instructor approval)
  • 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
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence - PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200 (with instructor approval)
  • Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
    • PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence - PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200 (with instructor approval)
  • Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
  • PPHA 44100 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis I (with instructor approval)  Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
    • PPHA 44200 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis II (with instructor approval) 
• 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

Chicago Harris and Chicago 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 Chicago Harris 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 or PPHA 41501 Game Theory (with instructor approval)
  • 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
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence - PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200 (with instructor approval)
  • Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
    • PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence - PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200 (with instructor approval)
  • Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
    • PPHA 44100 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis I (with instructor approval)  
  • Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
    • PPHA 44200 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis II (with instructor approval) 
• 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

Chicago Harris 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 Chicago 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 or PPHA 41501 Game Theory (with instructor approval)
  • 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
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence - PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200 (with instructor approval)
  • Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
    • PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence - PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200 (with instructor approval)
  • Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
    • PPHA 44100 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis I (with instructor approval) 
  • Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
    • PPHA 44200 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis II (with instructor approval) 
• 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

Harris 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 Chicago 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 or PPHA 41501 Game Theory (with instructor approval)
  • 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
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence - PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200 (with instructor approval)
  • Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
    • PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence - PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200 (with instructor approval)
  • Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
    • PPHA 44100 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis I (with instructor approval) 
  • Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
    • PPHA 44200 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis I (with instructor approval) 
  • 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 or PPHA 41501 Game Theory (with instructor approval)
  • 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
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence - PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200 (with instructor approval)
  • Statistics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions
    • PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II
    • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence - PPHA 42000, PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200 (with instructor approval)
  • Microeconomics Sequence I. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
    • PPHA 44100 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis I (with instructor approval) 
  • Microeconomics Sequence II. Choose one of the following:
    • PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
    • PPHA 44200 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis II (with instructor approval) 

• 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.

London School of Economics (LSE)-UChicago Double Executive Masters Program in Health Policy – MA/MSc

Please note, the LSE-UChicago Double Executive Masters Program is not currently accepting applications. 

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Ph.D. Program

The doctoral program (PhD) at Chicago Harris prepares qualified students interested in research-oriented careers involving the substantive and institutional aspects of public policy. The program emphasizes the acquisition of skills needed to design and conduct policy-relevant research, and 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
Barbara Williams (barbaraw@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 microecnomics, three courses in econmetrics, 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
Ph.D. students are required to pass a qualifying exam in a specialized field as specified by the AOF. The exam can take the form of passing core sequences with adequate grades rather than a separate exam.

Qualifying Paper
A qualifying paper must be completed by the end of the second year of study. During their third year of study, Ph.D. students make the transition from coursework to dissertation research. 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. Ideally, the qualifying paper will constitute a step toward completion of a dissertation proposal.

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 should be a significant public policy research project carried out under the supervision of the student's dissertation committee, composed of at least three qualified members approved by the director of doctoral studies. The dissertation defense is a public meeting of faculty and students directed by the chair of the dissertation committee. The dissertation is expected to constitute an original contribution to public policy knowledge and to demonstrate mastery of relevant theories and research methods.

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

Certificates

Certificate in Data Analytics

Faculty Director: Peter Ganong (on leave AY 23-24)  Interim Director: Dan Black

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 certificate seeks to prepare students for careers where data analysis plays a central role.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate 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 with the exception of the last term prior to graduation. No certificate course may be taken on a pass/fail grading basis. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the certificate.

Required courses

Students must complete the following two-course sequence:

• PPHA 30535 or PPHA 30537 Data and Programming for Public Policy I
• PPHA 30536 or PPHA 30538 Data and Programming for Public Policy II

Students must complete one of the following courses:

• PPHA 30545 or PPHA 30546 Machine Learning
• BUSN 41204 Machine Learning
• CMSC 35300 Mathematical Foundations of Machine Learning
• MACS 33002 Introduction to Machine Learning

Elective courses

Students must complete one of the following courses to fulfill the four-course requirement:

• PPHA 30581 Civic Data and Technology Clinic
• PPHA 34600 Program Evaluation
• PPHA 38829 Artificial Intelligence for Public Policy
• PPHA 42000 Applied Econometrics I
• PPHA 42100 Applied Econometrics II
• PPHA 60000 Policy Labs 
• BUSN 37105 Data Science for Marketing Decision Making
• BUSN 37304 Digital and Algorithmic Marketing
• BUSN 40206 Healthcare Business Analytics
• BUSN 41100 Applied Regression Analysis
• BUSN 41201 Big Data
• ECMA 31130 Topics in Microeconometrics

The certificate 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 with the exception of the last term prior to graduation. No certificate course may be taken on a pass/fail grading basis. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the certificate.

Certificate in Education Policy

Faculty Director: Anjali Adukia

Program Description: The Education Policy Certificate is designed to provide students with the background, concepts, and tools necessary to understand and address policy problems in education. The certificate’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.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate 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 certificate 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 certificate.

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 35710 Introduction to Economics of Education
• PPHA 41740 Gender and Policy
• CHDV 44300 Children and Youth Studies
• EDSO 33002 Schooling and Identity
• EDSO 33006 Schooling and Social Inequality (open to EdSo students only)
• EDSO 33011 Beyond the Culture Wars: Social Movements and the Politics of Education
• EDSO 40315 Inequality in Urban Spaces
• MAPS 30128 Sociology of Education
• SOCI 30192 The Effects of Schooling
• SSAD 44800 Urban Adolescents in Their Families, Communities, and Schools

Certificate in Energy and Environmental Policy

Faculty Director: Ryan Kellogg (on leave AY 23-24)  Interim Director: Koichiro Ito

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 Certificate is designed to provide students with the background, concepts, and tools necessary to understand and address pressing energy and environmental policy problems.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate 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 with the exception of the last term prior to graduation. No certificate course may be taken on a pass/fail grading basis, 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 certificate.

Required courses

Students must complete two of the following courses:

• PPHA 30810: Political Economy of Natural Resources
• 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 certificate:

• PPHA 32750: Hydropolitics: Water Policy and Conflict
• PPHA 33510: Nuclear Policy 
• PPHA 34600: Program Evaluation (Energy and Environment Applications)
• PPHA 36150: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Impact Investing
• PPHA 36921: Energy Economics and Policy
• PPHA 36925: Utilities and Electricity Markets: Regulation in the United States
• PPHA 39518: Law and the Economics of Natural Resources Markets
• PPHA 51700: Energy Policy Practicum
• PPHA 60000: Energy and Environment Policy Lab
• 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
• SSAD 69400 Climate Change and Human Mobility

Certificate 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 Certificate 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.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate requires completion of two required courses, along with one additional elective course. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course with the exception of the last term prior to graduation. No certificate course may be taken on a pass/fail grading basis. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the certificate.

Required courses

Students must complete one of the following courses to fulfill the requirement:

• PPHA 42510 Applied Financial Management
• PPHA 36101 Financial Investments for Public Policy
• BUSN 35001 Introductory Finance (may be counted only once toward a requirement)
• BUSN 35000 Investments

Students must complete one of the following courses to fulfill the requirement:

• PPHA 34410 Corporate Finance
• BUSN 35200 Corporate Finance
• BUSN 35001 Introductory Finance (may be counted only once toward a requirement)

Elective courses

Students must complete one of the following courses to fulfill the requirement:

• PPHA 34241 Household Finance: Theory and Applications
• PPHA 34500 Macroeconomics for Public Policy or BUS 33040 Macroeconomics
• PPHA 35310 International Trade, Banking and Capital Markets
• PPHA 36150 Environmental, Social, Corporate Governance, and Impact Investing
• PPHA 39404 Practicum on Inequality, Household Finance, and Tax Policy 
• PPHA 39530 Macroeconomic Policymaking
• PPHA 42521 History of Financial Crises
• PPHA 42535 Bank Regulation and Management 
• PPHA 42550 Cryptocurrencies, DeFi and the Blockchain: Markets, Regulation and Policy
• PPHA 60000 a finance-oriented Harris Policy Labs (with the approval of the Certificate Director)
• 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++

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.

Certificate in Gender and Policy

Faculty Director: Yana Gallen

Program Description: The Gender and Policy Certificate 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.

Certificate Requirements

Students will be free to choose four courses from the list below to complete the certificate. 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 certificate. 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 certificate.

Required Courses (choose four)

• PPHA 30300 Philosophical Foundations of Public Policy
• PPHA 35240 Education, Inequality, and Economic Development
• PPHA 41720 Discrimination in the Labor Market
• PPHA 41740 Gender and Policy
• PPHA 46610 Workplace and Family Policy
• PPHA 47400 Women, Development, and Politics
• PPHA 6000 Policy Lab (gender-based labs, with the approval of certificate director)
• GNSE 20117 Feminist Theory and Political Economy
• PBPL 20115 Women, Peace, and Security

The Pearson Institute Certificate in Global Conflict Studies

Faculty Director: Oeindrila Dube  Administrative Director: Molly O'Donnell

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 Certificate is designed to prepare students for careers in government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, or multinational corporations.

Certificate Requirements:

The certificate will be awarded to students who complete any three of the qualifying courses. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course with the exception of the last term prior to graduation, and there is no pass/fail grading option. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the certificate.

Required courses

The following two courses are recommended as a fundamental sequence of the certificate:

• PPHA 35570: Conflict and Humanitarian Intervention: Blurring Humanitarian, Development, and Security Policy
• PPHA 38740: Conflict and Applied Data Science

Other qualifying certificate courses

• PPHA 32740 Order and Violence
• PPHA 32750 Hydropolitics: Water Policy and Conflict
• PPHA 33510 Nuclear Policy
• PPHA 33840 The Changing Character of Conflict: Conflict in the Gray Zone
• PPHA 38765 The Politics of Authoritarian Regimes
• PPHA 39830 / PLSC 48401 Quantitative Security
• PPHA 60000 Global Conflict and International Development Policy Lab
• INRE 43000 Core Seminar: International Order and Security
• LAWS 43262 / PPHA 38752 International Human Rights
• PBPL 20115 / PPHA 47420 Women, Peace and Security
• PLSC 40610 Seminar on International Security Affairs
• SSAD 46922 Structuring Refuge: U.S. Refugee Policy and Resettlement Practice
• SSAD 47812 Human Rights Policy and Practice

Certificate 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. Policymaking 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 Certificate is designed to provide students with the background, concepts and tools necessary to understand and address pressing health policy problems.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate requires completion of three certificate courses. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course with the exception of the last term prior to graduation. No certificate course may be taken on a pass/fail grading basis. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the certificate.

Required courses

Students must complete one of the following courses to fulfill the requirement:

• PPHA 37520 / SSAD 47522 U.S. Health System and Policy (open to GPHAP students only)
• PPHA 38300 Health Economics

Elective courses

Students must complete two of the following courses to fulfill the requirement:

• PPHA 37710 Medicaid: Understanding the Public Policy of a Federal-State Partnership
• PPHA 37302 / SSAD 46622 Key Issues in Health Care: An Interdisciplinary Case Studies Approach (open to GPHAP students only)
• PPHA 37720 / PBHS 35500 U.S. Health Policy and Politics.
• PPHA 37820 Health Care Markets and Regulation
• PPHA 37910 Race and Ethnic Differences in Health: Epidemiology, Behavior and Policy
• PPHA 38030 Health Law and Policy
• PPHA 38290 Economic Analysis of Health Policies
• PPHA 58400 Policy Analysis and Priority Setting in Health and Medicine
• PPHA 60000 Policy Lab
• BUSN 40205 Healthcare Data Analytics
• BUSN 40206 Healthcare Business Analytics
• BUSN 42300 Global Health and Social Policy
• HMRT 31400 Health and Human Rights
• LAWS 43359: Regulation of Drug, Devices, Biologics, and Cosmetics
• PBHS 30910 Epidemiology and Population Health
• PBHS 31450 Social Inequalities in Health: Race & Ethnicity
• PBHS 33700 Sexual Health: Identity, Behavior, and Outcomes
• PBHS 35100 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
• 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

The Pearson Institute Certificate in International Policy and Development

Faculty Director: Christopher Blattman  Faculty Administrative Director: Rebecca Wolfe
Program Description: The International Policy and Development (IPD) Certificate 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 Certificate is designed to prepare students for careers in government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, or multinational corporations.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate requires completion of three certificate courses. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course with the exception of the last term prior to graduation. No certificate course may be taken on a pass/fail grading basis. 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 certificate.

The certificate will be awarded to students who complete any three of the qualifying courses; however, the following two courses are recommended as a fundamental sequence of the certificate:

• PPHA 35550 Economic Development and Policy
• PPHA 35556 Political Economics of Developing Countries

The following courses also fulfill the requirement for the International Development and Policy certificate:

• PPHA 32736 Economics, Politics and African Societies
• PPHA 32740 Order and Violence
• PPHA 34600 Program Evaluation (International Policy Focus)
• PPHA 35577 Big Data and Development
• PPHA 35240 Education, Inequality, and Economic Development
• PPHA 35540 How to Change the World: Science of Policymaking in International Policy and Development
• PPHA 35560 Translating Evidence for Policy and Program Design
• PPHA 35565 Infrastructure and Development
• PPHA 35575 Behavioral Experiments in International Development: From Theory to Practice
• PPHA 35578 Qualitative Methods for International Policy and Development
• PPHA 35585 The Chinese Economy
• PPHA 37040 Economic Growth and Development
• PPHA 38754 Global Forced Displacement: Policy and Practice
• PPHA 39530 Macroeconomic Policymaking
• PPHA 39750 Politics and Public Policy in Latin America
• PPHA 39930 International Climate Policy
• PPHA 47400 Women, Development and Politics
• PPHA 60000 Policy Lab (International Development Focus)
• BUSN 33520 The Wealth of Nations
• EMCA / PPHA 35561 Running Randomized Trials in Low And Middle Income Countries
• LACS 36382 Development and Environment in Latin America
• LAWS 53132 / PPHA 38751 Human Trafficking and the Link to Public Corruption
• SSAD 62912 / PPHA 32760 Global Development and Social Welfare
• SSAD 63800 Program Evaluation in International Settings

Certificate in Markets and Regulation

Faculty Director: Kathryn Ierulli

Program Description: The Markets and Regulation Certificate educates students in the structures and characteristics of regulated markets by analyzing the outcomes of markets for consumers and producers, evaluating how government policies alter post-regulation market outcomes, and considering costs and benefits of economic regulation.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate requires completion of one required course, along with two elective courses. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course with the exception of the last term prior to graduation, and there is no pass/fail option. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the certificate.

Required courses

Students must complete the following course:

• PPHA 46350 Economics of Regulation

Elective courses

Students must complete two elective courses to fulfill the requirement.

Strongly Recommended Elective Course:

• PPHA 37110 Competition Policy: Theory and Practice

Other Electives:

• PPHA 32100 State and Local Public Finance
• PPHA 33660 Government Program Oversight and Accountability
• PPHA 34241 Household Finance: Theory and Applications
• PPHA 35310 International Trade, Banking and Capital Markets
• PPHA 36930 Environmental Economics: Theory and Applications
• PPHA 36925 Utilities and Electricity Markets: Regulation in the United States
• PPHA 36945 Regulating Corporate Behavior for the Public Good
• PPHA 37820 Health Care Markets and Regulation
• PPHA 39404 Practicum on Inequality, Household Finance, and Tax Policy
• PPHA 42521 History of Financial Crises
• PPHA 42535 Banking Regulation and Management
• PPHA 60000 Policy Labs (with permission of the Certificate Director)
• ECON 28620 / BUSN 28620 Crony Capitalism
• BUSN 35123 The FinTech Revolution
• BUSN 42001 Competitive Strategy
• BUSN 42117 Platform Competition
• LAWS 42801 Antitrust Law
• LAWS 43250 Privacy Law
• LAWS 53227 Cross-Border Transactions: Lending

Certificate in Municipal Finance

Faculty Director: Justin Marlowe

Program Description: The Certificate 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.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate requires completion of two required courses, along with one additional elective course. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course with the exception of the last term prior to graduation, and there is no pass/fail option. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the certificate.

The certificate is open to Harris Public Policy graduate students only. 

Required courses

The certificate requires completion of two required courses, along with one additional elective course. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course with the exception of the last term prior to graduation, and there is no pass/fail option. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the certificate.

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 35565 Infrastructure and Development
• PPHA 36101 Financial Investments for Public Policy
• PPHA 42510 Applied Financial Management
• PPHA 42535 Banking Regulation and Management
• PPHA 60000 Harris Policy Lab (selected sections only and with permission of certificate director)
• BUSN 35000 Investments
• SSAD 49600 Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations
• LAWS 53110 Project and Infrastructure Development and Finance

Students may propose additional elective courses with substantial municipal finance contents. Proposals will be considered on a case-by-case basis, by the Faculty Director.

Certificate in Policy Analysis

Faculty Directors: Dan Black

Program Description: The Certificate in Policy Analysis enables students to learn technical and analytical tools in the classroom and subsequently to apply them to a real-world project for a real-world client in a supported environment.  Students will also learn valuable project management, communications, and other professional skills. Students earning the Certificate in Policy Analysis will be well positioned for careers in local and state governments as well as the private sector financial and consulting firms who serve them.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate requires completion of three required courses. Students must take either Program Evaluation or Cost Benefit Analysis before enrolling in the Policy Lab. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course with the exception of the last term prior to graduation, and there is no pass/fail option. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the certificate.

• PPHA 34600  Program Evaluation
• PPHA 41300  Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Choose one Harris Policy Lab

Certificate in Social and Economic Inequality

Faculty Director: Dan Black

Program Description:
The goal of this Certificate 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. 

Certificate Requirements

The certificate 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.  No course may be taken on a pass/fail basis. 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 certificate. 

Required Courses

Students must complete at least two of the following courses:

• PPHA 33230 Inequality: Theory, Methods and Evidence
• PPHA 33240 Intergenerational Mobility: Theory, Methods and Evidence
• PPHA 39404 Inequality, Household Finance, and Tax Policy
• PPHA 40700 Early Childhood: Human Capital Development and Public Policy
• PPHA 41720 Discrimination in the Labor Market

Elective Courses

Students must complete two additional courses from either the Required Courses or the Elective Courses list.

• PPHA 35240 Education, Inequality, and Economic Development
• PPHA 37910 Race and Ethnic Differences in Health: Epidemiology, Behavior, and Policy
• PPHA 34241 Household Finance: Theory and Applications
• PPHA 41740 Gender and Policy
• PPHA 60000 Policy Lab (Inequality-based labs only; must be approved by Certificate Director)
• ECON 24450 Inequality and the Social Safety Net: Theory, Empirics, and Policies

Certificate 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 Certificate 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 certificate 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

Certificate Requirements

The certificate requires completion of one required course, along with two additional courses. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course with the exception of the last term prior to graduation, 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 certificate.

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 permission of the Certificate Director)
• GISC 38702 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. Students in joint degree programs will use only the courses/grades counted toward the MPP portion of the joint degree for the purposes of determining honors.