Master of Global Policy Studies

Security, Law and Diplomacy emphasizes the study of conflict and the conditions under which the rule of law and diplomatic negotiations may supplant or alter organized violence.

International Trade and Finance emphasizes the intersection between policy and global economic activity, including the effects of private and public actors on the global economy.

International Development explains the dynamics of economic, political and social change within the less-developed countries of the world and how these can be improved by policy.

Global Governance and International Law describes the development of international rules and norms by governments, firms and international and nongovernmental organizations.

International Energy, Environment and Technology considers the global dimensions of natural resources, the environment, science and technology.

Regional International Policy allows students to develop a deep understanding of a region of their choice, including its particular history, culture and politics. The areas available for such a specialization correspond with the area centers present at UT: Africa; East Asia; Europe; Latin America; Middle East; Russia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia; and South Asia.

All students can suggest a custom specialization if their policy interests are not adequately represented in the list above. Custom specializations — and which courses will count toward it — must be approved by the graduate adviser. Some examples of previous custom specializations include Gender and Development, Biological and Chemical Proliferation and Global Water Policy.

The LBJ School of Public Affairs and the College of Liberal Arts offer a dual degree program leading to the Master of Public Affairs and the Master of Arts in Asian Studies. The program combines advanced policy studies with interdisciplinary area studies, responding to an increased need in both public and private sectors for policy specialists with a thorough understanding of Asian politics and cultures.

Program Structure

The dual degree program allows students to earn both master's degrees simultaneously in three academic years. Some students, particularly those who enter the program with a language deficiency, may find it necessary to enroll for an additional semester or summer session in order to complete all the requirements of the program. Degrees are awarded when the required coursework in both areas is completed.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours in public affairs and 33 semester hours in Asian studies, including a master's professional report. Although the program is flexible, students will generally take courses in both public affairs and Asian studies every semester and take the required internship in the summer between the second and third years. Curriculum requirements include: 

Public Affairs

• Total LBJ credit hours: 36
  • 27 LBJ core hours
  • 6 hours Policy Research Project
  • 9 LBJ elective hours
  • Summer internship (in or related to Asia) 

Asian Studies

• Asian Studies requirements

Offered in conjunction with UT's McCombs School of Business, the dual program in business and public affairs is designed to train qualified students in a coordinated program of coursework in public affairs and an advanced business field. Graduates should be prepared to move into careers at any level of government and various business/government-related areas of the private sector, responding to the growing needs for a combination of policy-related skills and one or more business administration specializations.

Program Structure

The program is structured so that students can earn the MBA and MPAff degrees simultaneously in three years and one summer rather than the four years and two summers the two degrees would otherwise require. Dual degree students, who become part of the entering class cohort in each school, spend their time in the program as follows:

• Year 1: Two full semesters in the LBJ School
• Year 2: Two full semesters in the McCombs School of Business
• Year 3: Courses in both the LBJ School and the McCombs School, and completion of the professional report

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 80 semester hours of coursework.

Public Affairs

• Total LBJ credit hours: 36
  • 27 LBJ core hours
  • 6 hours Policy Research Project
  • 9 LBJ elective hours 
  • Summer internship with a government agency or publicly oriented organization

Business

• Business School requirements

Please note that a minimum of two years of full-time work experience is required for admission to the MBA program.

Program Structure

The program is structured so that students earn both master's degrees simultaneously in three years instead of four by eliminating duplicative coursework in certain analytic areas and in general electives.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 69 credit hours of work in Public Affairs and Community and Regional Planning. The curriculum includes:

Public Affairs

• Total LBJ credit hours: 36
  • 27 LBJ core hours
  • 6 hours Policy Research Project
  • 9 LBJ elective hours
  • Summer internship

Community and Regional Planning

• Community and Regional Planning requirements

Three credit hours of a master's professional report is required in either the LBJ School or the CRP department in the final semester of study.

Program Structure

The program is structured so that students can earn the MPAff and the Master of Science simultaneously. In general, a minimum of two full years is required to complete this program.

• Year 1: Full academic year in the LBJ School, followed by a required summer internship with a governmental agency or other organization with a substantial public policy interest
• Year 2: Full academic year in the School of Engineering, followed by thesis research in the summer after the academic year
• Year 3: Remaining LBJ School courses (if needed) and completion of a master’s thesis in Engineering

Degree Requirements

Public Affairs

• Total LBJ credit hours: 36
  • 27 LBJ core hours
  • 6 hours Policy Research Project
  • 9 LBJ elective hours
  • Summer internship related to the dual degree

The MPAff dual degree option with the UT School of Information combines advanced studies of government, non-profit agencies, and policy with a focus on knowledge and practice needed to make meaningful contributions in information organizations such as government agencies, libraries, archives, schools, museums and beyond. There is an increased need in both the public and private sectors for specialists with that combination of backgrounds, particularly with regard to advanced digital, networked information and communication technologies.

Program Structure

The program is structured so that students can earn the degrees simultaneously in approximately three academic years. The two degrees are awarded when the required course work in both areas including the professional report is completed.

Degree Requirements

• Total LBJ credit hours: 37
  • 25 LBJ core hours
  • 12 LBJ specialization hours
  • Summer internship

Information Studies

• Information Studies degree requirements

In conjunction with Texas Law, students may pursue a four-year dual degree program leading to the degrees of Master of Public Affairs (MPAff) and Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.). The program is designed to prepare students for careers at any level of government and in public policy-related areas of the private sector or legal profession.

Program Structure

The program is structured so that students can earn the MPAff and JD degrees simultaneously in four years rather than the five years the two degrees would otherwise require. Degrees are awarded when the required coursework in both schools is completed. In general, dual degree program students progress through the curriculum as follows:

• Year 1: Full academic year in either school
• Year 2: Full academic year in the school not attended in Year I, followed by a required summer internship with a governmental agency or other organization with a substantial public policy interest 
• Year 3: Coursework in both schools 
• Year 4: Coursework in both schools

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 33 LBJ School credit hours and 70 credit hours in Law, including all the first-year core courses in each school. The 3-hour master's professional report is written under the supervision of both schools.

Public Affairs 

• Total LBJ credit hours: 33
  • 27 LBJ core hours
  • 6 hours Policy Research Project
  • 6 LBJ elective hours
  • Internship in field related to the dual degree

Law

• Law requirements

In conjunction with the Center for Middle Eastern Studies students may pursue a dual degree program leading to the MPAff and the Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies. The program combines advanced policy studies with interdisciplinary area studies, responding to an increased need in both public and private sectors for policy specialists with a thorough understanding of Middle East politics and cultures.

Program Structure

The dual degree program is structured so that students can earn both master's degrees simultaneously in two and a half academic years. Some students, particularly those who enter the program with a language deficiency, may find it necessary to enroll for an additional semester or summer session in order to complete all the requirements of the program. Degrees are awarded when the required course work in both areas is completed.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours in public affairs and 30 semester hours in Middle Eastern studies, plus a master's professional report and summer internship. Although the program is flexible, students will generally take courses in both public affairs and Middle Eastern studies every semester and take the internship in the summer between the second and third years. The curriculum includes:

Public Affairs 

• Total LBJ credit hours: 36
  • 27 LBJ core hours
  • 6 hours Policy Research Project
  • 9 LBJ elective hours
  • Summer internship (in or related to the Middle East)

Middle Eastern Studies

• Middle Eastern Studies requirements

The LBJ School and the School of Public Health offer a dual degree program leading to the MPAff degree and the Master of Public Health (MPH). The program combines advanced studies of government, nonprofit agencies and policy with a focus on the issues, organizations and skills needed to make meaningful contributions in the growing field of public health. There is an increased need in both the public and private sectors for specialists with that combination of backgrounds.

The School of Public Health is part of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and has regional campuses in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Brownsville and San Antonio. It is anticipated that the vast majority of Public Health students who opt for the dual degree will be from the Austin campus and that the majority of LBJ students who opt for the degree will take their courses at the Austin Regional Campus.

Program Structure

The program allows students to earn both degrees simultaneously in approximately three academic years. The MPAff degree will be awarded when the required course work in both areas including the thesis is completed. The MPH degree will be awarded when the School of Public Health degree requirements have been completed.

Degree Requirements

The MPAff/MPH dual degree program is designed so that students can earn both degrees in three years rather than the four years generally required to complete the two degrees independently. To satisfy program requirements, students must complete 36 credit hours at the LBJ School and 33 credit hours at the School of Public Health, including the first-year core curriculum in each school.

The MPH degree program normally requires 45 hours to complete, and the MPAff degree normally requires 48 hours. The School of Public Health will count up to 12 approved credit hours obtained at the LBJ School or elsewhere at UT Austin that will apply toward the MPH degree, and the LBJ School of will waive up to 12 credit hours obtained at the School of Public Health. 

Public Affairs

• Total LBJ credit hours: 36
  • 27 LBJ core hours
  • 6 hours Policy Research Project
  • 9 LBJ elective hours
  • Summer internship in an office or location where activity is related to the dual degree program. The internship will also serve as the practicum for the School of Public Health.

Public Health

• Public Health requirements

In conjunction with the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, the LBJ School offers a dual degree with MPAff that combines policy studies with interdisciplinary area studies. The dual degree option responds to an increased need in both public and private sectors for policy specialists with a thorough understanding of Latin American politics, cultures, geography and history.

Program Structure

The program is structured so that students can earn the degrees simultaneously in approximately three academic years. Some students, particularly those who enter the program with a language deficiency, may find it necessary to enroll for an additional semester or summer session. The two degrees are awarded when the required course work in both areas is completed.

Degree Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 36 hours in public affairs and 30 hours in Latin American Studies, plus a master’s professional report (3 hours) and summer internship. Although the program is flexible, students will generally take courses in both public affairs and Latin American studies every semester and take the internship between the second and third years. The curriculum includes:

Public Affairs

• Total LBJ credit hours: 36
  • 27 LBJ core hours
  • 6 hours Policy Research Project
  • 9 LBJ elective hours
  • Summer internship in or related to Latin America

Latin American Studies

• Latin American Studies requirements

PA 397G: Analytical Methods for Global Policy Studies (3 credits)

PA 393G: Microeconomics for Global Policy Studies (3 credits)

PA 387G: The Nature of the International System (3 credits)

PA 393H: International Economics (3 credits)

PA 383G: Policy Making in a Global Age (3 credits)

PA 388K: Writing and Communication for Global Policy (3 credits)

Total Austin Core Course Credit Hours:  18

PA 381W:  How Washington Works: Overview of Federal Ecosystem (3 credits) 

PA 381W:  How the U.S. Congress Works (3 credits) 

PA 384C:  Public Management (3 credits) 

PA 381W:  Federal Budget and Government Finance (3 credits)  

PA 680WA/680WB:  Policy Apprenticeship (6 credits) 

PA 188G/188W:  Exemplars in Policymaking (2 credits) 

Total DC Core Course Credit Hours:  20

Students must choose two electives (6 credits)

Total Elective Credit Hours:  6