Student Profiles
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

The student population in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies reflects the diversity evident on the Georgia State University campus and in the city of Atlanta. In addition to attracting domestic students, the School has a large population of international students, coming from 33 countries, such as Bolivia, Egypt, Indonesia, and South Africa (see full list, below).

The student population of the Andrew Young School continues to expand and diversify. Students enrolled in the School’s degree programs increased 23% from Fall 2001 to Fall 2002, and we experienced a 25% increase in graduate applicants. Our current students from within the U.S. represent 20 different states. Our population is almost evenly divided between undergraduate and graduates: we had 423 undergraduates and 425 graduates enrolled in Fall 2002.

The Andrew Young School is becoming known around the world for academic excellence: approximately 30% of our current students are international, including top scholars from 33 countries. These countries include: Australia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Mali, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peoples Republic of China, Republic of Panama, Russia, Somalia, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Vietnam, Virgin Islands and Zimbabwe.

Many international students are sponsored by prestigious scholarship programs. In 2002, AYSPS served as a host institution for the Edmund Muskie Freedom Support Act Fellowship program of American Councils for International Education, the Mandela Scholarship program of the United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Fulbright program of the Institute of International Education (IIE), among others. Additionally we received a grant from USAID to support 20 Indonesian scholars.

In This Page

• Undergraduate Students
• Masters Students
• Doctoral Students

Undergraduate Students

The popularity of our majors in economics, urban policy studies and human resources policy continues to increase, with human resources policy majors constituting the largest group of undergraduates. There were 423 undergraduate majors in Fall 2002, most of them transfer students. Many chose our degree programs because they are already working in the public sector. Approximately 52% of them are female; 48% male; approximately 47% of these are minority and/or international students.

New Master's Students

Our masters-level student population continues to reflect the diversity evident on the Georgia State campus and in the city of Atlanta: approximately 57% are female; 43% are male; 55%
of our masters students are minority and/or international. Majors in public administration constituted the largest group of our 425 graduate students in Fall 2002. Most of these students have full-time jobs as well as a number of years of work experience and bring their valuable experience into the classroom.

Twenty students are enrolled in the second year of the Indonesian Masters program. Sponsored by USAID-Jakarta, this is a fifteen-month program of masters degree training in economics for Indonesian students who will return to positions of leadership in policy analysis.

Doctoral Students

The Andrew Young School admitted 21 new students to the Ph.D. in Economics program and 6 new students to the Ph.D. in Public Policy this fall. The Department of Economics hosted a campus visit for prospective students early in the year, as well as a day-long Ph.D. orientation and luncheon. Students who joined the joint Public Policy program were welcomed at receptions held at GSU and Georgia Institute of Technology.

We currently have 62 students in the Ph.D. in Economics program; 5 students in the Ph.D. in Human Resource Development program, and 28 in the joint Ph.D. in Public Policy. Current doctoral students stay closely involved in departmental and research activities. This year, they co-authored a number of articles with AYSPS faculty. For a complete listing, refer to the “Graduate Student Activities” portion of the research section of this report.