Masters Programs
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

In This Page

• M.A. in Economics and M.A. In Economics-Policy Track
• M.P.A., M.P.A./J.D., and M.S. In Urban Policy Studies
• M.S. In Human Resource Development
• Graduate Certificate Programs
• Nonprofit programs

M.A. In Economics and M.A. In Economics-Policy Track

This degree program is intended to prepare professionals for careers in the formation and/or implementation of economic policy, or for professionals who wish to gain skills in the evaluation and interpretation of policy. The focus of this degree, which exposes students to critical policy issues and equips them to understand and utilize economic data in evaluating outcomes, is distinct from traditional master's degree programs in economics that emphasize analytic skills, micro and macroeconomic theory, and mathematical statistics.

In 2002, we admitted seventeen master students (two in Spring 2002 and fifteen in Fall 2002). They are from many countries, including Russia, India, China, Mali, and U.S.A. Among them, two are in the M.S. in Economics Policy Track.

In 2002, twelve students graduated from our MA programs (among them, six in M.A. in Economics and six in M.A. in Economics: Policy Track).

Indonesian Masters Program. The Department of Economics has recently inaugurated a new masters program, the Indonesian Masters Program. The program is sponsored by USAID-Jakarta, and started in the summer of 2001. It currently has 20 students. This is a twelve-month program of masters degree training in economics specifically targeted for Indonesian students, with course content that is focused upon some of the key issues now prominent in Indonesian economic development and with features like the use of graduate student tutors, faculty mentoring, a continuing computer lab, and workshops in applied policy analysis.

The majority of students who graduated from the program in 2002 have returned to Indonesia and are working in local and state policy making positions, local governments, and local universities, in the various regions of the country that they are from. Their M.A. degree has helped them in securing these positions and thus in advancing policy making in Indonesia. As part of the program, four of the 2002 M.A. students have the opportunity to continue at GSU in order to complete their Ph.D.'s before returning to Indonesia.

The M.P.A., ,the M.P.A./J.D., and M.S. in Urban Policy Studies

The master's degree programs in Urban Policy Studies (M.S.) and Public Administration (M.P.A.) prepare students for responsible professional careers in governmental and nonprofit agencies, and for effective leadership in a broad spectrum of public service roles. The M.P.A. program, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, has a faculty nationally recognized for its applied research and scholarly contributions. Our public affairs program was ranked in the top 35 programs nationwide by U.S. News and World Report in 2001; our curriculum was ranked in the top 10 nationwide for the study of public finance and urban policy.

The M.P.A. program has an Advisory Board composed of distinguished practitioners from federal and state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. It works with the M.P.A. program faculty to inform the curriculum, to enhance the program’s linkages with the practitioner community, and to expand opportunities for internships and jobs for students and graduates. The Board meets monthly since its establishment and in November 2002, it met with M.P.A. students to discuss perceptions of the program, the curriculum, and students’ preparation for new or advanced career opportunities. Its findings will be applied to program planning and evaluation efforts during 2003.

Developments within the M.S. U.P.S. program include a complete revision of the program’s curriculum, effective Fall Semester, 2002. The new curriculum offers students an excellent opportunity to develop the expertise in urban policy required of today’s leaders in complex and challenging urban settings. It includes specializations in Nonprofit and Civic Leadership, Planning and Economic Development, Policy Analysis, and Social Policy.

The M.P.A. program now offers a career track in Natural Resource Management for students planning on management careers in natural and environmental resources systems. Professor Bill Waugh is currently the PAUS advisor for Natural Resource Management students. Over the past year, the M.P.A. program has grown substantially. As of Fall Semester, 2002, there were approximately 170 students enrolled in the M.P.A. program and 35 in the M.S. U.P.S. program.

Both programs admitted substantial numbers for the Spring 2003 Semester. Faculty in both programs greatly expanded the use of WebCt technology and the department continues to develop its intranet and computer resources for graduate as well as undergraduate students.

Several PAUS faculty, often working with graduate research assistants, participate in a new applied research activity of the department, the Public Management Group or PMG. Professor Katherine Willoughby is the PAUS contact for the PMG. The PMG was established in 2002 with the goal of promoting state-of-the-art management practices in the public and nonprofit sectors and to supporting professional, democratic and ethical administration in the United States and around the world. Examples of applied research initiatives by PAUS faculty and students during 2002 included surveys of local emergency managers to determine the extent involvement of nonprofit disaster organizations and unaffiliated volunteers in local preparedness and response operations, studies of e-government on the local level, and research focused on improving the Georgia State Office of Consumer Affairs capacity to effectively serve the consumer education needs of community groups such as Hispanics.

The department continues to offer a joint M.P.A./Juris Doctor degree in collaboration with the GSU College of Law that currently has 20 students enrolled. Graduates of this program are particularly attractive to employers seeking to hire lawyers with expertise in public policy and management. Professor Bill Waugh is the PAUS advisor for this program.

M.S. in Human Resource Development

The Master of Science in Human Resource Development (HRD) provides students with the concepts and skills needed to perform roles in leadership training, organizational development and other occupations that meet the human resource challenges confronting today's organizations. Members of the HRD faculty are currently working to establish student and faculty exchange programs with English and Romanian counterpart universities. As of Fall 2002, there were 45 students in the M.S. HRD program. Effective Fall 2003, the MS HRD will offer a revised core curriculum more in tune with the needs of HRD professionals working in agencies across the private, nonprofit, and public sectors.

Graduate Certificate Programs

This year saw the first graduates from our innovative graduate certificate programs, developed to provide postgraduate and professional education opportunities for practitioners in select fields. These certificate programs are now available to students in related degree programs. Graduate certificates are offered in Disaster Management, Nonprofit Management and Planning and Economic Development. Effective Fall 2002, a graduate certificate in Natural Resource Management is now available. Professor Bill Waugh is the PAUS coordinator for Natural Resources Certificate students.

Nonprofit Studies

A recently established nonprofit program was created "to foster academic scholarship in the nonprofit sector, and serve as a conduit between scholars and practitioners in creating and disseminating knowledge." Atlanta has one of the fastest-growing nonprofit sectors in the United States, providing an ideal location in which to study this sector's growing influence and challenges. The impact of technology changes, shifting demographics, global influences and the sector's increasing linkages to the private and government sectors are presented in a program that combines rigorous academic study, critical research and influential community partnerships. Both the M.P.A. and M.S.-U.P.S. degree programs offer specializations in nonprofit management and policy. The department is committed to serving as a leading edge center for research and professional education in the nonprofit field. Starting the Summer Semester 2002, Professor Michael Rushton, a specialist in nonprofit policy and economics joined the PAUS full time faculty. See more in the Nonprofit, Research section of this report.