For leaders of religious or religiously affiliated institutions who want to understand the role of religion in public policy.

Harris Public Policy and the Divinity School offer a joint degree program that enables students to graduate with both a Master of Public Policy and a Master of Divinity. This 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. 

Program Details

Curriculum

This joint degree program allows students to complete both an MPP and MDiv within a total of four academic years; both degrees must be awarded in the same quarter.

At Harris Public Policy:

  • Students in this program take the six required core courses, plus eight electives for a total of 14 courses in public policy, instead of the usual 18. Ten of the 14 courses must be public policy (PPHA) courses.  The Harris core provides a foundation in critical analysis, reflecting Harris's belief that mastering quantitative and analytical skills prepares students to be effective public policy leaders:

    • Analytical Politics I:

      • PPHA 30800 Analytical Politics I: Strategic Foundations, or

      • PPHA 41501 - PhD Game Theory (instructor approval required).

    • Analytical Politics II:

      • PPHA 31610 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions 

    • Statistics Sequence I:

      • PPHA 31002 Statistics for Data Analysis I, or

      • PPHA 31202 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis I, or

      • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence (instructor approval required): PPHA 42000 or PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200

    • Statistics Sequence II: 

      • PPHA 31102 Statistics for Data Analysis II: Regressions, or

      • PPHA 31302 Advanced Statistics for Data Analysis II, or

      • Any course in the PhD econometrics sequence (instructor approval required): PPHA 42000 or PPHA 42100, or PPHA 42200

    • Microeconomics Sequence I:

      • PPHA 32300 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I, or

      • PPHA 44100 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis I (instructor approval required)

    • Microeconomics Sequence II:

      • PPHA 32400 Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II, or

      • PPHA 44200 PhD Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis II (instructor approval required)

At the Divinity School:

  • Students take 24 in the divinity program, instead of the usual 29. Students are obligated to complete the "teaching parish" component required for MDiv students. 
Other Requirements
  • 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 the math requirement
    • Pass algebra exam
    • Pass calculus exam
  • Completion of an practical experience requirement (more information)
  • No more than 2 reading/research, independent study, or internship courses
  • No more than 1 course taken pass/fail (core courses cannot be taken pass/fail)

Students who wish to participate in this program must be admitted to both Harris Public Policy and the Divinity School, and typically spend the first two years at the Divinity School. Students already admitted to one of the Schools may apply during their first year for admission to the other.

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