Public Affairs — Masters of Science
The Master of Science in Public Affairs focuses on three broad goals: to provide students with a detailed, accurate picture of the political and economic environments on the national, state, and local levels; to give them needed historical and cultural perspectives on public life in the region; and to ensure that they have the kind of technical, professional, analytical, and managerial skills needed to function effectively in the public realm. The curriculum also includes intensive analyses of current policy issues and concentrates on topics relating to metropolitan Boston, Massachusetts, and New England. Students are sought who are currently employed and who have had several years’ experience in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, although students who have just completed an undergraduate degree are also considered. Those coming from the private sector usually hold or aspire to positions of authority in their organization’s community relations, governmental affairs, or long-range strategic planning divisions. As most students are employed full time, the program operates on an evening and weekend schedule.
In addition to the faculty members listed above, the program also draws on other faculty from throughout the University. Faculty members holding part-time status in this program are career professionals—strongly committed to sharing their knowledge and skills with those entering the field.
Courses in the Public Affairs track are grouped in the following five areas:
1. The New England political and economic environments.
2. History, culture, and policy in New England.
3. Public management, organizational behavior, public budgeting and financial management, and program evaluation.
4. Analytical skills for policy makers.
5. Issue and policy analysis.
Degree Requirements
Thirty-six graduate credits are required to complete the Public Affairs curriculum. These credits are earned by completing eight three-credit courses distributed among the areas noted above, six one-credit weekend intensive modules (two per semester for three semesters), and a final capstone and case study seminar which carries six credits.
The curriculum leading to the MS in Public Affairs is highly structured. Students are expected to proceed through the program as a cohort, taking all courses in the proposed sequence. In order to accommodate students who have already had graduate training in one or more of these areas, the program allows students to transfer up to two equivalent courses into the program.
In addition, students may take up to two independent study courses in place of required courses that have been completed elsewhere.
Admission Requirements
Please see the general statement of admission requirements for all graduate studies programs in the “Admissions” section of this publication and, at the back of this publication, the sections on “Graduate Admissions Application Instructions” and “Special Instructions for Applicants to Individual Programs.”
Each student must submit a completed application form, three letters of recommendation, a résumé, Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores, essays, and all undergraduate and graduate transcripts.