Masters Programs
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

There was a 26% increase in the number of graduate students majoring in a program offered by the Andrew Young School, comparing Fall 2000 to Fall 2001.

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. At the end of the year, there were 24 students in both the M.A.-Econ and M.A.-Policy Track programs.

The traditional M.A. In Economics attracts students whose sole objective is a master's degree, as well as students who are in the doctoral program and receive the M.A. degree en route to the Ph.D. in Economics. The program offers both thesis and non-thesis options. Among students in the terminal master's program, all who graduated this year have chosen the non-thesis option. In addition to a comprehensive examination, students who select this option complete a paper examining a particular economic problem.

The year 2001 graduates from the Master of Arts Degree in Economics included students from Russia, the Ukraine, China, Bolivia, Mexico, South Africa, Ghana, and, of course, the United States. This illustrates the international reputation and influence achieved in a very short time by the Economics degree programs of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies.

These graduates have gone on to a variety of new endeavors, including entering Ph.D. programs, both at GSU and elsewhere; taking positions in professional economic policy related consulting; taking governmental policy-related positions, and working in economic and business policy related journalism. Many of these placements are also outside of the United States.

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 35 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. It is expected that these students will return to government, economic think tanks, parliament staff, universities, and the like, and will thereby contribute in important ways to economic policy decisions that will enhance the performance of the Indonesian economy.

An ongoing series of round-table meetings among the students and several faculty members has been initiated. These discussions focus on issues of relevance to the current Indonesian economy, and help students make essential connections between the theory learned in their current classes and the real-life issues they will face as they return to their work in local governments and universities in Indonesia. Faculty participants have included Dr. Indrawati, Dr. Martinez, Dr. Alm, Dr. Wallace, and Dean Bahl. The students are also writing research papers that examine specific policy issues of importance to Indonesia.

The M.P.A., ,The M.P.A./J.D., AndM.S. In Urban Policy Studies

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 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. Recently, an M.P.A. advisory board composed of distinguished practitioners was established in order to enhance the program's connections to the community, to inform its curriculum, and to expand the opportunities available to its graduates. As of Fall, 2001, there were 111 students enrolled in the M.P.A. Program and 28 in the M.S.-U.P.S. Program

Developments within the program include two newly-approved career tracks. The Aviation career track expands the school's interdisciplinary approach to aviation studies to the graduate level. New courses developed for this track provide a focus on aviation policy and management issues that include international business, airport planning and management, and aviation safety administration. The M.P.A. Aviation Career Track enrolled its first 2 students in 2001. Seven additional applicants indicated they plan to enroll in the program to begin in the Fall 2002 semester. Interest in this track is broadening, and inquiries are being received from around the country.

Students also may pursue a joint Master of Public Administration/Juris Doctor degree, a collaborative program with Georgia State University's College of Law that currently has 23 students enrolled. These graduates respond to the growing demand for lawyers with expertise in public policy and management.

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, 2001, there were 53 M.S.-H.R.D. students enrolled.

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. A proposal for a certificate in Natural Resource Management will be completed this year.

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.