Problem
If
y
is 45 percent of
x
and
z
is 25 percent of
x
, what is
y
+
z
in terms of
x
?
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Do you want to have a hand in shaping the public policy decisions that affect the lives of the American populace? Do you want to serve as an advocate and spokesperson for your community? If so, a graduate program in public policy might be the place for you. Policymakers create and enforce the policies meant to protect public health, safety, education, transportation, and facilities.
Admissions Requirements
Generally, there are no prerequisites for pursuing graduate work in Public Policy. Undergraduate courses in public policy or foreign policy might give students a good head start, but usually aren't required. Since much of the coursework will involve statistical analysis, some background in statistics and math is advised. Common undergraduate majors for prospective public policy graduate students include: Economics, Political Science, Public Policy Analysis, and Urban Studies.
Other standard admissions requirements include the GRE General Test, two to three letters of recommendation, a bachelor's degree (BA/BS) at an accredited institution, academic transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended, a personal statement or statement of purpose, the official application, and any application fee. International students are normally required to submit a TOEFL score in addition to the other requirements.
Academics
Most students pursuing a graduate degree in public policy are working toward their master's degree. Since there are many fields within public policy, students are often required to choose a related concentration. Students may specialize in areas including urban policy, labor development, science and technology policy, educational policy, economics, and analysis.
Rather than choosing a concentration, some students seek out joint degrees to get a better background in a specific area of public policy such as public health or international relations. Others already hold undergraduate degrees in education, healthcare, or another related area, and are looking to couple their degree with a master's in public policy. Degrees on the doctoral level are less common and tend to be research-based.
Programs combine economics and politics in order to give students a well-rounded background in policy development. Students prepare for careers in government, politics, and public affairs at the public, private, and non-profit levels. They learn to effectively create, analyze, evaluate, and quantify public policy.
Post-Graduate Options
Since the field is so broad, there are many job options. Many graduates work for governmental agencies, politicians (as a political aide or a lobbyist), business (in both the nonprofit and private sector), community organizations, and a number of other areas. Popular choices are policy analysis (which includes tracking and analyzing the implications of governmental policy) and creating and implementing health, environmental, educational, social welfare, and labor policies. Some graduates work in areas such as immigration, welfare, family services, transportation, criminal justice, and economics. The range of salaries for new graduates is wide. Graduates working in a nonprofit setting can expect to earn less, while those employed in the private sector as consultants can earn significantly more. Work experience, type of degree, and location all play a role in salary calculation.
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