Guide to Graduate Education in Science, Engineering and Public Policy
Guide to Graduate Education in Science, Engineering and Public Policy
http://www.aaas.org//spp/sepp/sepumass-amherst.shtml
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Center for Public Policy and Administration
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Science, Technology and Society Initiative
Program Link:
General Link for Center for Public Policy and Administration:
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Contact:
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Background
The Science, Technology, and Society Initiative (STS) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst was established to promote multidisciplinary collaboration among the natural, physical and social sciences, engineering and public policy. Located within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (CSBS) and administratively based in the Center for Public Policy and Administration (CPPA), the STS Initiative serves as a catalyst for innovative research as well as an interdisciplinary forum to discuss issues in science and technology. The STS Initiative provides a single point of contact for campus-wide faculty collaborations, enabling effective teaming on new proposals and initiatives.
Research interests of the Initiative include Societal Implications of Nanotechnology; Women & Technology; International Dimensions of Ethics; and Information and Communication Technologies, Governance & Society
Graduate Degrees Offered
Masters of Public Policy and Administration- Specialization in STS
Ph.D. – Focus on STS within respective department. Please note that the Center for Public Policy and Administration does not offer a Ph.D. program.
Admissions Requirements
A complete application includes: application form, statement of purpose, GRE scores, academic record, two letters of recommendation, work/volunteer experience, and demonstrated commitment to/passion for public service. The program prefers to admit applicants who have at least two years of work experience in a job related to public policy or administration; however, they admit strong students who have just completed their undergraduate degrees if they have demonstrated a commitment to public service. International students are required to submit an official TOEFL score report as well as the GRE.
In the case of students coming directly from an undergraduate institution, greater weight is normally given to traditional academic criteria - undergraduate records and GRE scores - than for those students with professional experience.
Degree Requirements
The 48-credit interdisciplinary Master's Program in Public Policy and Administration educates individuals to become public and nonprofit sector leaders. The program integrates theoretical learning with multiple opportunities for practical application. Students who attend the program full-time typically finish within two years. CPPA also welcomes part-time study and works to accommodate the needs of part-time students.
Seven core courses are required. Elective courses comprise the remaining credits of the curriculum. At least three of the nine electives must be selected from the pool of CPPA Program Electives, while others may be chosen from a larger pool of Free Electives from throughout the University.
Core courses include Politics of the Policy Process OR Comparative Public Policy; Public Management; Microeconomics; Research Methods for Public Policy and Administration; Introduction to Statistical Methods for Public Policy and Administration; Public Policy Analysis; and a Capstone Seminar.
A small sampling of other courses include:
Environmental Epidemiology, Technology and Educational Change, Seminar in Math Education, Technology and Educational Development, Public Heath Informatics, and Communication Policy.
A more complete listing of courses can be found here:
http://www.umass.edu/sts/educ/courses.xls
Faculty Information
More than a hundred faculty are doing STS-related research at UMass Amherst. These individuals cover a wide variety of departments, including Anthropology, Art, Art History, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Communication, Computer Science, Economics, Education, Environmental Institute, Food Science, Geoscience, History, and many others.
Financial Information:
Financial assistance is granted on a competitive basis, and includes a waiver of tuition and fees, a stipend and health insurance. Students who receive financial assistance through the program work within the Center or on research projects with individual faculty members.
Further information can be obtained at the website for the Financial Aid Office: http://www.umass.edu/umfa/
