Previous graduate coursework, if relevant and recent, may lead the advisor to recommend a reduction in the 36 or 48 course credit hours the Program requires for the degree or an exemption from a required course. The maximum reduction is 6 credits for MPS students, and 24 credits for Ph.D. students. For both reductions and exemptions, the student's advisor should make a recommendation to the Director by formal memorandum and supporting documents. The Director will then write the student to inform him or her of the decision. The Ph.D. curriculum sequence is designed to prepare students for the required examinations and dissertation.
Progress is measured in terms of mastery of subjects rather than counting credits.
But each Ph.D. student's curriculum will be individualized and dissertation projects will vary in the preparation they require. Internships MPS Students without previous appropriate professional experience are encouraged to take an internship. The Policy Sciences Program offers internships or paid co-op arrangements in public agencies. The three hour capstone course is designed to integrate the student's knowledge gained from these courses and bring it to bear upon a single policy analysis project. In the capstone course the class will engage in a common policy analysis exercise under the guidance of the faculty responsible for the class.