Coterminal Degree

Stanford offers a coterminal M.A. degree in Public Policy, available to undergraduates whether or not they major in Public Policy. This coterminal degree responds to the need for an intellectually rigorous pathway for undergraduates to approach public service.

The coterminal M.A. has two tracks.

Track A is designed for Public Policy majors. These students are directed to one of the applied policy concentrations. Each concentration consists of core coursework together with elective options and participation in a graduate level practicum project or faculty-supervised internship. The focus of this track is practical applications of theory and analytical tools.

Track B is designed for students who have not yet acquired the core analytical skills required to evaluate public policies. Such students will take at least 45 units of coursework roughly equivalent in subject-matter scope to the undergraduate major in public policy, with at least half of the coursework selected from the graduate core curriculum. This track requires that students have completed Math 51, Econ 1A, 1B, 50, 51, 52, 102A and 102B, a total of 40 units, prior to applying for the public policy coterminal degree. Economics majors fulfill these preparatory requirements as part of their major, and so would be likely candidates for the Track B coterminal M.A. in public policy. With careful planning nearly any H&S student should be able to qualify.

Students interested in pursuing a Stanford Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) degree may do so by applying and being admitted first to the coterminal M.A. program and then applying and being admitted to the M.P.P. program. Units earned in pursuit of the coterminal M.A. can be transferred to the M.P.P. upon acceptance to the M.P.P. program. With careful planning starting freshman year it is possible to complete all requirements for the B.A. and the M.P.P. in five years.