School of Global Policy and Strategy

Robinson Building Complex
Building 4, Level 1

All courses, faculty listings, and curricular and degree requirements described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice.

As of fall 2014, the name of the Master of Pacific International Affairs (MPIA) was changed to Master of International Affairs (MIA). Anyone who entered prior to fall 2014 must retain the title of MPIA and graduate as such. There were no curricular changes associated with the degree name change.

The School of Global Policy and Strategy was formerly the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies. The name change was effective July 1, 2015.

The Master of International Affairs (MIA)

Requirements for Admission

Students interested in pursuing the MIA degree program at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) must have earned a BA, or its equivalent, from an institution of comparable standing to the University of California. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 or better in undergraduate course work or prior graduate study is required for admission. Undergraduate preparation that includes one or more of the following areas is strongly encouraged: the social sciences (specifically economics and political science), quantitative methods (such as calculus and statistics), foreign language, and related area studies courses. The admissions committee looks for students with previous professional employment, a history of meaningful international experience, and demonstrated leadership ability.

Applicants are required to submit the following: an online UC San Diego application for graduate study (https://connect.grad.ucsd.edu/apply/); official transcripts from each college or university attended (PDF files may be submitted through the online application with official documents conferred prior to enrollment); three letters of recommendation; a résumé or curriculum vitae; a personal statement; a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score report; demonstrated proficiency in the English language is required of international applicants whose native language is not English. (https://grad.ucsd.edu/admissions/requirements/international-students/english-proficiency.html) The minimum TOEFL score required for admission is 100 iBT or 7 IELTS. For further details regarding the application process, procedures, and deadlines, please visit http://gps.ucsd.edu and click on “Admissions.”

Orientation tours are available for all prospective applicants who would like further information about the MIA program. Tours assist prospective applicants in becoming better acquainted with GPS’s MIA program and in understanding how the program might relate to their long-term career goals. To sign up for a tour, please contact the GPS Office of Admissions at (858) 534-5914 or email gps-apply@ucsd.edu.

The MIA Curriculum

The MIA curriculum (ninety-eight units) is made up of a set of eight core disciplinary and hard skill courses (thirty-two units), a capstone (four units), a two-course regional specialization (eight units), the foreign language requirement of sixth quarter proficiency (up to twenty-four units), a five-course professional career track (twenty units), and unstructured electives. The MIA is a two-year, full-time program.

Core Curriculum

The core curriculum is designed to integrate diverse subject areas such as international management, international relations, applied economics, and comparative public policy. All core courses are taken in the first year. The core is composed of the following:

GPCO 400. Policy Making Processes

GPCO 401. Microeconomics for Policy and Management

GPCO 403. International Economics

GPCO 410. International Politics and Security

GPCO 412. Globalization, the World System, and the Pacific

GPCO 415. Accounting and Finance for Policy Makers

GPCO 453. Quantitative Methods I

GPCO 454. Quantitative Methods II

Capstone Course—To be taken in the second year, following the completion of the GPS MIA core. Students must choose at least one from a list offered every year.

The Regional or Country Specialization

The regional/country specialization is made up of two courses on the student’s chosen country or region. All students must complete at least one regional or country specialization in one of the following: China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, or Latin America. This requirement must be completed in the following way:

Japan

GPIM 411. Business and Management in Japan

GPPS 416. Postwar Politics in Japan

Korea

GPPS 408. Korean Security

GPEC 485. The Korean Economy

China

GPPS 404. Chinese Politics

GPEC 486. Economic and Social Development of China

Southeast Asia

GPEC 462. Southeast Asian Economies

GPPS 463. Politics of Southeast Asia

Latin America

GPEC 409. Economic Policy in Latin America

GPPS 479. Politics and Institutions in Latin America

The Foreign Language Requirement

GPS considers foreign language competency to be an indispensable skill for international relations professionals. The foreign language requirement is designed to ensure that students achieve a level of competency to assist in their global interactions. The foreign language requirement may be satisfied in any one of three ways: (a) native speaker ability; (b) completing the sixth quarter (four semesters) of college-level language instruction from UC San Diego or a comparable institution, with a grade of B or better in the final course; or (c) passing a special GPS-administered language exam, which is the equivalent of the final exam administered in the sixth-quarter course in the selected language. The foreign language requirement may be partially or wholly completed prior to matriculation at GPS, though unit credit for previous course work is not transferable. Please contact the GPS Student Affairs for additional information.

Students must fulfill the foreign language requirement in a language that corresponds to their elected country or region of specialization. Students specializing in China, Japan, or Korea, must study Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, or Korean, respectively. Students electing to specialize in Southeast Asia may study Bahasa Indonesian, Chinese, Thai, or another approved regional language. Students in the Latin America track may take either Spanish or Brazilian Portuguese. Other languages may be allowed by petition to the associate dean and with solid intellectual justification. Please contact the GPS Student Affairs for further information.

UC San Diego offers a variety of languages starting with the first quarter, beginner level. Subject to demand, GPS offers four-unit, second year level language courses for international relations professionals in Spanish and third-year-level courses in Japanese.

Students are placed in foreign language courses based on prior preparation and on the results of a placement test administered during fall quarter orientation.

Career Tracks

Beyond the core curriculum, the regional specialization, and the foreign language requirement, students are offered an array of career tracks from which to choose. The career tracks provide an opportunity to focus on a specialized professional career path and to work closely with other students and faculty who share similar interests. All students must choose a career track. A career track consists of five courses (twenty units). Each track combines two required courses and three electives chosen from a list that is available from GPS Student Affairs. Below are the available career tracks, the required courses for each, and a current list of allowable electives for the track.

International Management

Required Courses (a total of two required)

GPIM 470. International Business

Choose one

GPIM 420. Marketing

GPIM 439. Business Reinvention in a Disrupted World

Elective (choose three)

GPCO 463. Strategy and Negotiation (if not taken to fulfill the capstone requirement)

GPCO 468. Evaluating Technological Innovation (if not taken to fulfill the capstone requirement)

GPEC 400. Global Risk, Uncertainty, and Investment

GPEC 443. GIS and Spatial Analysis

GPEC 446. Applied Data Analysis and Statistical Decision Making (QM III)

GPEC 462. Economies in Southeast Asia (if not taken for the regional specialization in Southeast Asia)

GPEC 485. The Korean Economy (if not taken for the regional specialization in Korea)

GPEC 486. Economic and Social Development of China (if not taken for the regional specialization in China)

GPEC 488. Environmental and Regulatory Economics (if not taken for the career track in environmental governance)

GPIM 411. Business and Management in Japan (if not taken to fulfill the Japan regional requirement)

GPIM 420. Marketing (if not taken to fulfill the track requirement)

GPIM 421. Marketplace Behavior and Survey Methods

GPIM 424. Corporate Finance

GPIM 430. Corporate Non-Market Strategies

GPIM 432. Technology, Trade, and Globalization

GPIM 439. Business Reinvention in a Disrupted World (if not taken to fulfill the track requirement)

GPIM 447. Organizational Economics

GPIM 452. Big Data for Policy, Government, and Management

GPIM 461. Doing Business in China

GPPS 423. Corporate Social Responsibility

GPPS 427. International Law and Regulation (if not taken for the career track in international politics)

International Politics

Required Courses (a total of two required)

GPPS 427. International Law and Regulation

Choose one

GPPS 400. International Relations of Asia-Pacific

GPPS 454. US-Latin America Relations

Elective Courses (choose a total of three)

GPCO 466. Real World Projects in Energy and the Environment (if not taken to fulfill the capstone requirement)

GPCO 467. Policy Responses to Global Problems (if not taken to fulfill the capstone requirement)

GPEC 432. Immigration and Immigration Policy

GPEC 435. Topics in International Trade (if not taken for the career track in international economics)

GPPA 451. Violence in Latin America

GPPS 400. International Relations of the Asia-Pacific (if not taken to fulfill the track requirement)

GPPS 402. International Political Economy: Money and Finance

GPPS 403. China Security, Technology, and Innovation

GPPS 404. Chinese Politics (if not taken for the regional specialization in China)

GPPS 408. Korean Security (if not taken for the regional specialization in Korea)

GPPS 420. Workers and Labor in International Markets

GPPS 428. The Politics of Energy and Environmental Regulation

GPPS 430. Human Rights, Public Policy, and International Politics

GPPS 435. State Building and Modeling State Capacity

GPPS 446. Democratization in Latin America

GPPS 449. Making US Foreign Policy

GPPS 454. Current Issues in US-Latin American Relations (if not taken to fulfill the track requirement)

GPPS 463. Politics of Southeast Asia (if not taken for the regional specialization in Southeast Asia)

GPPS 479. Politics and Institutions in Latin America (if not taken for the regional specialization in Latin America)

GPPS 481. The Political Economy of Authoritarian Regimes

International Environmental Governance

Required Courses (a total of two required)

GPPS 428. The Politics of Energy and Environmental Regulation

Choose one

GPPA 464. Environmental Justice

GPPS 427. International Law and Regulation (may not double count with requirement for international politics track)

Elective Courses (choose three)

GPCO 466. Real World Projects in Energy and the Environment (if not taken to fulfill the capstone requirement)

GPEC 443. GIS and Spatial Data Analysis

GPEC 453. Sustainable Development

GPPA 463. Fundamentals of Energy Systems and Innovation

GPPA 464. Environmental Justice (if not taken to fulfill the track requirement)

GPPA 470. Energy and Environmental Policy in Asia

GPPA 472. Energy Policy in Latin America

GPPA 483. Food Security

GPPS 427. International Law and Regulation (if not taken to fulfill the track requirement)

GPPS 441. Government and Regulation

ECON 133. International Environmental Agreements

International Economics

Required Courses (a total of two required)

GPEC 435. Topics in International Trade

Choose one

GPEC 416. International Trade Agreements

GPEC 431. Fiscal and Monetary Policy

Elective Courses (choose three)

GPCO 468. Evaluating Technological Innovation (if not taken to fulfill the capstone requirement)

GPEC 409. Economic Policy in Latin America (if not taken for the regional specialization in Latin America)

GPEC 411. Topics in China’s Development

GPEC 416. International Trade Agreements (if not taken to fulfill the track requirement)

GPEC 431. Fiscal and Monetary Policy (if not taken to fulfill the track requirement)

GPEC 432. Immigration and Immigration Policy

GPEC 443. GIS and Spatial Data Analysis

GPEC 444. Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing

GPEC 446. Applied Data Analysis and Statistical Decision Making (QM III)

GPEC 450. Macroeconomics of Development (if not taken for the career track in international development)

GPEC 451. Economic Development (may not be double counted with requirement for international development and nonprofit management)

GPEC 462. Economies in Southeast Asia (if not taken for the regional specialization in Southeast Asia)

GPEC 486. Economic and Social Development of China (if not taken for the regional specialization in China)

GPIM 457. Cost-Benefit Analysis

GPPS 406. China in the Global Economic Order

GPPS 410. Making Policy with Data

GPPS 420. Workers and Labor in International Markets

GPPS 441. Government and Regulation

GPPS 455. Financing the Chinese Economic Miracle

International Development and Nonprofit Management

Required Courses (a total of two required)

GPEC 451. Economic Development

Choose one

GPPS 465. Management of Nonprofit Organizations

GPEC 450. Macroeconomics of Development

Elective Courses (choose three)

GPCO 468. Evaluating Technological Innovation (if not taken to fulfill the capstone requirement)

GPEC 411. Topics in China’s Development

GPEC 443. GIS and Spatial Data Analysis

GPEC 446. Applied Data Analysis and Statistical Decision Making (QM III)

GPEC 447. Data Science Approaches to Spatial Analysis

GPEC 450. Macroeconomics of Development (if not taken to fulfill the track requirement)

GPEC 462. Economics in Southeast Asia (if not taken for the regional specialization in Southeast Asia)

GPEC 464. Designing Field Experiments

GPEC 486. Economic and Social Development of China (if not taken for the regional specialization in China)

GPIM 424. Corporate Finance

GPIM 457. Cost Benefit Analysis

GPPA 404. Governance, Public Administration, and Development

GPPA 410. Making Policy with Data

GPPA 464. Environmental Justice (may not be double counted for the requirement in environmental governance)

GPPA 472. Energy Policy in Latin America

GPPA 483. Food Security

GPPS 420. Workers and Labor in International Markets

GPPS 421. The Politics of Economic Inequality

GPPS 430. Human Rights, Public Policy, and International Politics

GPPS 450. Political Economy of Foreign Aid

GPPS 451. Public Opinion and Foreign Policy

GPPS 456. Evaluating Social Programs

GPPS 465. Management of Nonprofit Organizations (if not taken to fulfill the track requirement)

Electives

Students may use remaining units to take electives across the range of GPS courses in management, political science, economics, regional studies, and language, as well as (with approval) courses offered elsewhere on campus. The number of elective units available to a student will vary depending on factors such as prior language study. Prospective students are advised to consult the GPS student affairs office for a full list of elective courses currently offered. No more than four non-GPS courses will be allowed to count toward the MIA degree; of these four, only three may be undergraduate courses. All must be petitioned for formal approval.

Unless specifically noted, all courses must be taken for a letter grade.

Education Abroad Program

Students are encouraged to participate in the Education Abroad Program (EAP) in their second year of study. Though this may necessitate a third year of study to meet MIA requirements, the opportunity provides unparalleled experience in the selected regional study area and language. By petition, certain credits earned through EAP may be applied to the MIA requirements.

Career Services

The GPS Career Services office provides students with ongoing guidance, expertise, and resources to successfully manage their careers. This personalized process begins before school starts with the Career Orientation Program and continues during the two-year program and throughout the students’ careers as alumni.

The Career Services team offers GPSCAREERS, an online system available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, which has a calendar of events, student profiles, online resumes, and a specialized database of employers with job/internship opportunities. Career consultants are available for daily scheduled appointments or quick consultations for resume writing, cover letters, effective job search strategies, interviewing skills (including videotaped mock interviews), labor market trends, job offer evaluation, and negotiation of total compensation packages. Alumni return to campus often for panels, information sessions, and employer interviews.

Internships

Students are strongly encouraged to participate in a variety of internship programs aligned with their career goals in business and industry, federal and state government, and nonprofit and multilateral organizations. The Career Services office works closely with students and alumni to make connections with global employers in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors based on the students’ interests.

To enhance students’ professional skills, GPS strongly recommends that each student participate in an internship during the summer between the first and second year. Students with unpaid summer internships may receive financial support from GPS donors. Internships offer opportunities to explore career options, apply theoretical knowledge to real work situations, and gain experience important to potential future employers.

Master of Public Policy (MPP)

Requirements for Admission

Students interested in pursuing the MPP degree program at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) must have earned a BA, or its equivalent, from an institution of comparable standing to the University of California. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 or better in undergraduate course work or prior graduate study is required for admission. Undergraduate preparation that includes one or more of the following areas is strongly encouraged: the social sciences, specifically economics and political science, and/or course work in public or social policy, government, microeconomics, public finance or quantitative methods, such as statistics, and tools such as STATA or GIS.

Applicants who are deficient in any of the above listed competencies may be required to attend summer preparatory courses as a provision of matriculation into the program.

Applicants are required to submit the following: an online UC San Diego application for graduate study (https://connect.grad.ucsd.edu/apply/); official transcripts from each college or university attended (PDF files may be submitted through the online application with official documents conferred prior to enrollment); three letters of recommendation; a résumé or curriculum vitae; a personal statement; and a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score report. Demonstrated proficiency in the English language is required of international applicants whose native language is not English. (https://grad.ucsd.edu/admissions/requirements/international-students/english-proficiency.html) The minimum TOEFL score required for admission is 100 iBT or 7 IELTS. For further details regarding the application process, procedures, and deadlines, please visit http://gps.ucsd.edu and click on “Admissions.”

Orientation tours are available for all prospective applicants who would like further information about the MPP program. Tours assist prospective applicants in becoming better acquainted with GPS’s MPP program and in understanding how the program might relate to their long-term career goals. To sign up for a tour, please contact the GPS Office of Admissions at (858) 534-5914 or email gps-apply@ucsd.edu.

The MPP is a two-year, full-time program. There is no foreign language requirement.

The MPP Curriculum

The Master of Public Policy requires ninety-two units for graduation. All students will take eight required introductory core courses (thirty-two units) in the first year, and a capstone research seminar (four units) in the second year. Between years one and two, all students will be strongly encouraged to take an internship, either locally, domestically, or abroad. GPS has a skilled career services team to help in the location of an appropriate internship.

Of the remaining fifty-six units, students will be required to complete at least one Area of Specialization of five courses (twenty units). For students choosing an international focus, twenty-four units of an appropriate GPS regional language, taken at UC San Diego at either the undergraduate or graduate level while a matriculated student in the MPP program, may be counted toward the degree when matched with at least two relevant elective courses on the same region or country. A petition to the associate dean is required by fall quarter of the second year. Language proficiency is not required.

Required Core and Capstone (thirty-six units)

GPCO 400. Policy Making Processes (4)

GPCO 401. Microeconomics of Policy and Management (4)

GPCO 404. Market Failures and Policy Interventions (4)

GPCO 406. Public Finance and Taxation (4)

GPCO 407. Policy Analysis and Decision Theory (4)

GPCO 408. Policy Analysis and Public Welfare (4)

GPCO 453. Quantitative Methods I (4)

GPCO 454. Quantitative Methods II (4)

Capstone: Year Two

GPCO 462. Public Policy Capstone (4)

The capstone is intended to be a summative intellectual experience directed toward the preparation of an applied research project. Depending on the policy question and its particular application, the projects may be individual or group. Students who opt to work with a group must still produce an individual capstone essay that meets the requirements of the course. Capstone projects must be approved by the faculty of record.

The capstone paper is expected to demonstrate mastery of the three components of a public policy program: 1) development of the methodologies for rigorous data collection and policy analysis; 2) an in-depth understanding of the regulatory and legal politics and processes surrounding the student’s chosen policy area; and, 3) mastery of the details of the particular issue area and policies intended or that were intended as solutions. The paper should synthesize these dimensions into a final deliverable that is empirically rigorous, grounded in the regulatory environment, and speaks directly to policy solutions. Capstone topics may be chosen based on the policy interests of a student or as a consulting response to a real-world client. The research may focus on a single case or consider policy and regulation across cases for comparison. The capstone paper will be evaluated by the faculty of record for the seminar and one program member faculty with expertise in the student’s chosen policy area.

Area of Specialization: Students MUST complete at least one Area of Specialization chosen from the list below. A specialization requires five courses (twenty units); two courses are required and the remaining three are chosen as electives. Below is a listing of the Areas of Specialization, the required courses for each, and the current allowable electives for each specialization.

Inequality and Social Policy

Required Courses (a total of two required)

GPPS 421. The Politics of Economic Inequality

Choose one

GPPA 430. Education Policy Around the World

GPPA 435. Comparative Social Welfare Policy

Electives (choose three)

GPEC 432. Immigration and Immigration Policy

GPEC 451. Economic Development

GPPA 430. Education Policy around the World (if not used for the specialization requirement)

GPPA 435. Comparative Social Welfare Policy (if not used for the specialization requirement)

GPPA 464. Environmental Justice

GPPA 483. Food Security

GPPS 412. Policy-Making in the American States

GPPS 415. Informal Institutions and Policy

GPPS 420. Workers and Labor in International Markets

GPPS 422. Decision-Making of the Governed

GPPS 423. Corporate Social Responsibility

GPPS 430. Human Rights, Public Policy, and International Relations

GPPS 456. Evaluating Social Programs (may not be double counted with the requirement for program design and evaluation)

Undergraduate Courses

POLI 100W. Politics, Policy, and Educational Inequality in the U.S.

Program Design and Evaluation

Required Courses (a total of two required)

GPEC 446. Applied Data Analysis and Statistical Decision Making (QM III)

Choose one

GPPS 456. Evaluating Social Programs

GPEC 443. GIS and Spatial Data Analysis

Electives (choose three)

GPCO 468. Evaluating Technological Innovation (as an elective only)

GPEC 443. GIS and Spatial Data Analysis (if not taken to fulfill the specialization requirement)

GPEC 444. Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing

GPEC 447. Data Science Approaches to Spatial Analysis

GPEC 464. Designing Field Experiments

GPIM 452. Big Data for Policy, Government, and Management

GPIM 457. Cost Benefit Analysis

GPPA 410. Making Policy with Data

GPPS 451. Public Opinion and Foreign Policy

GPPS 456. Evaluating Social Programs (if not taken to fulfill the specialization requirement)

GPPS 465. Management of Nonprofit Organizations

POLI 275. Interviews, Survey Design, and Sampling (by petition only)

Undergraduate Course (by petition)

ECON 125. Demographic Analysis and Forecasting (requires consent of instructor)

Environmental Policy

Required Courses (a total of two required)

GPEC 488. Environmental and Regulatory Economics

Choose one

GPPA 460. Modeling Environmental Systems

GPPS 428. The Politics of Energy and Environmental Regulation

Electives (choose three)

GPEC 453. Sustainable Development

GPIM 457. Cost Benefit Analysis

GPPA 460. Modeling Environmental Systems (if not taken to fulfill the specialization requirement)

GPPA 464. Environmental Justice

GPPA 483. Food Security

GPPS 423. Corporate Social Responsibility

GPPS 428. The Politics of Energy and Environmental Regulation (if not taken to fulfill the specialization requirement)

SIO 273B. Science and Marine Environmental Policy

SIO 286. Marine Science, Economics, and Policy

SIO 295. Introduction to Marine Biodiversity and Conservation

ECON 266. Economics of Natural Resources

Peace and Security

Required Courses (a total of two required)

GPPS 438. Central Issues in International Peace and Security

Choose one

GPPS 427. International Law and Regulation

GPPS 433. Debating US Security Policy

Electives (choose three)

GPEC 432. Immigration and Immigration Policy

GPPA 406. Global Corporate Accountability: Governance, Responsibility, and NGOs

GPPA 408. Policy, Politics, and Markets in Modern Financial Crises

GPPA 430. Education Policy around the World

GPPA 433. Food Security

GPPA 451. Violence in Latin America

GPPA 477. Cyber Security

GPPS 401. The New “New” Civil Wars

GPPS 418. The Political Economy of State Capacity

GPPS 421. The Politics of Economic Inequality

GPPS 423. Corporate Social Responsibility

GPPS 427. International Law and Regulation (if not taken to fulfill the specialization requirement)

GPPS 430. Human Rights, Public Policy, and International Relations

GPPS 432. The Maritime Domaine and Policy-Making

GPPS 433. Debating US Security Policy (if not taken to fulfill the specialization requirement)

GPPS 434. Humanitarian Interventions

GPPS 435. State Building and Modeling State Capacity

GPPS 442. Foundations of Strategic Studies

GPPS 443. U.S. National Security and Decision Making

GPPS 450. The Political Economy of Foreign Aid

GPPS 451. Public Opinion and Foreign Policy

GPPS 469. Comparative Grand Strategy and Defense Policy

GPPS 481. The Political Economy of Authoritarian Regimes

Health Policy

Required Courses (a total of two required)

ECON 140. Economics of Health Producers

Choose one

FMPH 402. Introduction to Health Behavior

USP 143. The US Health Care System

Electives (choose three)

FMPH 401. Introduction to Epidemiology

FMPH 402. Introduction to Health Behavior (if not used for a required track course)

FMPH 404. Introduction to Environmental and Occupational Health

FMPH 405. Introduction to Health Policy

FMPH 411. Program Optimization and Evaluation

GPEC 488. Environmental and Regulatory Economics

GPPA 421. The Politics of Economics Inequality

GPPA 435. Comparative Social Welfare Policy

GPPA 464. Environmental Justice

GPPS 412. Policy-Making in the American States

Undergraduate Courses (use approved by departments; faculty consent required)

ANSC 144. Immigrant and Refugee Health

GLBH 148. Global Health and Diversity

GLBH 160. Global Health Policy

GLBH 181. Essentials of Global Health

ECON 140. Economics of Health Producers

ECON 141. Economics of Health Consumers

USP 143. The US Health Care System

USP 144. Environmental and Preventative Health Issues

USP 145. Aging: Social Health and Policy Issues

USP 147. Case Studies in Health Care Programs for the Poor and Underserved Populations

American and Comparative Business Regulation

Required Courses (a total of two required)

GPPS 441. Government and Regulation

Choose one

GPPA 409. Economic Diplomacy

GPIM 472. Innovation and the New Economy

Electives (choose three)

GPCO 415. Accounting and Finance for Policy Makers

GPEC 400. Global Risk, Uncertainty, and Investment

GPEC 416. International Trade Agreements

GPEC 431. Fiscal and Monetary Policy

GPIM 411. Japanese Business and Management

GPIM 430. Corporate Non-Market Strategies (if not taken to fulfill the specialization requirement)

GPIM 432. Technology, Trade, and Globalization

GPIM 447. Organizational Economics

GPIM 472. Innovation and the New Economy (if not taken to fulfill the specialization requirement)

GPPA 400. Politics, Policy, and Markets in Modern Financial Crises

GPPA 404. Governance, Public Administration, and Development

GPPA 406. Global Corporate Accountability: Governance, Responsibility, and NGOs

GPPA 409. Economic Diplomacy (if not used for the specialization requirement)

GPPA 463. Fundamental of Energy Systems and Innovation

GPPS 403. Chinese Security, Technology, and Innovation

GPPS 412. Policy-Making in the American States

GPPS 413. Comparative Party Politics

GPPS 417. International Political Economy: Trade and Investments

GPPS 423. Corporate Social Responsibility

GPPS 428. Politics of Energy and Environmental Policy

GPPS 481. The Political Economy of Authoritarian Regimes

Electives

Students may use remaining units to take electives across the range of GPS courses approved for the MPP as well as (with faculty approval) courses offered elsewhere on campus. The number of elective units available to a student will vary. Prospective students are advised to consult the GPS student affairs office for a full list of elective courses currently offered. Not all courses are offered every year or, when offered, in the same quarter as previously listed.

Education Abroad Program

Students are encouraged to participate in the Education Abroad Program (EAP) in their second year of study. Though this may necessitate a third year of study to meet MPP requirements, the opportunity provides unparalleled experience. By petition, certain credits earned through EAP may be applied to the MPP degree requirements.

Career Services

The GPS career services office provides students with ongoing guidance, expertise, and resources to successfully manage their careers. This personalized process begins before school starts with the Career Development Program and continues during the two-year program and throughout the students’ careers as alumni.

The career services team offers GPSCAREERS, an online system available twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week, which has a calendar of events, student profiles, online résumés, and a specialized database of employers with job/internship opportunities. Career consultants are available for daily scheduled appointments or quick consultations for resume writing, cover letters, effective job search strategies, interviewing skills (including videotaped mock interviews), labor market trends, job offer evaluation, and negotiation of total compensation packages. Alumni return to campus often for panels, information sessions, and employer interviews.

Internships

Students are strongly encouraged to participate in a variety of internship programs aligned with their career goals in business and industry, federal and state government, and nonprofit and multilateral organizations. The career services office works closely with students and alumni to make connections with global employers in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors based on the students’ interests.

Elective Courses (For additional courses, please contact GPS Student Affairs.)

GPPS 405. US-China Relations (4)

GPPS 408. Korean Security (4)

GPEC 409. Economic Policy in Latin America (4)

GPPS 410. Corporate Governance (4)

GPPS 423. Corporate Social Responsibility (4)

GPIM 424. Corporate Finance (4)

GPPS 427. International Law and Regulation (4)

GPPS 428. The Politics of Energy and Environmental Regulation (4)

GPPS 430. Human Rights, Public Policy, and International Relations (4)

GPEC 432. Immigration and Immigration Policy (4)

GPPS 433. Debating US Security Policy (4)

GPPS 434. Humanitarian Interventions (4)

GPEC 443. GIS and Spatial Data Analysis (4)

GPEC 446. Applied Data Analysis and Statistical Decision Making (QM III) (4)

GPEC 451. Economic Development (4)

GPEC 453. Sustainable Development (4)

GPIM 457. Cost-Benefit Analysis (4)

GPEC 464. Designing Field Experiments (4)

GPPS 465. Management of Nonprofit Organizations (4)

GPPS 469. Comparative Grand Strategy and Defense Policy (4)

GPIM 470. International Business Strategy (4)

GPPA 472. Latin American Environmental and Energy Policy (4)

GPPS 473. Political Economy of Energy in Asia (4)

GPPS 479. Politics and Institutions in Latin America (4)

GPEC 488. Environmental and Regulatory Economics (4)

GPEC 489. The Economics of Nonmarket Valuation (4)

GPGN 499. Independent Research (2–12)

Master of Chinese Economic and Political Affairs (MCEPA)

Requirements for Admission

Students interested in pursuing the master of Chinese economic and political affairs must have earned a BA, or its equivalent, from an institution of comparable standing to the University of California. A minimum GPA of 3.0 or better in undergraduate course work or prior graduate study is required for admission. Applicants must have second-year proficiency in Mandarin Chinese, as demonstrated by course work, language certification, or applicable work experience. Undergraduate preparation that includes one or more of the following areas is strongly encouraged: China and related areas in history, humanities, and contemporary societies; the social sciences (specifically, political science and economics); and quantitative methods such as statistics, STATA, or GIS.

Applicants who are deficient in economics or quantitative methods may be required to attend summer preparation before being allowed to enroll for first quarter courses.

Applicants are required to submit the following: an online UC San Diego application for graduate study (https://connect.grad.ucsd.edu/apply/); official transcripts from each college or university attended (PDF files may be submitted through the online application with official documents conferred prior to enrollment); three letters of recommendation; a résumé or curriculum vitae; a personal statement; and a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score report. Demonstrated proficiency in the English language is required of international applicants whose native language is not English. (https://grad.ucsd.edu/admissions/requirements/international-students/english-proficiency.html) The minimum TOEFL score required for admission is 100 iBT or 7 IELTS. For further details regarding the application process, procedures, and deadlines, please visit http://gps.ucsd.edu and click on “Admissions.”

Orientation tours are available for all prospective applicants who would like further information about the MCEPA program. Tours assist prospective applicants in becoming better acquainted with GPS’s MCEPA program and in understanding how the program might relate to their long-term career goals. To sign up for a tour, please contact the GPS Office of Admissions at (858) 534-5914 or email gps-apply@ucsd.edu.

The Master of Chinese Economic and Political Affairs is a two-year, full-time program.

The Master of Chinese Economic and Political Affairs Curriculum

The master of Chinese economic and political affairs (MCEPA) builds on GPS’s strengths in research methods and the political and economic study of China. Graduation requires ninety-six credits: twenty-eight of which will be in hard skills training in economics, management, political science, and quantitative methods; another twenty-four in required China-centered courses; twenty-four in a chosen area of concentration (for example, environmental regulation and policy or security); with the remaining twenty units in three quarters (twelve units) of sources and methods courses, and a two-quarter, eight-unit capstone seminar. Students will be strongly encouraged to undertake field research in order to build a strong foundation for their capstone project. There are several options for field research:

summer fieldwork between the first and second year
extended fieldwork, allowing students to pursue placement with one of the GPS partner universities in China and/or immersion language study
an academic quarter of EAP as approved by a faculty adviser

Students will be required to declare a concentration in one of the following subfields: Chinese politics and public policy; Chinese foreign relations and security; Chinese economy; and Chinese environment. Students, working with advisers who teach and conduct research in these areas, will build an individualized program of disciplinary course work (twenty-four units/six courses) that relates to their area of concentration.

The ability to use original language source material is necessary for serious work on China. Students will have to demonstrate that their language skills are/will be appropriate to the type of research they propose to conduct.

Required Core (twenty-eight units):

GPCO 401. Microeconomics for Policy and Management

GPCO 412. Globalization

GPCO 453. Quantitative Methods I

GPCO 454. Quantitative Methods II

GPCO 400. Policy Making Processes or GPCO 415. Accounting and Finance for Policy Makers (winter)

GPCO 403. International Economics or GPCO 410. International Politics and Security (spring)

GPEC 446. Applied Data Analysis and Statistical Decision Making (QM III) or an appropriate methods course.

China Courses (twenty-four units):

Three required China core courses will be taken during the first year.

GPPS 404. Chinese Politics

GPPS 486. Economic and Social Development of China

GPPS 407. Chinese International Relations and Security

Plus three courses chosen from a list of elective, China-specific courses. These may include China courses in other departments.

GPS courses that meet this requirement include the following:

GPPS 406. China and the Global Economic Order

GPPS 455. Financing the Chinese Economic Miracle

GPEC 411. Topics in China’s Development

HIGH 210. Introduction to the Historiography of Modern China

HIEA 133. Twentieth-Century China: Cultural History

Required Disciplinary Courses (twenty-four units):

Students will be required to work with a faculty adviser who teaches and/or conducts research in their chosen concentration. Students must build an individualized program of six courses with faculty approval. These courses include both advanced work in disciplinary subfields and comparative cross-country content. Students must choose one of the following specializations:

Chinese Politics and Public Policy
Chinese Foreign Policy and Security
Chinese Economy
Chinese Environment

Required Sources and Methods (three quarters, twelve units):

Students are required to have three courses in sources and methods, at least one of which will be GPPS 476. Chinese Sources on Politics and Economics. This course and subsequent courses on sources and methods will include:

Methodology: Reading clusters of papers that exemplify different approaches to the student of Chinese society, politics, and economics.
Sources: Close reading of original language sources; access and critique of data sources (surveys, census, and statistics)
Research presentations: Faculty and advanced graduate students from UC San Diego and other universities will present current research.

In addition, students may select from the methods courses offered by GPS faculty, including GPEC 443. GIS and Spatial Data Analysis; GPEC 444. Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing; GPEC 447. Data Science Approaches to Spatial Analysis; GPEC 464. Designing Field Experiments; GPIM 452. Big Data Analytics; or GPCO 468. Evaluating Technological Innovation.

Required Capstone, two quarters (four/four units):

GPCO 470. Capstone Research and GPCO 471. Capstone Project Development.

The capstone is intended to be a summative intellectual experience directed toward the preparation of an applied research project. The topic must be approved by the faculty of record for the first quarter research seminar and by a second with expertise in the subject of the project and who will serve as the second quarter adviser.

The capstone paper is expected to demonstrate mastery of the four components of the program:

development of the methodologies for rigorous data collection and analysis
an in-depth understanding of the historical regulatory, political, and/or economic processes surrounding the chosen “problem” for analysis
mastery of the working details of the dependent variable at the center of the research
demonstration of a requisite level of research proficiency in Mandarin Chinese

The paper will be evaluated by the research director of the capstone and the subject matter adviser.

Master of Advanced Studies in International Affairs (MAS-IA)

Requirements for Admission

Students interested in pursuing the MAS-IA program at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy must have earned a BA, BS, or the equivalent from an institution of comparable standing to the University of California, have a minimum of five years of relevant work experience and relevant international experience.

A minimum grade point average of 3.0 or better in undergraduate course work or prior graduate study is required for admission.

Applicants are required to submit the following: an online UC San Diego application for graduate study (https://connect.grad.ucsd.edu/apply/); official transcripts from each college or university attended; three letters of recommendation; a résumé or curriculum vitae; and a personal statement. TOEFL, IELTS, or Pearson’s Test of English (Academic) scores are required for applicants whose native language is not English and who have not completed a university degree in a country where the language of instruction is English. Minimum required scores are the following: TOEFL 80 iBT, 500 PBT; IELTS 7.0 band; PTE (Academic) 65.

For further details regarding the application process, procedures, and deadlines please visit http://gps.ucsd.edu and click on “Prospective Students.”

Applicants are encouraged to contact the GPS Office of Admissions at (858) 534-5914 or email gps-apply@ucsd.edu.

The MAS-IA program is offered as a nine-month, full-time course of study, and as a part-time eighteen-month curriculum.

The MAS-IA Curriculum

The MAS-IA curriculum is a forty-eight unit/twelve course program. Each student is required to take two core courses (eight units), two courses focusing on one or more of the GPS regions (eight units), three career track courses from lists compiled specifically for the MAS-IA (twelve units), four elective courses from the GPS curriculum (sixteen units), and a four-unit dedicated capstone course. The specific courses taken to fulfill these requirements will depend on the student’s chosen career track.

The MAS-IA Core

GPCO 481. The Politics of International and National Policy Making (4)

This course provides an introduction to the international political economy of the Pacific Rim. The course covers important international developments, such as regionalism, as well as domestic decision-making processes. Renumbered from IRCO 481. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 481 and IRCO 481. Prerequisites: MAS-IA students only.

GPCO 482. Global Economics and Markets (4)

This course studies major economies of the Pacific region by combining standard tools in economics with institutional background on each economy. Special attention is given to the challenges that economic globalization poses on the economic relations among those economies. Renumbered from IRCO 482. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 482 and IRCO 482. Prerequisites: MAS-IA students only.

The MAS-IA Capstone

GPCO 483. Workshop on Policy Issues in the Pacific Rim (4)

Capstone class. Students collaborate on long-term projects analyzing important political, economic, and business issues in the Pacific regions using the tools acquired through other courses at GPS. Renumbered from IRCO 483. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 483 and IRCO 483. Prerequisites: MAS-IA students only.

Career Tracks

MAS-IA students are offered five career tracks from which to choose. The career tracks provide an opportunity to focus on a specialized professional and academic career path and to work closely with students and faculty who share similar interests. A career track consists of three courses (twelve units). Currently, GPS offers the following MAS-IA career tracks:

International Relations (choose three)

GPPS 400. International Relations of Asia-Pacific

GPPS 401. The New “New” Civil Wars

GPPS 405. US-China Relations

GPPS 408. Korean Security

GPPS 449. Making US Foreign Policy

GPPS 454. Current Issues in US-Latin American Relations

GPPS 460. The Politics of US-Japanese Relations

GPPS 427. International Law and Regulation

GPPS 478. Japanese Foreign Policy

GPCO 410. International Politics and Security

GPCO 412. Globalization, the World System, and the Pacific

International Political Economy (choose three)

GPEC 435. Topics in International Trade

GPEC 446. Applied Data Analysis and Statistical Decision Making—“QM III”

GPPS 402. International Political Economy: Money and Finance

GPEC 406. Finance and Development

GPPS 410. Corporate Governance

GPEC 451. Economic Development

GPIM 457. Cost-Benefit Analysis

GPIM 461. Doing Business in China

GPCO 401. Microeconomics for Policy and Management

GPCO 403. International Economics

GPCO 412. Globalization, the World System, and the Pacific

GPCO 415. Accounting and Finance for Policy Makers

GPCO 463. Strategy and Negotiation

International Public Policy (choose three)

GPPA 407. Policy Implementation Process

GPEC 417. Microfinance

GPIM 440. Managerial Accounting and Control

GPIM 457. Cost-Benefit Analysis

GPEC 458. International Environmental Policy and Politics

GPPS 465. Management of Nonprofit Organizations

GPEC 489. The Economics of Nonmarket Valuation

GPCO 400. Policy Making Processes

GPCO 401. Microeconomics for Policy and Management

Environmental Policy and Sustainability (at least two of the three required courses must come from the following)

GPEC 458. International Environmental Policy and Politics

GPEC 488. Environmental and Regulatory Economics

GPEC 453. Sustainable Development

If a student selects only two courses from the above list, the third career track course must be chosen from the list of electives approved for the EPS track found below.

Security of the Asia-Pacific (at least two of the three required courses must come from the following)

GPPS 407. Chinese International Relations and National Security

GPPS 442. Foundations of Strategic Studies

GPPS 449. Comparative Grand Strategy and Defense Policy

If a student selects only two courses from the above list, the third career track course must be chosen from the list of electives approved for the SAPAC track found below.

Regional Electives

The regional requirement consists of two courses covering one or more of the GPS regional specialties. For the career tracks in International Relations, International Political Economy and International Public Policy, course choices are made from lists compiled for the MAS-IA that allow students several options. You may speak with the program director for the MAS-IA for a complete list of regional electives.

Students in the Environmental Policy and Sustainability career track must take at least one of the following to fulfill their two-course regional requirement:

GPPA 472. Latin American Environmental and Energy Policy

Students in the Security of the Asia-Pacific track must take at least one of the following regional courses:

GPPS 404. Chinese Politics

GPPS 405. US-China Relations

GPPS 408. Korean Security

GPPS 416. Postwar Politics of Japan

GPPS 460. US-Japanese Relations

GPPS 463. Politics of Southeast Asia

GPPS 484. Korean Politics

If both courses do not come from the above list, the second regional elective may be chosen at the student’s discretion, provided it is a course on China, Japan, Korea, or Southeast Asia. Please see a faculty or academic adviser for help choosing the third course.

Electives

Students in the career tracks in International Relations, International Political Economy and International Public Policy may use the remaining sixteen units (four courses) to take electives across the range of GPS courses in international management, international economics, comparative public policy and politics, international environmental policy, development, nonprofit management, and regional studies. Students are advised to consult the MAS-IA program coordinator for a full list of elective courses currently offered.

Students opting for the career track in Environmental Policy and Sustainability must take at least two of their four elective classes from the specially defined list of courses below. The remaining elective course(s) may be any existing GPS courses.

GPEC 489. The Economics of Nonmarket Valuation

GPPS 428. The Politics of Energy and Environmental Regulation

GPIM 457. Cost-Benefit Analysis

GPPS 473. Political Economy of Energy in Asia

SIO 273B. Science and Marine Environmental Policy**

SIO 286. Marine Science, Economics and Policy**

(Courses noted with ** require consent of faculty and a petition to the MAS-IA program director.)

For students opting for the career track in the Security of the Asia-Pacific, at least two courses must be chosen from the following list. The remaining two courses may be chosen from the broader GPS curriculum.

GPCO 410. International Politics and Security

GPPS 400. International Relations of the Asia-Pacific

GPPS 401. The New “New” Civil Wars

GPPS 427. International Law and Regulation

GPPS 429. Geopolitics, Insurgency, and Weak States

GPPS 430. Human Rights, Public Policy, and International Politics

GPPS 433. Debating US Security Policy

GPPA 477. Cyber Security

The Doctorate of Philosophy in Political Science and International Affairs (PhD)

Requirements for Admission

Applicants who seek admission to the highly competitive joint PhD program must have earned a BA, or its equivalent, from an institution of comparable standing to the University of California. Preference will be given to students with prior academic records of distinction and to those who have a background in one of the fields of emphasis and/or geographical areas covered by the program.

Applicants are required to submit the following: an online UC San Diego application for graduate study (https://connect.grad.ucsd.edu/apply/); two official transcripts from each college or university attended; three letters of recommendation; a résumé or curriculum vitae; a personal statement; a writing sample; a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score report. A minimum score of 550 on the paper/pencil version and 213 on the computer-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all international applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate education was conducted in a language other than English.

The minimum criteria required for admission to the extremely selective joint PhD program can be found at http://gps.ucsd.edu/academics/applying.html#Ph.D.-Application. Admission is offered to zero to two applicants per year.

The PhD Curriculum

Program of Study

The PhD in political science and international affairs prepares students for research careers in political science, with an emphasis in international policy and comparative policy analysis. The program combines the analytical skills of political science with political economy, institutional analysis, policy analysis (especially economic policy) and regional training, with special attention to East Asia and/or Latin America.

Course Requirements

The PhD curriculum in political science and international affairs is designed to provide students with basic training in the disciplinary skills of political science, as well as applications to specific policy areas and countries or regions.

Eighteen courses are required prior to advancement to candidacy at the end of the second year. There is a common core sequence made up of four courses in the Department of Political Science: Political Science 203A-B and 204A-B. No other courses may be used to substitute for these courses. The remaining course work in research skills, language, regional expertise and/or a field of specialization may be taken at GPS or in Political Science with the approval of the faculty adviser. Two of the elective courses must be in international relations and/or comparative politics/policy of an Asia-Pacific country or region.

Requirements:

First Year

Fall
• 203A. Analytic Theory I
• 204A. Research Design
• Field requirement or skills course

Winter
• 200B. Democracy
• Field requirement or skills course
• Field requirement or skills course

Spring
• 203B. Analytic Theory II
• Field requirement or skills course
• Field requirement or skills course

Second Year

Fall
• Field requirement
• Skills course
• Substantive course

Winter
• Field requirement
• Skills course
• Substantive course

Spring
• Field requirement
• Skills course
• Substantive course/directed reading

General Examination

By the end of the second year, a student must stand for the general examination. The general examination consists of written examinations in each of two fields and an oral examination. It is expected that students complete their field requirements prior to sitting for the general examination. By the first day of spring quarter of the second year, each student must submit to the graduate coordinator a general examination plan identifying the two fields within which exams will be taken. The general examination will normally take place during the seventh week of spring quarter. Normally each written examination will be taken on a separate day within a one-week period, and the oral examination will be given within two weeks of the completion of the written examinations.

Written Examinations

Written field examinations last six hours. These examinations cover major theoretical approaches in a field. They are structured so that passing requires general knowledge and understanding of important work in the field as a whole. These examinations cover in greater depth one subfield within a major research literature. Written examinations are open note and open book. Students are expected to do their own work and to compose their answers on the day of the examination. Text from computer files may not be downloaded into these answers.

Oral Examinations

The oral examination normally lasts between one and two hours and covers two written examinations and the student’s seminar paper. A student must take the oral examination, even if one of the written examinations or the seminar paper is such that it is deemed impossible to pass the entire examination.

Each field has a designated field coordinator, appointed by the department chair in consultation with the director of graduate studies. The field coordinator, in consultation with the faculty in the field, prepares the written examinations. Each general examination is graded by a committee of four faculty members, with two from each of the student’s examination fields. These examiners are nominated by the field coordinator and appointed by the department chair. Students are normally informed of the composition of general examination boards during the fourth week of the spring quarter.

Each general examination is graded in its entirety. A student passes or fails the entire examination, not simply parts of it. The examination committee may assign a grade of fail, pass, or distinction. A student passes the general examination if at least three examiners vote to assign a grade of pass or better. A student receives a grade of distinction by vote of at least three examiners. The student will receive written notification of the examination committee’s decision. A student who fails the general examination must retake it at least one week prior to the start of the fall quarter of the third year. A student who fails the general examination twice will not be permitted to continue in the graduate program in political science.

Good progress toward the PhD requires that a student complete the general examination by the end of the second year. A student who has not attempted all parts of the general examination by the end of the second year may not continue in the program.

Seminar Papers

A student must complete one seminar paper in one of his or her examination fields. This paper may be written as part of the requirements for a regularly scheduled seminar course or in an independent research course.

Guidelines for the Seminar Paper

Acceptable article length for most journals is eight thousand to ten thousand words, and seminar papers should be a similar length.
The basic structure of the article should include the following:
- An introduction framing the significance of the question, sketching the answer, and (where subfield appropriate) delineating the research design and empirical findings
- A comprehensive yet succinct literature review placing the research in the context of prior work on the subject
- A discussion of research design (where subfield appropriate)
- An appropriate empirical analysis (where subfield appropriate)
- A conclusion highlighting the contributions of the research and returning to general questions
Papers must be solo authored.
Examples of recent published articles written by UC San Diego graduate students will be available to students upon request.

Papers may draw from papers originally written for courses. However, it is generally the case that course papers will need substantial revision before being suitable seminar papers. Students may write papers in fields other than their first or second exam fields.

Students must identify an adviser for the seminar paper. Seminar paper advisers may be the first-year adviser but are not required to be. Seminar paper advisers may go on to supervise dissertations but are not required to do so. Advisers must agree (certified in writing, to the graduate program coordinator) to serve this purpose by 4:00 p.m. on Friday of the eighth week of fall quarter. Penalties for failing to identify an adviser by this due date are at the discretion of the director of graduate studies. Students are advised to contact the director of graduate studies or their field chair if they are having difficulty identifying an adviser.

Students must submit a rough draft of the seminar paper (in hard copy and electronic form) to the graduate program coordinator by 4:00 p.m. on Friday of the first full week of spring quarter. The graduate program coordinator is responsible for ensuring that a copy of the paper is provided to the seminar paper adviser. Students failing to submit a draft of the paper by this deadline will not be permitted to take the Comprehensive Exam in the spring quarter. Please note that this implies leaving the program.

Students should submit a penultimate draft of the paper to the seminar paper adviser one week prior to the final draft due date. Students must submit a final draft of the seminar paper (in hard copy and electronic form) to the graduate program coordinator by 4:00 p.m. on Monday of the week prior to the written exams. Students failing to submit a final draft of the paper by this deadline will not be permitted to take the Comprehensive Exam in the spring quarter. Please note that this implies leaving the program.

Departmental Workshops

During the third year, a student must be enrolled in a departmental workshop (course numbers 280–89). Departmental workshops are intended to introduce students to advanced research in political science and to facilitate the completion of the doctoral dissertation. Workshops typically meet biweekly and include discussion of common readings, public talks, and student presentations. Each field is responsible for maintaining or identifying a workshop for students writing a dissertation in that field.

During the third year, each student is required to present a draft dissertation prospectus or an original piece of research to a workshop at least once. A form indicating completion of this requirement must be submitted to the graduate coordinator by the end of the third year.

By October 15 of the third year, each student must identify a prospectus adviser and the tentative topic of the prospectus. Each student is responsible for submitting the appropriate form, indicating the adviser’s name, to the graduate coordinator.

Advancement to Candidacy

Certification that a paper fulfills the seminar paper requirement is at the sole discretion of the faculty member supervising the work (i.e., the instructor of the course for which the paper was written).

A student may not take the general examination before fulfilling the seminar paper requirement. A final draft of the paper, along with the appropriate form certifying that the paper meets the seminar paper requirement, must be submitted to the graduate coordinator before the written portion of the general examination may be taken. Copies of the seminar paper will be distributed to the general examination committee.

Dissertation

By the end of the sixth year, good progress requires completion of the dissertation. A student who fails to complete the dissertation by the end of the sixth year may be denied all departmental financial assistance.

Language Competency

Students intending a field specialization in comparative politics and/or policy should assume that fluency in a relevant regional language, sufficient for the conduct of research, will be expected. Language training will be credited toward the degree.

Advising and Evaluation

Each incoming student to the PhD program in political science and international affairs will be assigned a faculty adviser in GPS. By the beginning of the third year, each student must select a faculty member from the department to serve as prospectus adviser. The prospectus adviser will help guide the student in writing the prospectus and selecting a dissertation committee. The prospectus adviser will not necessarily become the chair or a member of the dissertation committee.

During the spring quarter, each student is evaluated by his or her adviser in consultation with the departmental faculty. The student will receive a written evaluation from the adviser each year. The student must sign this evaluation for it to become an official part of the student’s departmental file. As part of the first-year review, each student must complete a plan of study that identifies a faculty seminar paper supervisor, two examination fields, a focus area, and intended preparation in each. This plan must be signed by the student’s faculty adviser and submitted to the graduate coordinator by the end of spring quarter of the first year.

Doctoral Committee

The dissertation committee must have at least five members, made up of both GPS and Department of Political Science faculty and one tenured professor from outside those programs. For students whose research is intended to establish a regional or country specialization, it is expected that at least one member of the committee will have such an expertise. At least two members of the committee shall represent academic specialties that differ from the student’s chosen specialty.

Student Petitions

To contest an evaluation or any departmental action a student must do so in writing. A petition should be submitted to the director of graduate studies no later than the end of the quarter following the evaluation (or other action) contested by the student.

PhD in Political Science and International Affairs with a Specialization in Interdisciplinary Environmental Research

A graduate specialization in Interdisciplinary Environmental Research (PIER) is available for select doctoral students. PIER students seek solutions to today’s environmental challenges.

The PhD specialization is designed to allow students to obtain standard training in their chosen field and an opportunity to interact with peers in different disciplines throughout the duration of their doctoral projects. Such communication across disciplines is key to fostering a capacity for interdisciplinary “language” skills and conceptual flexibility.

Specialization Requirements

Complete all course work, dissertation, and other requirements of the political science and international affairs PhD
Sixteen-unit interdisciplinary boot camp (summer, SIO 295S-295LS)
Eight units from a secondary field (outside the home department)
Six units (three quarters) Interdisciplinary Environmental Research Forum (SIO 296)
At least one chapter of the dissertation will be broadly related to environmental research and will be interdisciplinary in nature.

Application Requirements

We advise students to begin PIER in their third year upon completion of core political science and international affairs course requirements.
The following items should be combined into a single PDF document and submitted to cmbc@ucsd.edu.

Student’s CV
Half-page abstract of proposed thesis work
Up to one-page statement of student’s interest in interdisciplinary environmental research including career goals.
Nomination letter from adviser acknowledging student’s academic ability and interdisciplinary environmental interest. The letter must include a commitment for summer stipend support.

Admission to the Specialization

Students are admitted into the GPS doctoral program. Admission to PIER is a competitive process with six to eight students granted admission each year from across ten participating UC San Diego departments. Selected applicants will have the opportunity to enroll in the specialization.

PIER Fellowships

When funding is available, all applicants will be considered for one year of PIER Fellowship support.

Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Master of International Affairs BA/MIA

Requirements for Admission

Students interested in pursuing the BA/MIA program at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) must be currently enrolled in UC San Diego’s International Studies (IS) undergraduate major. Students who meet the admissions requirements listed below may apply for admission to the combined degree track of the International Studies major in the spring quarter of junior year, prior to receipt of the BA.

Completion of fall and winter quarters of the junior year with a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 and a minimum 3.4 GPA in International Studies upper-division course work.
Satisfactory completion of the foreign language requirement for the undergraduate International Studies major. The foreign language must be one of the Pacific Rim languages required by GPS.
Satisfactory completion of the International Studies core courses, INTL 101 and 102.
Completion of electronic recommendations from two individuals who can attest to the applicant’s academic promise and depth of interest in professional training in international affairs. The electronic recommendation is a topical ranking system. Letters of recommendation are optional and would be in addition to the electronic recommendation.
Students will also be required to complete a noncredit, professional internship in the field of international affairs during the summer prior to matriculation to graduate standing in the MIA program.
Some admitted students may be required to attend summer prep courses in quantitative methods and managerial economics prior to the beginning of their first year in the program.

Applicants will be admitted to the combined degree program on the basis of demonstrated academic excellence in upper-division course work in the International Studies major, Pacific Rim language proficiency, strong support from UC San Diego faculty in letters of recommendation, international experience, leadership, and community involvement.

The BA/MIA Curriculum

International Studies (IS) students are required to declare a primary track (eight upper-division courses) and a secondary track (five upper-division courses). IS majors must also successfully complete two upper-division gateway courses (lNTL 101 and 102) and a senior research seminar (INTL 190). In addition to these required courses, IS majors admitted to the combined degree program must also complete two quantitative methodology courses (GPCO 453 and 454).

IS majors admitted to the combined degree program will complete all of these requirements for the International Studies degree in either IS-Economics/Secondary Track in Political Science, IS-Political Science/Secondary Track in Economics, or IS-International Business/Secondary Track in Political Science in years one through four of their study at UC San Diego. Transfer students may also apply to the BA/MIA after declaring their major and successfully completing at least one quarter of course work at UC San Diego.

BA in International Studies–Economics

Economics Primary Track (eight courses)

The following courses are required:

GPCO 401. Microeconomics for Policy and Management

GPCO 403. International Economics

GPCO 415. Accounting and Finance for Policy Makers

In addition, students are required to take five additional economics courses chosen from the IS-Economics course list or from GPS economics courses, for a total of eight courses.

Political Science Secondary Track (five courses)

The following courses are required:

GPCO 400. Policy-Making Processes

GPCO 410. International Politics and Security

GPCO 412. Globalization, the World System, and the Pacific

Two additional courses from the approved IS-Political Science course list or GPS electives in regional politics, comparative public policy, or international politics.

Of the thirteen track courses, three must focus on one country or region.

BA in International Studies–Political Science

Political Science Primary Track (eight courses)

The following courses are required:

GPCO 412. Globalization, the World System, and the Pacific

GPCO 400. Policy-Making Processes

GPCO 410. International Politics and Security

Five additional courses selected from the approved IS-Political Science course list or from GPS electives in regional politics, comparative public policy, or international politics.

Economics Secondary Track (five courses)

The following courses are required:

GPCO 401. Microeconomics for Policy and Management

GPCO 403. International Economics

GPCO 415. Finance and Accounting for Policy Makers

In addition, students are required to take two additional economics courses chosen from the IS-Economics course list or from GPS economics courses, for a total of five courses. Of the thirteen track courses, three must focus on one country or region.

BA in International Studies—International Business

International Business Primary Track (eight courses)

All of the following courses are required:

MGT 103. Product Management and Marketing

MGT 181. Enterprise Finance

MGT 164. Organization Business Strategy

MGT 166. Business Ethics

MGT 112. Global Business Strategy

GPCO 401. Microeconomics for Policy and Management

GPCO 403. International Economics

GPCO 404. Market Failures and Policy Interventions

Political Science Secondary Track (five courses)

The following courses are required:

GPCO 400. Policy-Making Processes

GPCO 410. International Politics and Security

GPCO 412. Globalization, the World System, and the Pacific

In addition, students are required to take two additional upper-division courses from the approved IS-Political Science course list or from GPS electives in the regional or country politics of the Asia Pacific.

ALL BA/MIA students will also take the following two classes in Quantitative Methods before finishing the first-year core at GPS:

GPCO 453. Quantitative Methods I

GPCO 454. Quantitative Methods II

Additional Requirements

In the final year of the combined degree program, students will complete the requirements for the one-year MIA. The MIA requires a minimum of forty-eight units of 400-level course work completed at GPS, including a regional specialization (two four-unit courses), a professional career track (five four-unit courses), a capstone requirement (one four-unit course), elective course work (four four-unit courses), and a summer internship requirement (noncredit) between the completion of the BA and matriculation into the MIA.

The combined degree program includes the following additional requirement:

Language requirement: All International Studies majors must complete a language requirement equivalent to four quarters of undergraduate training in a Pacific Rim language (as defined by GPS) prior to admission to the combined degree program. In order to receive the MIA at the end of the fifth year, students must complete at least two additional quarters in the same Pacific Rim language, for a total of six quarters. This requirement may be completed either as an undergraduate or in the final fifth year. If it is completed as an undergraduate, the student must earn a C– or better in the sixth quarter. If it is completed as a graduate student, the student must earn a B or better in the sixth quarter.

Bachelor of Arts in Economics—Public Policy and Master of Public Policy BA/MPP

Requirements for Admission

The BA/MPP is a five-year program offered jointly by the Department of Economics and the School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS). Students interested in pursuing the BA/MPP must be currently enrolled in the Department of Economics at UC San Diego, and a declared economics BA major (EN25). Students who meet the admissions requirements listed below may apply to the combined degree track of Economics—Public Policy in the spring quarter of their junior year.

Completion of fall and winter quarters of the junior year with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum 3.4 GPA in Department of Economics upper-division course work.
Satisfactory completion of the upper-division economics sequences: ECON 100A-B-C, ECON 110A-B, and ECON 120A-B-C.
Completion of all parts of the application as indicated on the GPS admissions website and https://connect.grad.ucsd.edu/apply/.
Completion of electronic recommendations from two individuals who can attest to the applicant’s academic promise and depth of interest in professional training in public policy. The electronic recommendation is a topical ranking system. Letters of recommendation are optional and would be in addition to the electronic recommendation.
Students will also be required to complete a noncredit, professional internship in the field of public policy during the summer prior to matriculation to graduate standing in the MPP program.
Some admitted students may be required to attend summer preparation courses in writing prior to the beginning of their first year in the program.

Applicants will be admitted to the combined degree program on the basis of demonstrated academic excellence in upper-division course work in the Department of Economics, leadership, community involvement, and demonstrated interest in public policy.

Upon admission to the program, students must change their major to Economics—Public Policy (EN29).

The BA/MPP Curriculum

Students interested in the BA/MPP must initially enroll as economics majors (EN25) and complete the lower-division and upper-division sequences required for the BA in economics. Once admitted to the BA/MPP program by GPS, however, instead of five upper-division Department of Economics electives as required for the standard major, Economics—Public Policy (EN29) students will have a requirement of four. Two of these must be in the Department of Economics. GPCO 404, Market Failures, and GPCO 406, Public Finance and Taxation, taken at GPS in the senior year, will count for the other two.

Following are the requirements for the BA/MPP five-year program:

Lower-Division Requirements:

MATH 10 A-B-C or MATH 20 A-B-C

ECON 1. Principles of Microeconomics

ECON 3. Principles of Macroeconomics

Upper-Division Requirements through the Junior Year:

ECON 100 A-B-C. Microeconomics

ECON 110 A-B. Macroeconomics

ECON 120 A-B-C. Econometrics

Two upper division electives in Economics from prescribed list

GPS Requirements for the Senior Year:

GPCO 400. Policy Making Process

GPCO 404. Market Failures

GPCO 406. Public Finance and Taxation

GPCO 407. Policy Analysis Decision Theory

GPCO 408. Policy Analysis and Public Welfare

Fifth Year/MPP Graduate Year: twelve courses (forty-eight units)

Required Courses:

All students must complete at least one Area of Specialization, five courses in a single policy area (twenty units). These are the following:

Program Design and Evaluation
Environmental Policy
Peace and Security
Health Policy
Inequality and Social Policy
American and Comparative Business Regulation

For more information on the specialization requirements for the MPP, please see the curriculum entry for the two-year GPS Master of Public Policy program.

One quarter research capstone (four units)

GPCO 462. Public Policy Capstone (4)

All BA/MPP students must complete an internship between their senior and graduate years. Students will be assisted in the identification of and application to an appropriate internship by GPS Career Services. Funding for travel and/or accommodations may be available.

Students who are admitted to the five-year program and either opt out in their senior year or fail to matriculate to graduate standing because of poor performance will be allowed to return to the standard BA in economics (EN25). They will be required to complete a fifth elective.

Please see http://economics.ucsd.edu/undergraduate-program/index.html for all rules, restrictions, and requirements for the economics major through the junior year.

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science-International Affairs and Master of International Affairs (BA/MIA)

Requirements for Admission

The BA/MIA is a five-year program offered jointly by the Department of Political Science and the School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS). Students interested in pursuing the BA/MIA must be currently enrolled in the Department of Political Science at UC San Diego, and a declared political science BA major. Students who meet the admissions requirements listed below may apply to the combined degree track of Political Science-International Affairs (PS33) in the spring quarter of their junior year.

Completion of fall and winter quarters of the junior year with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum 3.4 GPA in Department of Political Science upper-division course work.
Satisfactory completion of the upper-division political science course work noted below.
Completion of all parts of the application as indicated on the GPS admissions website and https://connect.grad.ucsd.edu/apply/.
Completion of electronic recommendations from two individuals who can attest to the applicant’s academic promise and depth of interest in professional training in international affairs. The electronic recommendation is a topical ranking system. Letters of recommendation are optional and would be in addition to the electronic recommendation.
Students will also be required to complete a noncredit, professional internship during the summer prior to matriculation to graduate standing in the MIA program.
Some admitted students may be required to attend summer preparation courses in economics, quantitative methods, and/or writing prior to the beginning of their first year in the program.

Upon admission to the program, students must change their major to Political Science-International Affairs (PS33).

Curricular Requirements

Lower-Division Requirements:

POLI 5 or 5D. Data Analytics for the Social Sciences
POLI 11 or 11D. Introduction to Comparative Politics
POLI 12 or 12D. Introduction to International Relations
POLI 30 or 30D. Political Inquiry
At least one year of a GPS language or evidence of the ability to meet the GPS MIA requirement of sixth-quarter proficiency by the end of the graduate year with a grade of B or better.

Upper-Division Requirements (seventeen courses):

Nine courses from the upper-division political science curriculum, from the following:

At least two from international political economy (see the political science or GPS advising office for a list of allowable courses).
At least two from the following in American politics: POLI 100A, POLI 100B, POLI 100C, POLI 100DA, POLI 100E.
At least two from either comparative politics or international relations (see the political science or GPS advising office for a list of allowable courses).
Three upper-division appropriate electives from the political science curriculum.

School of Global Policy and Strategy Requirements for the Senior Year

GPCO 400. Policy Making Processes (counts as an upper-division political science course toward the major)
GPCO 401. Microeconomics for Policy Making and Management
GPCO 403. International Economics
GPCO 410. International Politics and Security (counts as an upper-division political science course toward the major)
GPCO 412. Globalization, the World System, and the Pacific (counts as an upper-division political science course toward the major)
GPCO 415. Accounting and Finance
GPCO 453. Quantitative Methods I
GPCO 454. Quantitative Methods II

Fifth Year/MIA Year: twelve courses, forty-eight units required course work

One five-course career track
One one-quarter capstone
One two-quarter regional specialization with corresponding regional/country language
Additional courses as required for language proficiency to the sixth quarter, prerequisites for the capstone, and/or skills training

All five-year students must complete an internship between their senior and graduate years. This provides students with a first-hand experience in the field before beginning their second-year job search.

Programs and Research Centers

GPS in Washington, DC Program

The School of Global Policy and Strategy has a graduate-level internship program that allows GPS students to spend spring quarter of their second year simultaneously completing their degree requirements while using internships to advance their postgraduate employment prospects. The program requires students to enroll in a minimum of twelve units—eight units of graded course work and a four-unit Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory internship seminar—while working a minimum of twenty hours in an approved internship position. Internships must be coordinated through GPS Career Services in order to ensure both eligibility for academic credit of the placement and compliance rules for potential public sector employment.

For further information, please contact GPS Career Services.

Global Leadership Institute Program

The Global Leadership Institute (GLI) is a renowned executive education program for public, private and nonprofit sector professionals and a study abroad destination for graduate researchers and students. Since 1989, professionals have advanced their careers and organizations through learning experiences provided by our exceptional faculty.

GLI offers educational opportunities through nondegree certificate programs. Certificates are available to individuals on an open-enrollment basis or can be customized for groups with specific learning objectives and varied lengths of study. As preparation for degree studies or as a supplement to the certificate programs, intensive English courses are also offered year-round to enhance an international professional’s ability to communicate in a global society.

Customized group programs are uniquely structured to provide the optimal combination of course work that focuses on topics relevant to each group’s goals. GLI is well positioned to provide sponsoring organizations and participants access to more than eighty academic departments and programs across the university. Drawing on its vast resources within the educational community and its relationships with successful industry and government leaders, GLI offers a tailored educational experience for program participants in a wide variety of disciplines based on the special needs of the professionals in each cohort. GLI staff work with your group to determine the program duration and daily schedule.

Integral to GLI’s program are professional tours to prominent multinational industries and influential government agencies. Available to participants in all programs, these tours provide insight into an organization’s operations and business practices.

For more information, please contact the Global Leadership Institute via email at gps-gli@ucsd.edu or call (858) 822-3875 or (858) 534-4019.

The Korea-Pacific Program

The Korea-Pacific Program was formed in September 1989 in recognition of the growing importance of Korea in the world, of Korean-US relationships, and of the Korean model of social and economic development.

Directed by GPS Professor Stephan Haggard, the program promotes the understanding of Korea in an international context and encourages the study of Korea by offering courses on the country’s economics and politics. Research is supported on contemporary Korean political economy. Outreach to the community is offered through seminars, lectures, courses, and cultural events.

In comparison with other Korean studies programs in the United States, the GPS Korea-Pacific Program is distinctive in several respects: it concentrates on contemporary Korea, focuses on policy questions, stresses the foundations of Korean economic growth, explores Korea’s international relations, and seeks to understand Korea in a broad regional context.

The ASEAN-Pacific Project

The ASEAN-Pacific Project is one of several major regional and theme-based nodes of activity within the School of Global Policy and Strategy. Its mandate is to support students and to serve as a catalyst for the development of Southeast Asia-related teaching and research activities within the school.

The ASEAN-Pacific Project extends the success of the school’s original Vietnam-Pacific Project, with scope being broadened to embrace the other countries of Southeast Asia.

The project is built upon private donations to the school, with this resource being supplemented by resources obtained from external grant agencies and the university. The project supports the activities of students at GPS with an interest in Southeast Asia through fellowships (for summer travel and internships) and visiting guest speakers.

The project also serves as a catalyst and facilitator for research projects within the school relating to Southeast Asia. It seeks to promote disciplinary-driven work on political and economic topics pertaining to Southeast Asia, as distinct from more traditional area studies scholarship. Examples of this include recent work on national political institutions and policy-making, the dynamics of regional cooperation, food and agricultural policies, and the relocation of the global magnetic disk-drive industry to Southeast Asia. Other recent research-related initiatives include a major international workshop for PhD students in political science working on Southeast Asia, and a workshop for the US Agency for International Development on political conflict in Indonesia.