To amplify its ability to make a significant and lasting impact, the Brown School offers a Master of Social Policy (MSP). By completing coursework and an internship, students build a toolkit of skills to be successful in the U.S. policy ecosystem. Our alumni are currently working in all levels of government or in policy careers such as election compliance, evaluation and implementation, and community advocacy.
Our MSP curriculum is structured to ensure that students will be prepared to make a positive impact in their chosen area of policy work, and the 3-credit internship allows them to hone their new skills prior to graduation.
Master of Social Policy
Course Requirements
Total Units Required: 31 MSP credits offered by the Brown School. To fulfill the MSP degree requirements, students must complete the following:
- Five required courses (15 credit units)
- Short intensive courses (4 credit units)
- Social Conditions and Interventions (2 credit units)
- Political Negotiation and Strategy (2 credit units)
- One of two specialized policy courses (3 credit units)
- State Level Lobbying or
- Policy Design Lab
- Two elective courses (6 credit units)
- One internship (3 credit units)
Program Requirements
Students take at least one course from each foundation area. The minimum core requirement for each area must have been taken before a student may enroll in another course option by approval of the dean.
Statistics (3 credits)
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| | 3 |
| |
Economics (3 credits)
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| | 3 |
| |
Politics (3 credits)
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| | 3 |
| |
Policy Analysis (3 credits)
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| | 3 |
| |
Management (3 credits)
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| | 3 |
| |
Specialized Policy Course (3 credits)
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| | 3 |
| | |
Elective Courses (6 credits)
Students can draw from elective course options and skill labs. Electives generally fall into the areas of skills and analysis, current issues and policy topics, program and policy development, and economics and business. Please note that some electives may require instructor approval or have prerequisites, corequisites, or sequencing that must be completed.
Short Intensive Courses (4 credits)
MSP short courses engage students in foundational skills and theory. Short courses may change from year to year.
Internship (3 credits)
A key component of the MSP program is a culminating internship during which students apply their course work and prior field experience toward identifying and completing significant opportunities for policy practice. To ensure a substantive experience that provides students with a quality practice experience while meeting the needs of diverse policy partner organizations, students complete 3 credits (360 hours) in a full-time policy role, typically over the summer as either 36 hours per week for 10 weeks or 30 hours per week for 12 weeks. Students are supported in their internship search by working with our Field faculty and through a 0-credit Foundations of Field Education workshop.
