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Master of Global Policy Studies

The University of Texas at Austin School of Information and the Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) School of Public Affairs offer a dual degree program leading to two graduate degrees, the Master of Science in Information Studies (MSInfoStds) and the Master of Global Policy Studies (MGPS).

Students in the program will be able to complete both degrees in three academic years, approximately one year less than it would take to complete the two degrees individually.  The graduates of such a program will be uniquely qualified to fill positions that demand knowledge of public policy and of information generation, storage, retrieval, and distribution. As information increases its public good value, its commodity value, and its value to organizations of many kinds, there is an increased need in both the public and private sectors for persons with expertise in public affairs and global policy on the one hand and in information and knowledge management on the other.

Admission to the dual degree program

Students must meet the separate admission criteria of both the School of Information and the LBJ School in order to be considered for admission to the Dual Degree program. Applicants must indicate interest in the Dual Degree program, in writing, to both admissions offices.

Degree requirements

Students are required to complete 31 hours at the School of Information and complete a minimum of 37 semester hours of work in Global Policy Studies, including a summer internship, as well as demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. The dual degree requires a total of 68 credit hours, a reduction of 9 hours from the 40 required independently for the MSInfoStds and 12 hours from the 49 required independently for the MGPS.

The two degrees are awarded when the required course work in both areas including the professional report is completed.

DUAL MASTER’S DEGREE:  INFORMATION STUDIES AND GLOBAL POLICY STUDIES – SAMPLE PROGRAM

C = core, required for individual degree

S =  specialization course

E = elective

R = required for dual degree program

Year 1

 

iSchool

LBJ

Total hours 30

6 hrs

24 hrs

Fall 

C

PA 387G         Nature of the International System            

3

C

PA 393G         Microeconomics  

3

C

PA 397G         Analytical Methods for Global Policy Analysis  

3

S

PA xxx            Specialization Course            

3

Spring  

C

PA 383G         Policymaking in a Global Age         

3

C

PA 393H        International Economics  

3

S

PA xxx            Specialization Course  

3

S

PA xxx            Specialization Course                        

3

Summer

C

INF 380E                    Perspectives on Information 

3

 

E

                                 iSchool elective         

3

 

Year 2  

Total hours 18

18 hrs

0 hrs

Fall

E

INF 390N.1    Federal Information Policy 3  

C

INF 380C       Information in Social and Cultural Context 3  

E

INF 385M      Database Management 3  

Spring

E

INF 385P        Introduction to Usability 3  

E

INF 385E        Introduction to Information Arch and Design 3  

E

INF 385S        Espionage and Intelligence Gathering 3  

Year 3

Total hours 20

  7 hrs 13 hrs

Fall

C

PA 682GA      Policy Research Project          3

E

PA xxx            Specialization Course   3

E

INF 389R       Introduction to Archival Enterprise I 3  

Spring

C

INF 181E        Electronic Portfolio 1  

R

PA 398R         Professional Report   3

E

INF 390C       Copyright: Legal and Social Perspectives 3  

C

PA 682GA      Policy Research Project          3

C

PA 195G         Global Policy Simulation 1  

Distribution of Degree Hours

iSchool core courses                         7    
iSchool electives        24    
LBJ required core courses    22    
MGPS specialization courses 12    
LBJ Professional Report 3    
TOTAL HOURS 68 31 37