Application Deadlines
We are currently accepting applications for Autumn Quarter 2012. The application deadline is March 1, 2012.
The Policy Studies program admits students only in Autumn Quarter of each year.
Program Overview
The Master of Arts Policy Studies is designed on a cohort model; students are therefore only admitted in Autumn Quarter (and not during Winter, Spring, and Summer Quarters). Students interested in taking Policy Studies or Cultural Studies electives in Graduate Non-matriculated status before their program begins should contact the IAS Graduate Office.
Our programs are structured with classes offered in the evening to serve non-traditional students, including working professionals. Consequently, all graduate classes on the UW Bothell campus meet twice a week, after 5 pm. Occasionally, professors schedule workshops during the day on the weekend, and give students ample notice. While you are welcome to work while enrolled in the program, please note that because the programs are rigorous, it is beneficial to have the ability to adjust your work schedule to allow more focus on your studies during periods when your academic workload intensifies.
Policy Studies vs. Public Administration
Many students are curious about the differences between the Policy Studies program and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. Although a Policy Studies degree and an MPA may overlap in some areas of content or focus, there are some basic differences. Because the MA in Policy Studies is part of the Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences department, it takes an interdisciplinary approach to Policy Studies, drawing on multiple disciplines, from Political Science and Economics to Sociology, Psychology, and Philosophy. It develops the skills that are considered to be at the heart of liberal arts education, including critical thinking, research and analysis, writing and speaking, philosophical and ethical analysis, and historical and cultural understanding. Traditional MPA programs may focus more on building discrete skills in areas such as budgeting, management, or forecasting, and each course typically focuses on a single area. Because of its interdisciplinary approach, the Policy Studies program incorporates the learning of these and other skills within each class. In addition, because the Policy Studies program is a Master of Arts degree, it places emphasis on building a strong theoretical basis for policy research, whereas an MPA program generally emphasizes public administration. The academic aspect of the MA in Policy Studies also makes it an ideal springboard for further work at the doctoral level.
Transfer Credits
If you have graduate credits from another program and are admitted, up to 6 graduate credits may transfer from a non-UW accredited degree program. The IAS Graduate Program Manager and the Admissions Committee will make the determination about how many credits, if any, can be applied to the degree.
If you are interested in completing the program part-time, there is the option of extending the program to three full years, including summer quarters. Please contact the IAS Graduate Office for details: 425.352.3406.
For More Information
If you would like more information about the Policy Studies or Cultural Studies program, you should read all the information on the web site, contact our office, and attend an information session. If you can't come to an information session, we are available to meet with you by appointment in the IAS Graduate Office or you over the phone. Please contact us at 425.352.3406.