MPA Public and Social Policy

This stream focuses on the policy and economic analysis of public and social welfare. Students receive a core training in political science, economics and quantitative methods in the first year, which is complemented by a compulsory course in welfare analysis and measurement in Year 1 and further option courses in Year 2. This stream particularly equips students to pursue careers related to public service at local, national and international levels, in areas including consultancy and analysis as well as policy making and implementation in international organisations, primarily those with health policy, education, employment and social protection departments.

First year MPA students have the opportunity during Year 1 to apply to spend their second year at one of our partner institutions. See Dual MPA Degrees| for more information. (Information for first year students currently at a partner school is also available on that page)

MPA Public and Social Policy- 21 Month programme at LSE

Year 1

All students attend a September pre-sessional course, then take core courses essential for policy-making, additional stream-specific courses and option courses.

Course title

1. GV478 - Political Science and Public Policy (1 unit)
2. EC440 - Micro and Macro Economics (for Public Policy) (1 unit)
3. EC455 - Quantitative Approaches and Policy Analysis (1 unit)
4. SA4X6 - Welfare Analysis and Measurement (1 unit)

Year 2

Course title

1. GV4D5 - Organisations, Power and Leadership (0.5 units)
2. MPA Capstone Project (1.5 units) (see below for further information)
3. Option courses to the value of 2 units (selected from the MPA Approved Options List)**

** Options taken must include at least 1 unit falling within the broad range of Social Policy related units included in the MPA options list

Students may submit a 10,000 word dissertation in place of 1 unit of options courses in Year 2.

 

The MPA Capstone Project

In the winter term of the LSE MPA second year, students are organised into groups of between three and six people and briefed on a policy problem faced by a major organisation active in the UK public sector (a government department or agency, regional or local government, a public health service authority, or perhaps a non-governmental organisation or consultancy firm closely involved with policy making). The group then has ten weeks of access to the client organisation to investigate the issues and develop a workable solution to the problem, reporting to the organisation at the end of this time. The LSE staff members who set up, coordinate and manage the projects, with inputs from the client organisation, assess students in each group on their performance. The project work is conducted in teams, and marked accordingly.

See The MPA Capstone Project| for further information, including previous clients and projects.