Frequently Asked Questions

GPPI began as an idea in the Departments of Government and Economics in the late 1970s. The Government Department instituted a certificate program in 1980-1981 and in 1982 hired two junior faculty members to teach courses in public policy. For the next five years, the program remained small, granting an MA in government with a concentration in public policy to about 15 students. The Government Department in 1985 hired the first part-time director for the program. During the ensuing years, the framework for the Public Policy Program was formulated. By the late 1980s, enrollment in the program had grown to about 75 students.
 
In 1990, the new president of Georgetown University, Father Leo O'Donovan, mandated the expansion of the Public Policy Program under the direction of the program's first full-time director, Colin Campbell, a Georgetown professor of philosophy and politics. Dr. Campbell was charged with the task of significantly expanding the program's faculty, students, and facilities. In 1996, in recognition of the program's status as one of the premier professional programs at Georgetown University, the Public Policy Program was renamed the Georgetown Public Policy Institute (GPPI).
 
Today, under the leadership of Dr. Judy Feder, GPPI includes five affiliated research institutes, 22 full time faculty, 6 visiting faculty, and 90 affiliated faculty. GPPI has also expanded in other ways. GPPI and its affiliates have led the main campus in securing over 50 percent of the total sponsored research funds awarded to the Georgetown University Main Campus.
 

GPPI offers several joint degree programs in conjunction with other Georgetown University graduate departments. Students must apply and be accepted by each department for joint degree eligibility. A four-year MPP/JD degree is offered in cooperation with the Georgetown University Law Center. Students may also obtain an MPP/MBA degree through the McDonough School of Business, a MPP/MSFS with the School of Foreign Service, a MPP/MA in Economics, a MPP/PhD in Government, a MPP/PhD in Psychology and Public Policy through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and a dual MPP/International Organizations MBA in partnership with the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required for GPPI admissions consideration.  MPP/IOMBA applicants must submit GMAT scores.  Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) results are accepted in lieu of GRE scores for joint MPP/MBA applicants and Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores for MPP/JD students. MPP/Master of Science Foreign Service joint students must apply simultaneously for admission to this program. Admission to the joint program after GPPI enrollment is not permitted. Please contact GPPI Admissions should you have questions concerning test score requirements.
 

After satisfactory completion of at least twelve (12) credits towards a Georgetown degree, a matriculated MPP student may make a written request to transfer credit for applicable courses taken at a) another institution or b) at Georgetown University prior to admission to a Georgetown Graduate Program. Courses used in completion of another graduate degree are not transferrable.  The applicability of courses and credit toward the student's degree program will be determined by the Graduate School, upon recommendation of the student's department or program. The number of transferable credits may not exceed 25% of the total number of credits required for the Georgetown degree. For the MPP, that translates into a maximum of 4 courses at 3 credits each.
 

Any Georgetown University student can enroll in a GPPI course, provided there is space available and approval is granted by Kerry Pace, Assistant Dean, MPP Program.  Individuals who are not Georgetown students can also take GPPI classes through the Georgetown University School for Continuing Studies, again provided that there is space and approval is granted. For more information, please contact the School for Continuing Studies at (202) 687-5942.
 

The MPP program automatically enrolls first-year students in both a microeconomics and a quantitative methods course. Students then register for their remaining two classes when they arrive on campus for orientation in August.
 

Students who meet the MPP program's qualifications are eligible to waive the following courses: Introduction to Microtheory, Public Finance, Statistical Methods for Policy Analysis, Regression Methods for Policy Analysis, Public Policy Process/Comparative Policy Profess, Public Management, and Ethics, Values & Public Policy/Ethics in a Globalized World. All waivers must be approved by Kerry Pace, Assistant Dean, MPP Program. There is a two step process for approval. First, you must formally apply for permission to take the waiver test for the relevant course(s). In order to qualify for the waiver test you must have completed a course or set of courses that covers virtually identical material and received a grade(s) or B or better in that course. The course must have been considered an upper-division (or graduate level) course at your institution. If the course title is not similar to ours, you may be required to provide a course syllabus or reading list. If you have the relevant course work, as evaluated by Ms. Pace in conjunction with the GPPI faculty, the second step is to take an examination in the subject. The tests will be administered in the week preceding the start of courses. If you pass the test, the specific course requirement will be waived for you. This does not alter the number of credit hours you are required to complete. You must replace the waived course(s) with equal hours in elective courses.
 

GPPI students are eligible to take graduate level courses offered on the Georgetown Main Campus and the Georgetown Law Campus as long as there is space available, and they have obtained the necessary permission. Students often take courses at The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Law Center, the School of Foreign Service, and the McDonough School of Business.
 

The Consortium of Washington Area Universities consists of The American University, The Catholic University of America, Gallaudet University, George Mason University, The George Washington University, Georgetown University, Howard University, the University of the District of Columbia, and the University of Maryland at College Park. The Consortium of Universities provides cooperative arrangements for research, resources, and cross-registration of students from the member institutions.
 
Detailed procedures for Consortium registration are published in each semester's Schedule of Classes. Students wishing to take courses through the Consortium should first get information on the courses-- scheduled times, course numbers, course descriptions, availability to students from other institutions -- and review this information with Kerry Pace. If the course will meet GPPI requirements, students may then complete the Consortium Course Card available in the Registrar's office.
 
Tuition for courses registered through the Consortium is billed at Georgetown University rates and paid to Georgetown University. Students cannot pre-register for Consortium courses; they must register during regular registration or during the add/drop period.