Overview
Ten Solid Master's Programs Cover a Wide Range of Social Sciences, Preparing Students to Make a Difference in the World
The M.S. in Applied Sociology prepares students for work in the nonprofit and public sectors, as well as related for-profit settings, in applied social research, statistics, and program evaluation and such substantive fields as healthcare, education, criminal justice, mental health, social welfare, youth development, and community development.
The mission of the Master of Arts in Constitutional Law Studies degree is to help students understand the technical rules of law, legal practices, and law as a social phenomenon. It serves the needs of students who want intellectually rigorous preparation for law school or law-related careers in teaching, journalism, government, or the private sector.
At UT Dallas, the Master of Science in Criminology has three objectives. One is to deliver high-quality education on the facets of law-breaking across space and time. A second is to serve local, regional, and national communities through professional development programs. The last is to advance the understanding of criminology through a multidisciplinary mix of theoretical and applied research.
The Master of Science in Applied Economics program offers excellent graduate-level education in economics, with emphasis on the development of theoretical understanding, quantitative skills, and critical thinking to understand how to best apply economic theory.
The Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences (MGIS) is a professional program offered jointly by the School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Geosciences. The program focuses on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which combine software and hardware capabilities for managing spatially referenced information.
UTD's Master of Science in International Political Economy (MS in IPE) offers an education to succeed in a dynamic, global workforce. Students will gain exposure to both knowledge of different geographic regions and issues of development, security, and international policy.
The Master of Arts in Legislative Studies degree is for students interested in positions as legislative staff, political consultants, or other careers in professional politics. Students will acquire knowledge of legislative processes and the role that legislatures play at the local, state, and national levels of government.
The Master of Arts in Political Science (MAPS) degree offers advanced instruction in the social science literature and theories about politics, citizenship, and governance. The program can satisfy the interests and talents of students who "fast-track" in the political science undergraduate program and want an additional year of more rigorous, sharply focused graduate coursework.
The Master of Public Affairs at the University of Texas is an interdisciplinary, professional degree in education, research, and practice with a focus on local government management, public management, policy analysis, applied technology, and non-profit management. The MPA program also serves as a forum for new ideas and approaches to policy and management problems.
The Master of Public Policy degree prepares students to understand and analyze the social and legislative ramifications of decisions and actions of governments. They will learn the workings of the principal policy making institutions at the national, sub-national, and local levels through study of policy formation and implementation.
Six Forward-Looking Ph.D. Programs at UT Dallas Offer Springboards to Fulfilling Careers in Critically Important Fields
The Ph.D. in Criminology is an interdisciplinary, research-oriented degree offered in conjunction with other graduate programs in the school. The doctoral coursework emphasizes theories of criminal behavior, research methodologies in criminology, and society's response to crime.
The mission of the University of Texas at Dallas' Ph.D. in Economics program is to provide a cutting-edge education in micro- and macroeconomic theories, the development of a rigorous toolkit of mathematical and econometric techniques, and extensive exposure to various research areas in economics.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial Information Sciences cultivates innovative researchers capable of advancing the frontiers of knowledge in the geospatial information sciences. The Ph.D. degree is jointly offered by the School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences, the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (specifically in the Department of Geosciences), and the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.
The Ph.D. in Political Science offers a rigorous, sharply focused disciplinary program with strong multidisciplinary links. This program consists of innovative, state-of-the-art graduate education in political methodology and in the fields of democratization, globalization, and international relations.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Public Affairs is an interdisciplinary cohort program. Between 15 and 20 students are selected to start in a fall semester cohort each year, taking all of the required coursework (6 hours each fall, spring, and summer semester) with their cohort peers over a two-year period. The guiding principle of the degree is that public affairs requires an interface between the traditions of public management and the practical appreciation of the challenges of building and maintaining institutions of governance in a complex, democratic society.
The Ph.D. Program in Public Policy and Political Economy at UT Dallas offers an interdisciplinary education and policy research, scholarly and applied inquiry, and professional service. Students will be prepared for careers in research, teaching, and practice in a variety of both academic and non-academic public policy and political economy settings.
Opportunities Are Plentiful for Graduate Students Needing Financial Aid, with Various Kinds of Funding Sources Available
Various opportunities are available to students to fund a graduate education at the University of Texas at Dallas. The total cost of attendance can be estimated in advance to help graduate students plan for these expenses. All graduate students are encouraged to apply for financial aid through the university's financial aid office.
In addition to financial aid from more traditional sources, there are many scholarships and fellowships available as well. There is a great deal of information about scholarships and fellowships on the financial aid web page of UTD, with updated resources concerning grants, loans, work-study programs, and other funding sources.
Becoming a teaching assistant (TA) provides an opportunity for students to work with PPPE faculty for the benefit of their own program aims, while also providing another source of financial support.
In addition, new and continuing PPPE doctoral students may apply for the Graduate Tuition Scholarship, which are competitive awards given out each semester. Graduate Tuition Scholarships are renewable for ten long semesters, provided students remain in good standing and are making satisfactory progress towards completion of their degrees.
