Johns Hopkins Gazette: December 12, 1994


Institute Offers Grad Program to Undergrads
By Christine A. Rowett

Junior economics major Jeffrey Doshna hopes to start work on his
master s degree next year. He may just get the chance.
     The Institute for Policy Studies has developed a
bachelor s/master s degree program; they are now actively
recruiting students to apply.
     "We realized there are undergraduates at Hopkins who are
interested in what we do here," said Robert Seidel, a lecturer in
Policy Studies who administers the new program. "One way to make
it more attractive is to let them start it while undergraduates."
     The professionals at IPS focus their efforts on improving
policies as they relate to the poor and disadvantaged. Their work
includes policy-oriented research, seminars and public education,
and training of policy professionals throughout the United States
and abroad.  
     Under the existing master s program at Policy Studies,
students take a core of required courses, including Introduction
to Policy Analysis, Analytical and Statistical Methods,
Citizenship, The Policy Process and Policy Tools.
     Additionally, each student elects an area of concentration
such as environmental policy, health policy, urban and regional
development policy, social welfare policy or the nonprofit
sector. Students normally complete an internship at the end of
the first year, and their electives and theses in the second
year.
     Seidel and other IPS faculty met with the chairs of
Sociology, Economics and Political Science and Arts and Sciences
associate dean Carol Burke to formulate the plan.
     Students accepted into the program will have completed
enough of their B.A. requirements in their junior year to do
essentially the first year of the master s program in Policy
Studies during their senior year. To be accepted, students must
prove with a letter from a faculty member in their major that
they are able to do that. 
     "It s an opportunity to get a master s degree a year faster
than you would otherwise," Seidel said. "And it s a master s
degree that we believe arms you to go out and find work in
addressing public problems."
     Doshna, one of several students who have campaigned for such
a program, switched his major from political science last year.
He believes he is a qualified candidate.
     "It s a great opportunity," he said. "One of the things that
attracted me is that they have mandatory internship. They give
you hands-on, real-world experience."
     Applicants will provide a r‚sum‚ listing extracurricular
activities and work experience; they will also be required to
have an interview. They will not, however, be required to take
the GRE.
     "We re doing this for the first time, so there are some
unknowns," Seidel said. "We have no clue how many are going to
apply."
     Doshna, who did an internship with Balti-more City
councilman Bill Cunningham last year, appreciates the need for
experience. 
     "There s a big difference between what you learn in the
classroom and what needs to be done," he said.
     Seidel calls the 3-year-old master s program "a bit
special," citing Hopkins  proximity to Washington, D.C., and the 
"international environment" of the institute.
     Doshna agrees.
     "I m applying and if they don t accept me, well, I ll look
somewhere else," he said.
     Applications for the MA and the BA/MA programs are due Feb.
1. For more information contact the Institute for Policy Studies
at 516-7174.

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