MPA/MPP vs. Master's in IR, Global Affairs, etc.

[xxxloc]

Hi all,

I have an econ background and am interested in IDEV. I am curious about the differences between the two types of degrees that seem to be common in my field. Generally speaking, which degree does more for your career in IDEV? Do they prepare you for different paths? How does Princeton WWS differ from Yale Jackson, for instance? I assume it depends mostly on what you make of the experience, but I am still curious. Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts! 

[kreitz128]

Hi, 

I recommend comparing core coursework & whats recently offered, and look at what faculty are doing/publishing/focusing on. I dont know enough about Yale's program to comment specifically.  I would say they are generally different in that MPP is generally more analytical & quantitative than some IR pr public affairs programs. That said, there are still many MPPs that also may have more focused context area, such as  International/global development policy, or offer the ability to take programs in other specific policy areas.    

If you are more interested in performing analysis across programs/policy, applying quantitative methods, then MPP programs or similar core establishes foundation for this.  Yet some top MPA and MAs and related may also offer similar coursework and be considered analytical (resembling MPP) than other MAs or MSWs.  Unfortunately theres no easy way! 

The Government affairs forum can be helpful in distinguishing programs fitted for specific career paths.  Do you know what field do you want to work and what do you want to do?  

 

 

 

Edited November 2, 2020 by kreitz128
typos

[GradSchoolGrad]

3 hours ago, kreitz128 said:

Hi, 

I recommend comparing core coursework & whats recently offered, and look at what faculty are doing/publishing/focusing on. I dont know enough about Yale's program to comment specifically.  I would say they are generally different in that MPP is generally more analytical & quantitative than some IR pr public affairs programs. That said, there are still many MPPs that also may have more focused context area, such as  International/global development policy, or offer the ability to take programs in other specific policy areas.    

If you are more interested in performing analysis across programs/policy, applying quantitative methods, then MPP programs or similar core establishes foundation for this.  Yet some top MPA and MAs and related may also offer similar coursework and be considered analytical (resembling MPP) than other MAs or MSWs.  Unfortunately theres no easy way! 

The Government affairs forum can be helpful in distinguishing programs fitted for specific career paths.  Do you know what field do you want to work and what do you want to do?  

 

 

 

Just to add on to @kreitz128, in addition to course load, you want to look at what the career trajectory trends are.

Generally speaking, if you want to go into IDEV as analysis person or program evaluation person, MPA/MPPs are the way to go (assuming you have a strong quant foundation at those programs). If you want to go into IDEV as more a relationship based or management type person, you are better off with professional IR based masters (and increasingly - MBAs as well). 

The confusion comes in how a lot of MPAs and MPPs assume roles that are relationship based and management based roles (either straight from grad school or a year or so in). This is common, but it is somewhat of a career pivot and not a direct career progression. This generally doesn't happen the other way around whereby an IR professional master's program person goes into an analysis/program evaluation role (NOTE* a huge and notable exception is Johns Hopkins SAIS given its highly rigorous quant nature).

In the end I recommend you go with what works best with your life goals. If you are cool with sitting at a desk crunching numbers and coding + doing presentations whereby you translate technical language into simple English, a quant heavy MPP/MPA or JHU SAIS works best for you. If you like working with people and managing teams and IR Masters/MBA is for you . 

[ExponentialDecay]

The name of the degree doesn't matter. "IDEV" as a trajectory is also not specific enough to make a good decision. Do you want to do private sector development or early childhood education? The same program, even if it's literally called IDEV, will not serve both of those needs equally well. You want to go to a school that has regular course offerings in your narrow area of interest.

If you can, it helps to learn how the degree places with employers you're interested in. You can't find this out from the internet in sufficient detail, so you'd actually have to talk to people. This also only matters for internships and your first, maybe second job. Beyond that, literally, nobody cares what your degree is in or what school it's from.

Edited November 4, 2020 by ExponentialDecay

[GradSchoolGrad]

8 hours ago, ExponentialDecay said:

The name of the degree doesn't matter. "IDEV" as a trajectory is also not specific enough to make a good decision. Do you want to do private sector development or early childhood education? The same program, even if it's literally called IDEV, will not serve both of those needs equally well. You want to go to a school that has regular course offerings in your narrow area of interest.

If you can, it helps to learn how the degree places with employers you're interested in. You can't find this out from the internet in sufficient detail, so you'd actually have to talk to people. This also only matters for internships and your first, maybe second job. Beyond that, literally, nobody cares what your degree is in or what school it's from.

Just to add some color to this. IDEV is a general trajectory and at the end of the day your experience + skills + connections (alumni/school pathway/networking or otherwise) will determine if you manage if you land the jobs that you want or not.

That being said, there should be two distinctions to be said:

1. There are lots of directions you can go with IDEV, which generally fall under function and/or area of expertise. A program + its resources can supplement you if you don't have the skills, experience, and connections to land certain jobs. 

2. IDEV is also changing. It used to be that IDEV was NGO, non-profit, and government space. Private sector is now playing more and more of a part, so there are more and more unusual jobs coming out. A program that has partnerships with various different disciplines/connections can help you navigate the brave new world of IDEV.

HOWEVER... to know the nuances, the best solution is to engage students and recent grads.

That being said, you can kind of get a sense by LinkedIn stalking (you might have to buy the Premium version though).