Information and Public Policy (MSI/MPP)

The School of Information and the Ford School of Public Policy offer a dual degree program, leading to the Master of Science in Information (MIS) and the Master of Public Policy (MPP) degrees. The program is arranged so that all requirements for both degrees can be completed in three years.

Program Overview

This program enables qualified students to pursue concurrent work in information and public policy, The joint curriculum is intended to prepare those interested in becoming government information policy analysts, information product and service managers, CIOs, and information systems consultants, among other career possibilities. Students will study information and information technologies as well as the policy and regulatory aspects of them. These new information professionals and policy analysts will have the tools for measuring and managing complex issues and the ability to answer high-level questions of efficiency and equality.

Course of Study

Students admitted to the combined program are required to complete the first year courses in one school during the first year and to complete the first year courses at the other school in the second year. Students may be granted some flexibility in course selection between schools and may begin the program at either school. During the third year of the program, students are permitted to elect courses in either school and are generally not restricted in their choices beyond fulfilling the required course work. Each school will apply its own deferred admission standards to students who elect to take the first year at the other school. Students enrolled in either program can apply to the other during the first year of study, but not later.

Course offerings will include: Information Economics, Information and Network Policy, Electronic Commerce, Computational Market Systems, Entrepreneurship, Web Security and Trust Systems, Comparative Computer Modeling, Advanced Management, and Organization in the Information Age.

Degree Requirements

Students admitted to this dual degree program must satisfy the following:

Master of Science in Information (MSI):

  • 32 credit hours of core courses

Master of Public Policy (MPP):

  • 23 credit hours required for first-year courses
  • 8 credit hours of required electives in FSPP
  • Summer internship
  • Participation in the Integrated Policy Exercise (IPE)*
    • *Beginning with the entering class of September 2012 and for a 2-year trial, students are allowed to replace the second IPE with enrollment in a 1-credit Project Skills Workshop, PubPol 778, which is offered both Fall and Winter semesters. Learn more about the trial.
  • 17 credit hours of SI or FSSP electives

Students must complete 80 SI/FSPP combined credit hours.

Admission Requirements

Students must file separate applications to and be admitted by both schools. An application fee must accompany each application. Interest in the dual degree program should be indicated on the application form. Current students who are applying to a secondary program should use the Rackham Dual Degree Application.

Contact Information

For more information or an application, please contact:

The School of Information
Office of Admissions
Phone: (734) 763-2285
Web: http://www.si.umich.edu/

The Ford School of Public Policy
Office of Admissions
2236 Weill Hall
Phone: (734) 764-0453
Click here to e-mail us.
Website: http://www.fordschool.umich.edu