Various education options are available for individuals interested in facilitating positive change within their communities or abroad. While variety can be beneficial, it’s often a bit confusing for those who are unsure of which skills they need to focus on. Learning how to navigate areas such as law, policy-making, and administration can be complicated, but this blog can help you discern what’s right for you.
McGeorge School of Law offers a Master of Science in Law (MSL), a Master of Public Policy (MPP), and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) for students who want to build a career helping others without pursuing a traditional law degree. While these programs have similar elements, they’re tailored for different skill sets and schedules.
Assistant Dean Clemence Kucera recently sat down with Professor Jennifer Harder, faculty director for the MSL program, and Dr. Marcie Paolinelli, faculty director for the MPP and MPA programs, to talk about what makes these programs unique.
The MSL at McGeorge
A Master of Science in Law (MSL) is a master’s degree that allows students to focus on the legal aspects of their chosen area when their ultimate goal is not to become a lawyer. This choice of degree means they graduate with the legal skills to navigate laws affecting many fields.
As well as a general degree, the program offers concentrations: water and the environment, government law and policy, business, health, and human resources, all of which are highly sought-after by employers. While the courses for this program are fully online, there are options for students who want to get classroom experience as well.
“We have a number of ways in which you can do hybrid concentrations, in which you can take classes partly online and partly in person,” says Professor Harder. “We actually have a strong ability to customize your program,” though you don’t have to declare a concentration, and you can learn general legal skills without necessarily declaring a specialty upfront.”
Across all concentrations, the MSL at McGeorge strives to grant students legal reasoning and analysis skills. Students will develop the ability to interpret and apply legal principles to various professional contexts. The program provides an understanding of legal systems, offering insights into the structure and function of legal institutions and processes. It also emphasizes regulatory compliance, enabling students to navigate and ensure adherence to relevant laws and regulations within specific industries.
Additionally, it focuses on policy development and implementation, teaching students the processes involved in creating and enacting policies at different government levels. Finally, the program enhances effective communication skills, empowering students to articulate legal and policy issues clearly to diverse audiences.
The Master of Public Policy at McGeorge
A MPP is geared toward students who are detail-oriented problem-solvers. The potential career paths for graduates vary from budget analyst to government relations manager, with a wide range of options in between depending on the student’s goals. While the MPP is similar to the MPA–both include some of the same class requirements–Dr. Paolinelli emphasizes that there is a difference between the two.
“The MPP gives you the analytical tools and competencies to identify a problem that requires public action, which includes identifying the potential alternatives, the pros/cons and risk assessment of each alternative, the appropriate solution and the mechanisms to implement your recommended solution. You also develop the leadership skills to manage implementation,” says Dr. Paolinelli. MPP students select a concentration area in either public policy advocacy, environmental and water policy, or non-profit and social capacity management.
The Master of Public Administration at McGeorge
Students interested in working in public-facing careers need to know how to take action based on the outcomes of public policy analyses. At McGeorge, in the MPA program, you will learn how to: articulate and apply a public service perspective, interact productively with diverse public stakeholders, participate and contribute to the public policy process, analyze and synthesize information in support of complex decision making, and lead and manage impactful change. Students can take an optional concentration in policy analysis, public policy advocacy, environmental and water policy, and non-profit and societal capacity management.
For both the MPP and MPA programs, students will take some classes entirely online, while others will be split between online and in-person, or held entirely in-person. In addition, the in-person classes are held on the same selected (6-8) Saturdays throughout the semester. This builds a sense of community between the students, as all of the MPP and MPA students will gather for lunch together with the opportunity to interact with high profile guest speakers who will be sharing their thoughts and expertise on current topics that are impacting our field.
“One distinctive feature of both the MPP and MPA is our emphasis on the rule of law, which directs and guides everything we do in the public sector,” says Dr. Paolinelli. ““When you’re managing a program, laws and regulations give you authority over what you can and can’t do. So you have to know what the law says and how to interpret it appropriately. We have you take two law classes. One is Introduction to Legal Analysis; the other one is Statutes and Regulations, and you won’t find that in any other MPP or MPA program that you’re exploring. This is unique to McGeorge.”
For students who are interested in working with the public to make meaningful change happen, the MSL, MPP, and MPA programs offer a vital skill set that can be translated to a number of career options. Having a working knowledge of the laws and regulations that affect individuals and communities allows graduates to build a strong professional foundation from the very beginning.
Take a look at the program requirements today to learn more about the options available at McGeorge School of Law. If you have additional questions, schedule an appointment with our admissions team.