Return to: Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy: Programs/Courses
Overview
The Batten School offers a combined program with the University of Virginia Curry School of Education and Human Development, in which the student may obtain the MPP degree and the PhD in Education degree in five or six years of study.
The MPP-PhD in Education program is particularly demanding, and unless the students is clearly able to see the applicability of both degrees to future career plans, he or she should not assume that the chance to complete both degrees on a shortened timeframe is in itself a persuasive rationale for this undertaking.
Administration of the Program
The program is administered by a Program Committee composed of one member of the public policy faculty and one member of the education faculty, as designated by the respective deans. The responsibilities of the Program Committee extend to admission to the joint program, coordination of curricula for the students involved, resolution of problems that may arise, reconciliation of course and examination conflicts, and promotion of dual offerings by the two schools where that seems feasible. The Deans from each school will also appoint a faculty advisor to the program who may or may not also serve as the school representative to the Program Committee.
Students who have been admitted independently to both schools and who wish to undertake the dual program should notify the registrar of both schools and apply to the Program Committee for permission to do so. Entrance to the MPP-PhD in Education program will not be guaranteed by virtue of acceptance at both schools, but will be judged according to criteria, which is the responsibility of the Program Committee.
Curriculum
The program takes five or six years to complete. Students complete the Batten School core curriculum during the first and second years, taking education policy courses in the Curry School to satisfy their elective credits and other courses as agreed upon by the Program Committee. For the following three to four years, students will complete the remaining PhD coursework, research requirements, and dissertation.
At the conclusion of the two years of study primarily in the Batten School, students will receive the MPP degree. At the conclusion of the fifth or sixth year of the program, students who have completed at least 72 credits in the Curry School will receive the PhD in Education degree. The MPP-PhD candidate is obligated to take, as part of these credits, all of the required curriculum in both graduate public policy and education. The remaining credits will be elective credits and can be chosen from the respective public policy and education curricula after consultation with the program committee.
Change of Status
At any point in the program, the student may terminate plans for a dual degree and continue toward a single degree at either school. The student must then satisfy the normal requirements of the school elected, which may include credit for some of the work done in the other school, as determined by the appropriate officials of the school in question.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available and will be coordinated by the two schools. Financial aid is not guaranteed and is subject to individual school and University availability and regulations.
