With the BS/MPP degree, you’ll learn to use data and empirical analysis to understand real-world problems and create effective solutions. For those who want to change systems, strengthen communities and lead with evidence — this program is your path forward. The program is open only to Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences majors at UC San Diego.
This concurrent degree program is offered in collaboration with Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The program is open only to Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences majors at UC San Diego.
The curriculum offers comprehensive training in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, while also engaging students in the study of public finance and taxation, policy analysis, law and regulation, and the politics of policymaking and implementation.
In addition to this core foundation, students may pursue advanced methodological training in areas such as geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing.
In their final year, students choose a substantive policy specialization, allowing them to apply their training and build deep expertise in a specific domain of public policy.
In addition to the first-year core classes, students must declare at least one Area of Specialization and complete a second-year capstone course with a substantial research project.
The program is open only to Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences majors at UC San Diego.
In order for a student to be eligible for the BS-MPP, they must first be a declared Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences (SI30) major, have completed their undergraduate college requirements, the lower division course work in math, physics, chemistry and an introduction to ocean and atmospheric sciences (SIO 60). Upper division requirements for the major include three (3) required courses (SIO 171, 172, 174) and nine (9) electives split across two pre-specified lists (four from Group B and five from Group C).
Applications to the program are accepted in spring quarter of the junior year. Upon admission, the student must change their major to Oceanic and Atmospheric Science-Public Policy (SI32).
Only students admitted to the BS/MPP may declare the Oceanic and Atmospheric Science-Public Policy major.
Note: The required core curriculum for the BS/MPP differs from that for the traditional two-year Master of Public Policy.
Policy Making Processes: This course is designed to teach students how to “read” a country’s political and economic system. The course examines how the evolution of different institutional frameworks in the countries of the Pacific region influences the way in which political choices are made.
Microeconomics for Policy and Management: This course introduces microeconomics, emphasizing applications to public policy. We examine tools such as marginal analysis and game theory to understand markets, the behavior of individuals and firms, and what role policy plays when markets fail to maximize social welfare.
Market Failures and Policy Interventions: Applies economic reasoning to public issues, policies and programs. It considers incentives and organizations; models of economic behavior, including markets, the absence of markets and interventions; the price system; policy objectives and instruments.
Public Finance and Taxation: This course introduces principles of taxation and expenditure analysis, public budgeting, and assessment of budget priorities.
Policy Analysis and Decision Theory: This course introduces students to the methods of policy analysis and decision-making theory—methods to assemble panel data to capture the impact of new policy on observable data, decision-making theory, uncertainty, decision criteria, expected utility and risk.
Policy Analysis and Social Welfare: The course explores the political and economic foundations of public policymaking, examining both the processes through which preferences of individuals are converted into public welfare policy and the public’s response. Included are an introduction to the concepts of rationality, individual decision making, cooperation, collective action, and market failures. The course is writing-intensive and includes cases on the U.S.
Quantitative Methods I: This course is designed to provide proficiency in quantitative methods that are used for optimization and decision-making. The use of spreadsheets is applied to data analysis and problem-solving. Statistical theory and regression analysis are introduced.
Quantitative Methods II: This course covers elements from statistics that are central to business decision-making under uncertainty. In particular, regression analysis and estimation will be applied to problems of forecasting and optimization.
Managing the Macroeconomy: This course explores key issues in domestic and international macroeconomics, including growth, inflation, unemployment, fiscal and monetary policy, trade, and exchange rate regimes. Students apply economic models to analyze current policy debates and global economic events.
Quantitative Analysis of Public Opinion and Electoral Choices: This course is an introduction to the quantitative study of how political preferences are formed, expressed, and aggregated. Topics include electioneering, campaign strategy, polling, district design and gerrymandering, and the institutional features that shape political representation. Emphasis on evaluating methods of studying voter behavior and electoral systems.
Cost Benefit Analysis: This course is an examination of public policy analysis, such as cost-benefit analysis and project evaluation, for use in policy formation. Sustainable development will receive particular attention. Case studies emphasizing the environment, agriculture and food, and economic development will be included.
Big Data for Policy, Government, and Management: This course will use tools and case studies to illustrate the promise and challenges of analyzing big data sets. Emphasis will be on solving problems rather than testing hypothesis.
Evaluating Social Programs: This course is an introduction to elements of program and policy design and evaluation. Examines principles and guidelines used in creating a program/policy and evaluating its success or failure. International case studies are explored. Students have the opportunity to develop their own program and evaluate projects.
Students take the Capstone in their second year and after the successful completion of all first-year core courses.
Public Policy Capstone: The capstone is designed to test the hard skills of policy design and evaluation by using them in the analysis of a real-world problem. The course requires a research project that examines an existing public or nonprofit sector policy or managerial problem.
Students must complete at least one Area of Specialization. Each requires five courses (20 units), three of which are electives. The Areas of Specialization are intended to provide depth in an area of applied policy.
Required Course
Must Choose One
Sample Electives Classes
Required Course
Must Choose One
Sample Electives Classes
Required Course
Must Choose One
Sample Electives Classes
Required Course
Must Choose One
Sample Electives Classes
Required Course
Must Choose One
Sample Electives Classes
Required Course
Must Choose One
Sample Electives Classes
*effective Fall 2026
**undergraduate course
While the MPP does not have a language requirement, students may decide that language proficiency is an important skill for their career goal.
Students will be allowed to use up to 12 graded units of undergraduate or GPS language courses toward the 48 units required in the graduate year and must match a regional/country specialization as indicated with coursework at GPS. Language courses taken as an undergraduate count only toward the BA. Language classes taken as a graduate student must be approved by petition prior to enrollment in the first quarter.
Country/Regional Specialization
Applications open Jan. 3! Apply by April 10.
All required application documents must be on file by the posted deadline.
More detailed information can be found here.