Curriculum

MPA/ID Curriculum

The MPA/ID Program is a rigorous, economics-centered program designed to train the next generation of practitioners and analysts in the field of international development. In the context of a multidisciplinary core curriculum, MPA/ID students take microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics sequences that are taught at the same level as first-year courses in top PhD programs in economics but with an emphasis on policy applications to development over pure theory.

The demanding set of core courses includes:

• Advanced Microeconomics
• Advanced Macroeconomics
• Advanced Econometrics and Statistics
• Theory and Policy of Economic Development
• Management
• Institutions in Development
• Good Governance and Democratization
• Applications and Cases in International Development
• Second Year Policy Analysis (SYPA)

Students gain professional expertise through the case workshops, a required summer internship, a substantial second-year policy analysis, and elective coursework in specific fields of development.
In short, the MPA/ID program is built on three pillars:

1. PhD-level training in economics and quantitative methods
2. Multidisciplinary approach through coursework on governance, politics and law, and management
3. Professional orientation through case workshops, a summer internship, and other integrative work

More specific information about the MPA/ID curriculum can be found on the Core Courses page and the Office of the Registrar's list of Degree Requirements.

Teaching and Learning at HKS

Classes at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (HKS) are taught by the case method, the more traditional lecture format, or a mixture of both. Students work together in small groups on projects and will have assistance from course assistants, teaching fellows, and faculty members in a collaborative and non-competitive working environment.

Methodological Areas at HKS

The HKS curriculum is built around the concept that future leaders and policy makers need to be adept in analytical, management, and leadership skills in order to serve the public good. The three foundational methodological areas at HKS are:

• Quantitative Analysis
• Strategic Management
• Leadership and Advocacy

Whether as distribution requirements for graduation or as part of a core curriculum, these three areas are the foundation upon which the HKS education is built. No matter what policy area students focus on while studying, HKS graduates depart the school with a powerful complement of skills to increase their effectiveness in working in their chosen fields.

Policy Areas at HKS

Teaching and research at HKS are organized around a framework of policy areas that reflect the evolving research of the HKS faculty, the needs of policy makers, and the interests of the HKS student body. Please see HKS Policy Areas for a listing.