Master of Social Policy and Program Evaluation | HBKU

College of Public Policy CPP Hamad Bin Khalifa University Hamad Bin Khalifa University

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Master of Social Policy and Program Evaluation

Master of Social Policy and Program Evaluation

The Master of Social Policy and Program Evaluation (MSPPE) is a full-time two-year degree offered by the College of Public Policy at HBKU. The program provides advanced analytic and substantive knowledge of social policy and program evaluation to educate professionals for careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors on issues of local and global importance.

The program also supports Qatar’s national development by providing evidence-based and ethically informed social policies, supporting policy and program evaluation and building national capacity in social policy and evaluation.

The MSPPE offers students a unique opportunity to develop the evaluation skills needed to inform programs and policies with reliable evidence, support communities and drive organizational change across a range of sectors and activities. The program aims to prepare graduates to shape the strategic direction of social policy and program evaluation in Qatar and beyond.

Program Focus

The MSPPE offers a combination of theory, social policy analysis, and policy research and evaluation methods courses using a variety of analytical methods, as well as the opportunity to gain real-world, practical experience. Since the objective of social policy is ultimately human and societal well-being, students will be challenged to reflect on and assess the ethical foundations of social policy interventions. This interdisciplinary degree draws from multiple fields of study, including economics, political science, sociology, psychology, education, law, applied ethics, and public health. Classroom learning for the MSPPE is supplemented by applied social policy and evaluation research through lab and internship opportunities in public policy.

Graduates of the program will be equipped to:

  • Function effectively as leading practitioners or senior managers, policymakers, policy analysts, and policy and program evaluators in government, private sector, NGOs, and international organizations, designing, improving, leading and implementing efficient social policies.
  • Provide solutions to social problems that account for economic, ethical, and societal considerations as well as professional standards, by applying acquired social policy knowledge.
  • Apply their broad social policy and program evaluation education to effectively evaluate policies and programs to improve outcomes and impact.
  • Acquire knowledge of the approaches for advancing research towards having a social impact and producing original interdisciplinary research and case studies.

Curriculum:

A 36-credit program taught over two years that includes:

  • Two foundation courses (6 credits)

    • Foundations of Social Policy
    • Foundations of Evaluation
       

  • Two core courses (6 credits)

    • Social Policy Analysis
    • Research Methods
       

  • Three specialization courses (9 credits)

    • There are two distinct concentrations that enable students to focus on social policy or program evaluation. In addition to the core courses students will take courses from the following two concentrations:

    Concentration in Social Policy (9 credits)

    • Welfare of Children and Families
    • Health Policy
    • Education Policy

    OR

    Concentration in Program Evaluation (9 credits)

    • Advanced Methods for Program Evaluation 
    • Benefit-Cost Analysis for Program Evaluation
    • Program Evaluation Planning and Designs 
       

     

  • Two elective courses (6 credits)

    • Students have the option of two elective courses offered within the College of Public Policy, or from other HBKU programs (with approval).

  • Thesis (9 credits)

    All students are required to complete a master’s thesis worth 9 credits. All theses must address an appropriate research topic relevant for Qatar, the Middle East, or globally, which includes a defined field of research and a number of researchable questions to investigate. Theses should demonstrate a good knowledge of the literature in the field of social policy or program evaluation; contribute to the study of the field through original research and/ or by relating the subject studies to the broader academic literature; and demonstrate analytic ability through the careful and critical use of relevant concepts and approaches.

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