EA - US Policy Master's Degrees: Why and When? (Part 1) by US Policy Careers

Link to original articleWelcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: US Policy Master's Degrees: Why and When? (Part 1), published by US Policy Careers on December 21, 2022 on The Effective Altruism Forum.About this postWorking in policy is among the most effective ways to have a positive impact in areas like AI, biosecurity, animal welfare, or global health. Getting a policy master’s degree (e.g. in security studies or public policy) can help you pivot into or accelerate your policy career.This two-part overview explains why, when, where, and how to get a policy master’s degree. Part 1 (this post) focuses on the “why” and the “when” and alternatives to policy master’s. Part 2 focuses on general criteria for choosing where to apply, specific degrees we recommend, how to apply, and how to secure funding. We also have a US policy master's database if you want to compare program options.Part 1 Part 2US Policy Master's Degrees: Why and When?What are policy master’s degrees?Why do a master’s if you want to work in policy?Why not do a master’s for policy work?When should you go to grad school—right after college or after working for a few years?What are the alternatives to policy master’s?US Policy Master's Degrees: Which Schools, How to Apply, and Funding (forthcoming)Deciding which policy master’s programs to apply toApplication timelinesHow to apply: Getting into policy master’s programsFunding graduate schoolIf you are interested in applying for a policy master’s program—including if you are still unsure or plan to apply in future years—we encourage you to fill in this form so that we can potentially support your application and connect you with others who have gone through the program.These posts are based on our personal experience working on policy in DC for several years, background reading, and conversations with more than two dozen policy professionals.Please note that this two-part series focuses on:Master’s degrees for those aiming to work in policy. Thus, it will be much less relevant for people pursuing technical or other non-policy careers.Master’s degrees rather than other graduate degrees, like law degrees or PhDs. A later section briefly compares policy master’s programs with these alternatives.Master’s programs for policy careers in the US, especially in/with federal government. Some of the advice may apply to policy at the US state-level or other countries, but much of it will not since DC policy institutions and paths may differ substantially from those not in DC or the US.SummaryWhat are policy master’s degrees? They are typically two-year programs in subjects like public policy/administration (MPP/MPA), international relations/security studies, or more technical programs like public health (MPH). Policy master’s fall on a continuum from highly academic to highly practitioner-oriented, with the latter typically being better preparation for a policy career. [read more]Do I need a master’s to work in policy? Doing a master’s (or other graduate degree) is generally valuable for policy work and often necessary, depending on the institution and role (especially in executive agencies and think tanks). As a policy professional, you’ll most likely want to do a master’s eventually, with limited exceptions such as some career tracks in Congress. [read more]What’s the value of a master’s for policy work? A master’s builds your career capital for specific paths like policy. The credential is useful and often necessary to get a policy job. Master’s degrees also provide value through learning, skill-building, networking, exploration, and more. The relative importance of these factors depends on your background and goals, and may influence what degree to get (e.g. subject, location, type of graduate degree). [read more]If I want to do a master’s, when should I do it? We recommend most people to work for 1-3 ...