| MPP PROFESSIONAL PAPER REQUIREMENTS - INDIVIDUAL OPTIONS
MPP students may complete their professional paper through a workshop or through an individual option. This page deals with the individual options.
Definition of the professional paper
The professional paper is an analysis of a real world policy or managerial problem. The paper typically will analyze the policy and/or organizational context of the problem, consider various alternative policy and organizational strategies, and conclude with concrete recommendations or discussion of the practice implications of the analysis. Students must synthesize skills in:
- substantive knowledge of the field.
- knowledge of applied research methods.
- writing and presentation, and in some cases.
- skill in negotiating a consultant relationship.
Students should survey and properly cite the relevant literature, apply skills acquired throughout their course work, and produce writing of publishable quality. While students are not necessarily expected to conduct original research, the professional paper should reflect substantial research (if only of secondary sources), should be revised substantially in consultation with the supervisor, and reflect graduate level analysis. The target length should be 30 pages of text; the professional paper should never exceed 50 pages. Reports prepared for clients under the workshop option will follow faculty advice.
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Paper topic approval
Students seeking to write a paper in this environment must submit a Paper Topic Approval form with the following:
- Paper topic summary
- Proposed timeline for the completion of the project, to include interim stages of when research will be completed, drafts submitted, allotted time for revision of completed draft and date for completion of the final draft.
- The research strategy
- What you based your paper on (i.e., reworking of class paper, expansion of workshop paper, independent study)
The paper proposal must be signed by the student's academic adviser and the paper supervisor (if different from the academic adviser) and be submitted to the director of graduate studies for approval.
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Individual options
Students may write an individual professional paper under the direction of a faculty paper supervisor, working within the structure of either
- a working group (comprised of the faculty supervisor and several students); or
- a course which requires a paper appropriate for a professional paper; or
- independent study with a professor.
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Working groups
Faculty convene working groups (PA 8082) to supervise students preparing papers that fall within their research and teaching areas of expertise, broadly defined. Working groups provide a structured and supportive environment in which students make progress on their professional papers. Members of working groups set regular goals and deadlines for themselves. They report to and consult with their supervisor and group members about their progress. Group members are encouraged to read and comment on paper sections drafted by other group members.
Enrollment in working groups is by permission of the faculty supervisor. Working groups are not substantive courses. Although a supervisor may choose to assign a few common readings, assignments not directly related to the completion of the students' professional papers are discouraged.
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Course or seminar paper
MPP students may prepare their final paper in a class approved by both their paper supervisor and their academic adviser It is expected that such classes require students to write a paper that meets the definition of a professional paper as defined above as a major part of their class requirements. Students planning to write all or part of a professional paper in these classes must meet the same requirements as students in working groups.
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Independent study
In the event that an appropriate workshop, working group, or other class is not available, a student may use up to three credits of independent study to complete a professional paper. This is above the usual limit of three independent study credits per degree. Faculty supervise students completing papers in an independent study setting who are well-prepared to research and draft papers within an agreed-upon time frame (usually a semester). The student should have a solid grasp of the paper's subject matter and approach before deciding upon the independent study option.
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Oral presentation committee and final steps
Oral presentation committee
The student selects her/his orals committee in consultation with the academic adviser. Usually, committee members are identified and recorded on the Paper Topic Approval form. Changes may be made prior to the oral presentation.
The committee for an individual option consists of two Graduate Faculty members:
- the paper supervisor
- a second member
At least one of the committee members must be a Humphrey Institute Graduate Faculty member and one must be the student's paper adviser. (These may be, but do not have to be, the same person).
Students are strongly encouraged to verify committee members' participation by the middle of the semester in which they plan to graduate and to set dates for their final oral presentation.
Oral Presentation Final Steps
Before the oral presentation can take place, the student must a) have an approved degree program on file with the Graduate School; b) have the paper approved by the working group, approved course, or independent study instructor; and c) have taken or be registered for all of the courses listed on the degree program.
The oral presentation, which usually lasts about an hour, will usually begin with a brief presentation of the professional paper by the student to the committee. A discussion will follow.
- It is not unusual for committee members to ask students for changes in the paper.
- Each committee member signs the paper when it is judged satisfactory (after revisions, if necessary).
- The Final Examination Report form and the paper are submitted to the GPO (Room 225) once the paper has been signed by the committee members and is ready to be bound.
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