[Graduate School for Working Professionals] If you want to study public policy or policy research, should you choose a Master's program or a Professional Degree program?

When you think about wanting to study public policy in graduate school, have you ever come across a "professional degree (professional graduate school)" program in addition to the standard "Master's program"?

Graduate schools that appear to be in the same field, such as public policy, are often established as both standard graduate schools (Master's programs) and professional graduate schools (professional degree programs), and it is not uncommon for people to have questions about the differences between the two.

If you want to study public policy or policy research, which one should you choose?
In conclusion, you can study public policy in either one.
However, you need to be careful if you plan to publish your research results as academic papers or if you plan to go on to a doctoral program.

In this article, I will organize the characteristics of both "Master's programs" and "Professional Degree programs," and explain the points that those aiming for public policy or policy research should know, especially when choosing a professional degree program.
I hope this will be a hint for those who are interested in public policy or policy research and are unsure whether to choose a Master's program or a professional degree program to find a school that suits them.
(*Explanatory text for the table was added after the initial publication of this article.)

1. It's not just the curriculum; there are differences after completing the program!

◆ Master's Program (Standard Graduate School)

Since the purpose of a Master's program in graduate school is to acquire knowledge and research methods in a specific academic field, writing a Master's thesis (or research paper) is mandatory to obtain a degree. If you earn the prescribed credits and pass the thesis review, you will be awarded a Master's degree (Master of [Subject]).
Graduate schools with Master's programs usually publish a bulletin (a collection of research papers from the graduate school that summarizes research results, which generally includes "peer review"), and excellent Master's theses are sometimes published in these bulletins.
In addition, many graduate schools have both Master's and doctoral programs set up together, and if you advance to the doctoral program within the same graduate school, there are mechanisms to ensure a smooth continuation of research, such as waiving the admission fee. The peace of mind of being able to continue research in the same seminar is also significant.
Furthermore, the composition of students differs, such as graduate schools in the same line as the undergraduate department having many students advancing from the undergraduate level, while independent graduate schools are centered on working adult students.
In graduate schools that have entrance exams for working adults, there are cases where the written exam is waived and the selection is based only on a research plan and an interview.

◆ Professional Degree Program (Professional Graduate School)

On the other hand, professional degree programs emphasize acquiring knowledge and skills directly linked to practical work, and classes are centered on case studies and project formats.
The deliverables are not limited to theses, and can also be summarized in formats such as group work or presentations.
A feature of professional degree programs is that many faculty members have practical experience. Depending on the graduate school, there are also one-year courses, and many (or all) of the students are working adults.
Many graduate schools do not require a written exam for entrance, and there is a tendency to emphasize goal-setting based on awareness of purpose and practical experience after enrollment.
Upon completion, a "Master's (Professional)" degree (e.g., "Master of Public Policy (Professional)") is awarded, but opportunities to present research results are limited, and many graduate schools do not have peer-reviewed bulletins.
Furthermore, many graduate schools do not have doctoral programs, so if you aim to obtain a doctoral degree in the future, you will need to advance to another graduate school.
Also, tuition fees are often set higher than those of standard Master's programs, so prior confirmation is essential.

<Differences between public policy Master's programs and professional degree programs>

2. There are also differences among professional graduate schools where you can study public policy!

Even when we say public policy (policy research), the field is broad, and in standard graduate schools (Master's programs), it is handled in various graduate schools such as economics, sociology, and political science.
On the other hand, in professional degree programs, professional graduate schools related to public policy are established. 👇

Even in professional graduate schools for public policy, a Master's thesis (or research paper) is mandatory, so it is possible to work on the goal of "wanting to do research that leads to policy recommendations" in either program.

However, you need to be careful if you want to publish your research results in academic journals.
As mentioned above, in standard graduate schools (Master's programs), there are opportunities to publish in bulletins (peer-reviewed), but in professional graduate schools for public policy, only some graduate schools have bulletins (peer-reviewed), and the current situation is that there are limited places to gain academic evaluation.

For example, among professional graduate schools for public policy, the following graduate schools have "peer-reviewed bulletins."

• Hokkaido University Graduate School of Public Policy: Annual Report on Public Policy Studies

• Meiji University Graduate School of Governance (Graduate School of Public Policy): Meiji University Professional Graduate School Research Journal

Therefore, if you want to publish your research results in academic journals, you need to submit them yourself to academic society journals or independent academic journals.
*This is the same for Master's programs if you do not publish in a bulletin (or are not recommended to do so).

Also, if you are considering advancing to a doctoral program in the future, there are several points to be aware of regarding professional degree programs.
Since most professional graduate schools for public policy do not have doctoral programs, you will need to advance to a different graduate school.
In that case, because your department and academic advisor will change, it is very important to find a faculty member who will accept you and contact them well in advance.
Even if your grades are excellent, you may still be refused admission.
The reasons vary; acceptance may not be possible due to the faculty member's circumstances, such as planned retirement, a sabbatical (research leave), or health issues.
If you intend to advance to a doctoral program, it is essential to contact the professor at your prospective school at least six months in advance and obtain permission for acceptance.
*This also applies when advancing from a master's program to a doctoral program at a different graduate school.

Furthermore, for someone who has completed a professional degree program to advance to a doctoral program,it is required to raise your knowledge and skills necessary for research to the same level as those who have completed a master's program.
Given these points, when choosing a professional degree program, it is important to make a decision while keeping in mind "what you want to do afterward."

Of course, these points of caution are not limited to professional degree programs.
Even if you choose a master's program, there are people who advance to doctoral programs at other graduate schools, and there are cases where research results are published in places other than university bulletins.
In fact, I myself advanced to a doctoral program at a different graduate school (although my master's thesis was published in a bulletin).

As described, when studying public policy (policy research) in graduate school, "whether you should advance to a master's program or a professional degree program" depends on your goals and future career path.

3. Summary: Whichever you choose, this is what matters!

Both master's programs and professional degree programs are paths to studying public policy (policy research), but there are differences in their objectives, learning methods, and post-completion developments.
Whichever you choose,whether there is a faculty member who is interested in your research theme and can supervise youis a very important point.
Therefore, be sure to thoroughly check the faculty's research achievements, such as their papers.
If you cannot find a specialized faculty member who is knowledgeable about your research in a general graduate school (master's program), but they are enrolled in a professional graduate school, then advancing to a professional graduate school (choosing a professional degree program) might be preferable.

To make effective use of your limited time and money, choosing a graduate school (or academic advisor) where you can delve deep into your theme should lead to a satisfying learning experience.
I hope this article serves as a hint or reference for your consideration of graduate school.

At "Social Quest," which provides individual support for working professionals entering graduate school,
we help you translate your interests into research themes and connect each individual's learning to research results, from analytical methods to academic journal publication and policy recommendations. Based on my experience of completing graduate school at the top of my class while working, publishing multiple papers in major academic journals, and obtaining a doctoral degree in three years, I provide practical advice that leads to results—advice that only someone with experience can offer. If you are interested, please take a look below👇.